New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-11
TREK APPROACHING CONFLHCT.

lately mace, accoiuihb W VIM" "'"''
tbousand men would DO needed TO relieve Fort
Sumter. was not put forth with that degree OF
authority which was supposed. For, instead
of that large number, It would seem that the
whole body of soldiers dispatched on The eXpcdi'
ton cannot much, if any, exceed twenty-five
hundred.
The expedition appears to have been planned
with special reference TO the necessity Of Fighting
the provisions aud rc6DforcemeDts into the forts.
That this necessity will arise ut the outset, we
do not suppose there can be much doubt. H.
deed, should Jefferson Dasie. with whom the de-
cision of the question rests, command peace, we
do not suppose that the people OF Charleston
would obey. We may safely conclude, therefore,
that a sanguiDary contest is close at hand The
intelligence from Charlcslon represents almost
the entire community as rushing to arms; the
number of men already in the ranks is upward
Of five thousand, and hourly arrivals from differ
cat parts Of the State are increasing the number
Il is evident, then, that the disparity in numbers
will be very great; but neither numbers nor noise
generally decide contests such as this will be.
large sums Of money expended by the Rebels, but
almost exclusively with reference to tue reduc-
ton of Fort Sumter, aud to prevent vessels from
reaching the fort by the usual channels OF the
harbor. To fortify the entire coast so as to pre-
vent the landing Of opposing forces either above
or below, has NOT to any great extent entered
into their plans There are batteries ut different
points up aud down the shore, but few shots
aud shells from vessel Of war would silence
them, and the landing of soldiers would be conf
paratively easy matter. We may conclude that
in case the introduction Of provisions into the
fort is resisted with determination. the operations
for relieving tho garrison will be comprehensive
and complete. No doubt tie plan has been
matred with skill aud with thorough kncwl-
edge Of all the situations, and that 1t VIII be
executed with the sagacty and bravery we are
accustomed TO find ia our army.
The sending out Of 80 many steamers OF light
draueht heavily armed, like the Harriet Lane
and Pawnee, indicates that the batteries on the
islands that form the lips of the Charleston har-
Dor are to be engaged in front, while it is evil
dent from the shipment OF boats and other ap-
pointments for landing men through the surf, TO-
cether with the considerable number Of howt-
GERS for launches, that large fcTce is to be
landed to attack these batteries in tho flank. To
withstand such an attack, the Rebels are but Ill
prepared. While of field batteries they have none
whnteyer, their numerous infantry would offer
but poor resistance TO the terrible flying artillery
L. E..t.. IN
diton that has just left our harbor. Numbers
would but odd to the slaughter OF the opposing
forces, who have only siege batteries to resist
attack by sea, but neither brcaStworks nor other
protection on their flank. Their men unques.
tionably possess any conceivable amount OF dash
and daring but these qualities will not enable
them to stand before the field batteries which
won Palo Alto and Resacs, which decIDated the
scarcely less cbvalrous aud infinitely better ap-
pointed and drilled Tampico regiments, scatter
ing them like chat before the frightfu discharges
of the Ringgold battery, the same that will be
employed at Charleston in opening the way Of
relief to Fort Sumter.
The eminent soldier who has planned the eI.
petition has had full benefit OF the complete
knowledge Of the surroundings Of Charleston
which may be obtained at Washington. lie, no
doubt, understands thoroughly that there are in-
lets or water-passagos 10 the rear Of SulliSan's,
Morrs's, and JaIvis's IslaDds, through which, ut
high tide, vessels Of considerable druit pass,
on the one side connecting Cooper, and on the
other Ashley River, with the open sea; so TINT,
although Major Anderson may command the
barbor communication between the batteries OF
the rebels and the city will not thereby be cut
off, The possession Of these inles OR passages,
will, therefore, become important; not alone,
however, completely to cut off the cnemy's rear,
but, it may be, for the introduction Of Federal
troops, and subsequent operations. Through
these channels the City OF CharlestOn. and tl,e
inner harbor, may readily be reached. All the
Notifications of the rebels ara situated on the
outer harbor, which is one mile from the city,
and two and fve-eghths miles lroDi Fort Sumter,
except Castle Pinckney, which is one mile from
the city, and two and fye-eishtbs miles from Fort
Sumter, and Fort johnson, which is two and a
quarter miles from tho city, and less than a
mile from Fort Sumter. Castle Pinckney is
really Of no great account, and should il
become necessary could be silenccd by Fort
Sumter. The same may, in n great
measure, be said Of Fort Jobnson. The ginning
OF an entrance TO the inner haIb0r without en-
countering the Gordon Of the batteries directed
against Fort Sumter, and which live the outer
harbor may be said to be practicable, the inlets
referred to being defended BY batteries that can
readily be silenced. The Possession Of these III.
lets, in case it becomes necessary to force way