, 1861-02-12
Preparations TO At1nck Fort sumter.
Correspondence Of the n. 7. Hcrzld,1

Letters are received this morning from
Charleston, bearing date FEBRUARY 4i6- Gov.
Piekens has yielded the point to allow 3{ajor
Anderson to make his own contract for pro-
visions, consisting chiefly ef fresh meat 1t
was very difficult to lind parties who would
venture to make d contract, fearing they wonlA
be lynched, but 4 man was at last found, aud
the supply is being made twice each week, but
only for Immediate use, go that the State au-
thorlties can stop the supply at any time
The stories about mutiny and iEeubordina-
ton among Major Auderson's men can dnd no
better refnlation than In the fact that many Of
the men have served their time out and are Gu
titled to leave, but declare they will never de-
scrt their post while Major Anderson remains
OF the Tag waves over them, unless ordered
away by their government Some Of these
vary men could have left with their wives ell
Lie Sd inst, but preferred to part with their
better halves than their gallant commander.
The same adyices assert that the greatest
activity is going on OIL Sullivan and Morris
Is:anIs, mud especially at PUNT Cum nlinEs, ia
the erection Of batteries and in other pr.:para-
tions for attack upon Fort Sumter, which will
undoubtedly take place Tue moment Colonel
Hayne returns, as lie is now in possession Of
the governments refusal 10 comply with tho
demand Of South Carolina to surrender Fort
Sumter. A large number Of men have been
ut work night and day Mt Point Cummings
ever since Col. Hasne left, erecting cazthsn
terlal for sueh purpose. They lad q very
large force engaged on Sunday, hearing, it was
supposed that Colonel Hayne would return on
Monday and that hestlli.ies would Immediate
ly commence
Cummings Point BATTERY consists in part Of
tbr: columuiads and mortars- It Is threetluar-
tiers Of d mile south Of Fort Sumter, hci:.:s he
nearest point Of land !; b1t the impo1tstt fact
attending Cummings Point Battery i, that it
is directed against what is supposed to be- the
weakest place in Fort Sumter, which is three
and half feet thick and two hr.:tlred feet
long OF course when the United States sGy-
eminent constructed Fort Sumter they did not
calculate upon an attack from 1=ntt By any Of
their own people, but bnilt the tistress will.
particular reference to the channel, and the ar
proach Of for n enemy in ships. But time
will show the South Caro,iuiaEs 1hat what they
only the strongest but the most dangerous
point for them to illustrate now; but Mojor
Anderson will do so il test is made. More
than this. should it be possible IL make y
breach in the supposed weak point, the South
C1rolinians could not enter by it, nor would
any possible harm coma to the men under
Major Anderson.
The hoatiug batteries being erected up in tho
cove near Mount Pleasant for tesicrin. Fort
Sumter are Ut little account, ana IN army ctii-
Ger writes that they will only convey those
who take passage UPON them to 7a;try graves.
oQE 9k tuE E1ltEIiE, &1tEu II - &itG ItsTS1D5q
Of South Carolina to tl0at against Fort Sumter,
is being constructed ut Marsh doekyard, Mt tho
foot OF Pritchartls street, near Lai,tes k.rting
It IS said th~t it will be three weeks before Ill
the floating and Land batteries are completed.
and it is believed here that Col. Hayne knows
the fact, hence he has consented to the :delny
which has been made, knowing that ii he
should reach Charleston with al nniavorablc
reply from the President that al attack r1ron
Fort Sumter would be prccipitated before the
eccesaionists were fully prepared.
It seems TO be settled, not only 5Y letters
official and private from Charleston, but By
parties inside and ou.sie the army, TINT in at-
tack will be made upou Fort Sumter, aud that
nothing can preyent 1t. It is said that Gov
Pickens has no power to control the misses,
and they are only waiting either because they
think the Federal Government will exhibit tic
cuwaldire to surrender Fort Sumter through
Colonel Haync, or because they are not quite
ready to make the aesault. Other seeding
States arc protesting against such action, buS
it does not seem to avail anything
The officers md men at Fort Sumter nre all
well, and arc confident th.t upon the return
Of Lieutenant Hall hostilities will commence;
hence the wives and children Of The soldiers
were sent to New York.
Tho physician at Fort Sumter has been
quite i'll, but on the 18th fustant had nearly ro-
covered.
The following is an extract from private
letter written by member Of tho garrison Of
Fort Sumter:
FoR@ suxTER, S. C., jan. 81, 1861.
Our present status may be described AZ tho
lull before the storm. The papers wili telI
Ton mspy things about Us that are utterly
and entirely false. We are get receiring no
fresh provisions Of any Kind from Charleston.
A quantity Of beef was sent somc days ago,
but as no arrangement had yet been made WITH
the authorities, VIC sent it back, eayio. to fiuy
Ptnl~exaa hat $f TO ka had