The constitutional union., 1861-01-11
FORT SUWPTER.

The evacuation of Fort lIouluie, and the retirement of the garrison to Fort Sumpter invests the latter with considerable interest just now; therefore we avail ourselves of an article from The Charleston Mercury of the 18th, to lay before our readers faithful description of this very important tortlhca- t0n
 Fort Sumpter is built upon an artificial island, at the entrance of our harbor. The foundation being of stone, it must De oI the strongest nature That portion of the Tort above the water-line is of brick and concrete of the most solid character Its plan is T truncated pentagon, with ono side to the adjoining shore, thus presenting an angie to. the channel. Of the truncatod angles the eastern, western, and northern are simply formed into Pancoupeos, whilst the other two are formed of two small faces, making an angle of about fifteen degrees with the sides of the pentagon. At each intersection of the small faces is sally-port. The height of the parapot above thc water-line is sixty l feet On tue eastern and Wessorn sides arc the barracks for the priyates, mess hall, kitchen, etc. In the southern side are the officers quarters, which are finished in very l handsome style.
 It is mounted with the heaviest guns of the United States service, arranged in three tiers. the two lower being Classmates and the upper Barbcttc guns. The Cascmato guns are those which arc fired from m embra2ure in the scarp walls, and are protected from the cnemys shells by an archod bomhproot coy,- crine overhead the Darbouc, those which 1 fire over the paGapct, which exposes tho can- noniers to the fire of thc enemy, although, in this instance. the height of the Tamparts is so great that there x comparatively no danger from the shot of an cncmy'a fleet. Iho arm amcnt consists of lA) pieces, pHccd n t!a following order; The hely.o gH"s such as g and 64 p0undcr-, on the l.aJ ,ler; @A and 32 poundor on the second tier: CoLUl45.aia 6 and ID inch) cn thaatap of tho rIar@rtt.
 The heaviest pieces arc turned toward the harbJr, the lighter toward the land side, which side is further protected by maalotr%, i5r which Iyop-holes aro cut in the acagp wall The number or each kind oI guA5 is about 30 G4-poundcrs; the same number Of 32-Doun3crs; forty -+-pounIers; ten oL' each calibre of C0lmbial-; ten l3-Hch and ten l0-inch mortars, caaaJIc Of throwing f3m thousand pounds of >hor, and four thousand three hundred pounds of shell at cach dis charge.
 On the terra-parado plain are situated two furnaces for heating shot. Ihe magazines are situated on tho inner side Of tAe ally ports, and contain 1t present. 10000 pounds of powder and pr9p5rtiouate quantity Of shot and shell. TAc landing to tho Hort is on the southern side, and i7 formed iy a wharf projecting towards th4 shore and also extending the length of that face.
 The Fort would bo nearly inpr naJle il finished and properly manned lt i-at pres cnt so far completed ta4t with 2 little tempo rary work, 1t could tg uaIa o strong tl defy any attack by fleet ot lur4 Vessels Its weakest point X on tau s5a,l l1o. q which rAo masonry x l3t on' W weaker than that If the other si-l-. bHl i- x nat Iau.c.. by any flank frc, which womb algp the wharf Once landed an entrance may at the present state of the construction Dc easily made; for the blinds of tic lower cm5ra- surcs. though six inches in thickness, maz yet be easily blown away, and even f tha was impossible, sealing ladders can Ieach those of the second tier which are n0- pro- tccted in this manner.
 This concludes tho brief ha,ah af cor witch is a most perfect spe..nqa ot c...l aHo military engineering aAo whole g.. aa been conducted in manner th.t eaec., tH. highest credit upon tho ncors and worthy to occupy tho prominent -lea Jh4. , 1t holds. In conclusion. NJ take occa..on t ; allulc to one point If especial tetnl--,ho 5 construction of the aryhc-ot which thor, are nearly every yariaoy-the Full Cener' the .Scgmont," tho "Uroin4l" tho .A-lev.' and the :. Aamqano'-and to add tLia, ta, walls at their base age F clc. thick, and a the top B feet thick.