New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-22
sgssaeB sP YEg GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY
FROM WASHINGTON.
MILITARY POSITION OF FORT SUMTER
UNION PARTY SOUTH.

rnfssary authorize There lie, Of course, great
anxiety IN regard 10 the fort, and there are many
asntradictery accounts respecting il. The follow
ing are the facts, 20 far as they go
Fort Sumter has 40 near to emo hundred men,
q MI sorts, as need be. They have had hard
vorh TO get their guns into position from the
want Of hosting apparatus but have nevertheless
done IT, As TO provisions, they are well enough
Of for three or four months Of course, they
have not the Injuries Of hfe, but those are rot
Usually deemed essential in such cases. They
sx,e, however, now fully prepared for whatever
may come.
Gan the fort be taken by the Charlestcnians BY
an assault 10 overwhelming numbers surrounding
4, and scaling its walls The opinion Of military
men, and the deductions Of all experience, are
hat this cannot DO dohe by raw troops i:
aisAt be accomplished by regulars, thoroughly
drilled, used to service, strictly cbedient to or
lsgs, and with perfect confidence in their officers
A force Of 1900 men Of this character might eff
tsot it's capture, bat then only with prodigious
sacrifice of life. But it 10 confidently believed
sAat ra,o troops wholly incapable of the se1y-
hoe; and, moreover, that they would be more
certain to fail By night than by day attack,
sioce a surprise is out Of the question. As to
preaching the fort from tho shors, the distance
m boo great. .... = ......<I.
The resources Of the fort for defense are M.
nervous and vast. First, it has highly accom-.
pkzAed officer OF Engineers, in Capt. Foster,
whs is well versed in his profession, and who
has made this particular question his special
ssady for several months, He has seen service,
anA is known 10 be fully master Of his position
The main defense against The suggested assault
h the hand grenade. The 10 most deadly in-
-strsment, thrown by hand, and deals death and
destruction wherever it ahehts. One Of them
shrown into boat tears it TO pieces and de-
ssrsys oil on board. They can be thrown by
tao garrison from under cover where The men
San neither be reached nor seen. Capt. Foster
d known to have been practicng his men in the
yraetics With this weapon, until their proficiency
- perfect.
Bat great security against attack is the ca
psejty of the fortress to shell and destroy the
sssJ Of Charleston. 1t can readily DO this, and
b 10 danger the authorities viii not incur. IL
b better to let the fort alone than 10 take it at
sseh cost, even il THE were possible. But
Charleston might be destroyed and the attack
I'D ut the same time,
-GAp S,e fort be relieved By sending supplies
A. in assistance by water This docs nod seem
ssssible. unless By stealth. The passage into
charleston hsrbor 10 guarded now By ouch form
Aasble batteries that DO Iessel, no. even ship
es-yay, could force its way. Ships are no match
fs had batteries. Ten guns on sbore with a
-. aInk fOuF ApifhpF
can Port Sumter DO much OF anything in the
wsJ Of attack upon these batteries. They are,
% be sure, not too far to be reached, both By
sbet and she'll Bet Notwithstanding, all that can
De done would DO to kill few men, and now
and then dislodee a gun. Nothing like do
ssxuctiye attach can be made by the fort upon
he batteries.
In what wsy, then, ear Fort Santer Do TO
asyeai In no way, except by investing Charles
ION By sufficient force to overcome al the
troops that can be brought TO its defense.
In this way only can the garrison be protected
against being finally starved out and compelled
10 surrender: Whether this course VIII be
adopted is q question 10 be decided hereafter,
hAe all other questions in peace as well as in
war, BY the answer of another. Will it psyl
You VIII have observed that the appropriation
Of over O million and quarter Of dollars for
mounted regiment in Texas has passed the House.
Thin is deemed Union saving measure, and as
such il was supported. Whether it vii receive
senatorial sanction is not 10 clear. But if it
shall be clearly demonstrated that under no cir.
sumstanees can the Secessionists reap any advsn-
sage from it, il is likely the measure viii become