The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-22
From Fort Sumter.

From Fort Sumter.
1t is now considered settled matter that
there will be no attack upon Fort Sumter I'M
til it is ordered by the executive of the Sou
thern confederacy, which is not likely to hap
pen till after the 4th of March. The follow
ing letter from German soldier in the fort,
written before the prospect for present peace
was known, is nevertheless interesting, as
showing the spirit of Anderson's men. 1t is
dated on the 18th {:
1--WE expect TO be attacked every day.
They have not quite finished their batteries.
They are building one about 400 yards from
our fort, in imitation of the iron ships built
now in Europe, so that We shall have piece
of hard work to destroy it. l expect We shall
have an attack before my letter reaches you.
We all think We shall be able to stand it for
about ten days. They cannot take the fort
by assault: unless they wish to sacrifice three
or four thousand lives. 1t is impossible they
should enter the fort, and they cannot come
near enough to make breach. They know
it very well, and their plan is to lombard us
till they kill US one after another, or till We
are starved to death. l would write you
more about our situation here, but though |
write in German, there are enough traitors
among the Germans in Charleston, and the
scamps open our letters. Suffice it to say
that we are all in excellent spirits and of
good courage, and full of confidence in our
commander and officers. We are ready to
man to show the world that the tragedy Of
Leonidas can be re-enacted by United States
troops. Let the dogs come, We will receive
them as they deserve it, and destroy them
and their rebellion with one blow. What if
10 United States troops we're to whip whole
state ?"
A daguerrean of Charleston visited Fort
Sumter on the Sth, at the instance of Major
Anderson, who desired portraits of his oti-
GERS and himself. A lieutenant of the Charles
ton Zouaves, who heard of the intended trip,
compelled the artist to take him along as an
assistant:
arrived at the fort, Major Anderson at
first refused to allow the pretended assistant
to enter, but finally yielded to the supposed
artistic necessity. The two visitors crawled
in through an embrasure, all other openings
having been walled up and cemented. The
lieutenant confesses that the fortification look
ed anything but inviting to an assailant.-
The side nearest the land and opposite Fort
johnson, hitherto supposed to be weak, has
been made very strong. quantity of stones
from the landing having been used to fortify
the wall SO as to make it shot proof"
The latest published letter of Major An
derson is dated the LIST, and addressed to j.
B. Chaplin, Providence, Rhode Island. He
says:
Accept my thanks for your letter of the
4th inst, inclosing the interesting address on
Manhood by Rev DIR Swain. feel highly
complimated by the fattering allusion he
makes to me in it. pray that God, who l
trust and believe guided and guarded me in
the execution of the act referred to, will still
continue His protecting care over me and my
little band. The South Carolinians appear
to ME determined to bring on collision. !
shall continue, by Gods blessing to do all in
my power that honor will permit, to prevent
it. Perhaps wiser counsels may prevail at
Montgomery than have been pursued in this
state government. If SO, all may yet end
well. God grant it."
/ Col Sumpter, formerly member of Con-
gress from South Carolina, writes to friend
in Washington that Fort Sumter will be Ia
ken, at whatever cost of life. before the 18th
of March, or Immediately after. The writer
himself says he is engaged in the prepare
tons for taking the fort, and his we'll known
character leaves no room to doubt his ear
nestness and sincerity. In the Charleston
correspondence of the Columbia South Caro-
lnian, We get additional information of the
preparations making to attack the fort
"Cumminss' Point battery (Fort Stevens)
has at last been finished. 1t is covered on
the outside with railroad iron, and is almost
as impreSnabe as Fort Sumter. Three large
mortars, bearing on the latter fort, are mount
cd in it, and three sixty.our Founders bear
ing in the same direction. Andersons larg-
est guns are pointed against this battery, but
our soldiery have very little fear Of them
This fort is on Morris Island, within five
eighths Of mile of Sumter Fort Morris,
half mile further off, has also several guns
mounted on Fort Johnson, but these are not
expected to do much destruction. The great
reliance is placed on the mor,ars-three of
the largest size being mounted in it. Blythe
by, hear 1t limited that these bombs will be
filled with cayenne pepper and other smoth-
ering combustibles.
| Outside Of Fort Moultrie. on Sullivan's Is
land, are two mortar batterics-seven being
mounted in one and four in the other. The
two forts have been strengthened by sand
bags, these latter having been bound togeth-
er by iron bars. The floating battery is al
most completed. 1t is expected that it will
be ready for use during this or next week.
1t is thirty feet in hight-con,ans an upper
and lower deck. The breastwork in front
forms an angle of about twenty degrees with
the horizon, and will be covered with rail
road iron. Four cannor-sixty-four pound
ers-will be placed upon each deck, and
company or companies of artillery and in
fantry will man it. hear from good author
ity that it will be brought close under the be-
leaguered fortress, and it is hoped Anderson