The national Republican., 1861-01-03
CONDITION OF FORT SUMTER:

fair fame before the judgment of the world.
CONDITION OF FORT SUMTER:
As already noticed, about eighty workmen
heretofore employed on the Charleston forts,
have been discharged, at their request, they
declining to take part in the defence of Fort
Sumter. They acted, doubtless, from coward.
ice, but they alleged an unwillingness to fight
against Southern fellow citizens.
The Charleston Mercury of December 81
makes up from the statements of these dis.
charged workmen, the following account of
the condition of Fort Sumter:
"The force now remaining in Fort Sum.
ter consists of about one hundred and thirty
men, fifty of whom are laborers, and the rest
troops belonging to the artillery branch of
| the United States service. These latter are
sufficient to man about one.half the guns of
the fort, supposing the guns were all mounted.
Fortunately, however, this is far from being the
case. Out of seventy five pieces of heavy ord
nance now in the fort, only eleven are fully
mounted. These are all casemate guns in the
lower tier, and include the nine guns of that
face of the fortress fronting towards Sullivan's
Island. Two more of these casemate guns
were nearly mounted on Friday evening but
the work Of f'getting them in position is neces
sarily slow and tedious, and with the force now
at work it is impossible to mount more than
three guns per day at the utmost. The heaviest
guns, 100, which are the ten.inch Columbiads
have yet to be mounted. One of the casemate
guns at one Of the angles of the walls has
been placed in position, SO as to cover Castle
Pinckney. The garrison was on Friday even
ing getting ready to mount some of the case.
mate guns on the south side of the walls.
Besides these heavy pieces, four Of the lighter
bdrbefte guns are mounted upon the ramparts,
pointing towards Morris's Island. These are
so arranged upon pivot carriages as to sweep
around the whole horizon. The magazine Of
the fortress is well stocked with an immense
quantity of grape, canister, and shells, and
about seven hundred barrels Of powder. All
the small arms and stores of Fort Moultrie
have been transferred with the garrison, and
there is a sufficient accumulation of provisions
to last, in case of necessity, for six months at
least. -Four large cisterns contain an ample
supply of fresh water, but it is now we'll un.
derstood that Fort Sumter has no fuel to spare.
The rumor current in the city, that number
of the guns in Fort Sumter, which are not vet
mounted, had been spiked by the Southern
workmen, is without foundation"
| from oouth Carolna papers.
FORT MouLTRIE.
The rubbish left by the Federal troops at
Fort Moultrie is being cleaned away, and the
fortress assuming defensible aspect. Many
apprehended difficulties, of a nature we need
not name, have been removed and the volun.
teer companies constituting the garrison are
making merry over the hsrdships Of the soldier.
Some Of the guns are, it is supposed, badly in.
jured by the burning of the carriages. Activity
prevails at the garrison, and its vigant officers
are determined on the course that guides their
action.
We are happy to state that most of the can.
non that were spiked at Fort Moultrie are now
in good condition, the metal pins that the
United States officers were kind enough to
leave in the touch.holes being removed.
DISTANCE OF THE FORTS FROM CHARLESTON.
Fort Sumter is three and three.eighths miles
from Charleston, one and oneeighth miles from
Fort Moultrie, three.quarters of q mile to the
nearest land, one and three. .eighths miles to
Fort johnson, and two and fveeighths miles
to Castle Pinckney. The last. named fort is
one mile from the town, and Fort johnson is
two and quarter miles from the town. These
measurements are correct, being taken from
the latest surveys made by the United States
coast survey.
| THE REVENUE CUTTER WILLIAM AIKEN.
1t has already been stated that Capt Coste,
OF the United States revenue cutter William
Aiken, at Charleston, has resigned his com.
mission. 1t is now alleged that be subsequent.
ly swore in his crew as sailors of the independ.
ent State Of South Carolina, and, hoisting the
Palmetto flag, proclaimed the vessel and her
appurtenances the property of the said indie.
pendent State. The officers under Captain
Coste were-First Lieut. Underwood second
Lieut.. FL. q. Porter IA son of the late Commo-
dore Porter y and Third Lieut.. H. ]. Gambrill,
of Md. 1t is stated that when Captain c. took
possession of the brig in the name of South
Carolina, they Immediately retired to the city,
and notified the Department at Washington OF
Coste's act, themselves awaiting further orders
from the General Government.
sTOPPAGE OF SUPPLIES
The schooner W. A. Ellis, which arrived
here from New York on Wednesday last had
on board 500 barrels cement consigned to Fort
Moultrie. We learn that its delivery to the
United States officers has been prevented for
the present, and that it will he placed in store.
Two lighters were alongside, taking the cement
on board, when the order for its non delivery
was received.
]. G. Foster, captain United States engi.
neers, has been for weeks past constant con
signee byNorthern vessels, which have brought
all kinds of supplies, from cannon to cement.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
The Charleston Courier contains an official
call from the Governor of South Carolina for
volunteers. This call is made in compliance
with the provisions of the act of the General
! Assembly, entitled can act 10 provide an