Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-28
Interesting from OharIestOn and Fort

Sumter
There are conflicting rumors from Charles
ton concerning the evacuation of Fort
Sumter. One report states that Major. An
derson is strengthening disposition; another,
that he has received orders to evacuate the
fort and report himself for duty at Newport
Barracks, and the officers are packing their
goods in expectation ofimmediate departure
Meantime, the Charleston papers are vigor-
ously discussing the affair of the fort. The
Mercury thus describes the available defenses
which could be brought to bearaupon any
hostile force which might attempt to enter
Charleston harbor;
AS not one Of the heavy ships could pass
our bar, it is very evident that the small fry
of the Mohawk or Crusader class vessels
vastly inferior in size, speed and construo-
tion to the Isdbelb are the only ships we
would have to contend with. Even if the
Brooklyn ventured to cross the bar the bat
teties on Morris Island could keep her long
enough engaged for the falling tide to pre-
vent her retreat, when she could be hammered
to pieces at our pleasure. Calculating the
relative value of guns mounted on shore
with guns mounted a1oat, it is safe to expect
that our ehannel-batteries on Morris Island,
together with Fort Moultrie, could sink in
detail the vessels mounting these ll8 guns
if even all the ships could enter our harbor
with their draught of water.
But let us suppose that one of the trans
| ports, treiehted with soldiers and stores,
should succeed in passing the batteries she
would be in a worse fix than ever, for the
| wharf of Fort Sumter is commanded by the
iron battery at Cummings Point, and the
several faces of the fort are under the fire OF
our different batteries hence a few shot
| would send such a vessel, soldiers, provis-
ions and guns into splinters.
The Charleston Courier of Friday says:
1t is time this game of procrastination, and
vacillation, and double dealing ugglery,
were stopped. Fort Sumter must and will
be very soon devoted to its original and
proper and lawful objects and purposes, in
and for the defense of the harbor of Charles
ton. The mode of effecting that necessary
change has been, so far, left to the discretion
of others; it is now time that we should
quicken and stimulate that discretion.
If the rulers that afflict the country subject
to the sway of Lincoln can not appreciate
the necessity and meet the responsibility OF
evacuation, we can or should give them, OF
their representatives usurping places in Fort
Sumter, the alternative opportunity of capi.
| tulation.
If soft words and grass will not effect our
purpose, we can easily try stones. By some
means or other, and very speedily, Fort
| Sumter must be ours.
The same paper has the following bit o.
news;
Surgeon John L. Fox, United States Navy,
a citizen of Massachusetts,, arrived on Thurs
day with orders from Washington to visit
and report on the condition of Fort Sumter.
On presenting his credentials to the proper
officers commanding intercourse with Fort
Sumter, permission to visit was granted, on
condition of being accompanied by an officer
Captain Fl. ]. Hartstein was requested to
discharge this duty, and the two visitors
were accordingly furnished with transport
distrust of the reports of Major Anderson
and his medical man, or is connected with
some paltry subterfuge and pretext for delay,
we shall not at present inquire.