The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-21
PTeparltiOU for Ouf DaUoerS

Itrom the Charleston Mercury. !5.b.l
Iht danger 10 charleston from III g Yankee
invaders, appears TO be in three directions
tlrst, from the passage OF gun boats anu
light draft trans ports through the inland ma
vigatiCu. They command the commUnica-
tiCn by water, because we have no guu-toats
with II-IncA shell guns 10 Il eet their advance,
ana, II the communication is open, they
might pass into Ashley river and shell
Charleston But IL is not difficult TO close
this intricate and shallow passage The
sinkDg OF q few huIks ut the church Flats,
and & WappoO Cut, would easily accomplish
the object. 1t Is quite possible, however, that
the thoroughly equipped expedition may
nave anticipated such distractions, ana be
prepared &c blow up the hulks We may sink.
1t has been proved that powder, placed on
the top OF distractions under water, by rea-
son OF the snpeIincum bent pressure, is able
10 pI0W them To pieces, so that 1t would not
be hard for the I ankees to rid themselves OF
our sunken vessels, provided they have safe
access and sufficient time TO operate with
their submarine blasting cOntriyancGS. But
& shore battery, at these narrow approaches,
would suffice TO keep them OF, and thus efiec
tUally cut on their egress by inland navIsa-
ton 10 Charleston.
The next point OF danger to the city is
James Island and It's proximate shore opp0-
site South Bay street. In the hands OF the
enemy, Charleston might he sheiled from
thence. From Lighthouse Island beach the
way is easy ana short to James Island, aud
III IL few hours an army might be landed on
that heaCh. Or by taking island after island,
f-ulSLO ana JOnn lSiaHi, tue passage OF Il
Yankee army 10 James Island by fat boats
across Stouo river would he secured, and
nothing could prevent it but strong force
located on James Island, ready to resist such
passage. An Ell trenched camp and heavy
forces stationed there. would enable get
what we Want-a battle on land. With
these Charleston could nor be taken until af
ter bloody pitched battle, in which we will
never believe the Yankees can prevail.
The third quarter of attack is the deep wa
ters of the harbor channel. Fortunately,
the forty gun frigates, which have so re-
Gently demonstrated their powers in Port
Royal, cannot get in, and the gun boats and
smaller craft alone are capable Of making
the attempt. They must pass between the
tremendous batteries OF Forts Moultrie and
Sumter, which have splenditlly drilled artil-
lerIStS TO work and ann their formidable
guns, possessing, too, the advantage of
piunGing fire. The only dagger here is the
enemy's attempting TO run the gaUnti IN
large numbers Ill the day, with the prospect
of some boats getting through, or by sneak
ing in at night. To prevent the success of
such attempts, distractions have already
been put across the channel so as to
detain the enemy long enough under the
gurs of the forts to blow them 10 pieces
with shells, or fire them with hot shot
Eire ships, besides, not forgotten. So
long these obstructions las t, tn foe are only
in our net tor bagging bnt great deal un-
douhtediy depends upon the ability OF these
obstrucuous 10 resist the weight OF the Y an
kee ItOtli1a, coming down upon them with
tide and u full he'd of steam. Once with
stand the shock and stop the headWay, and
the enemy are ours III any such a game. Steel
clad gum boats ,and all, AZ that short distance,
| under the piungi,4g FIRE of snch batteries. and
| such practical gnners as we possess, must
| come of second best If they come on 1T all
The result, then, hangs very much upon the
| weight and strength of the impedInents we
| have, and no time is to be lost In adding in
| every possible way 10 them III these essen ,iaI
particulars.
| Perhaps, in addition TO these vital matters
| of prompt preparation, it might be good
| precautlon To obstruct the passage of the
| Ashley, by sinking one or two huiks in the
| narrow channel off the point of the Battery
| Garden. Gun-b boats could then, III event,
get round into Ashley river. ana would be at
| least confined within the fire of Castle Pinek-
| ney, Fort Johnson, and a tier of guns along
! East BAY Battery. Effective guns ON Castle
| PinCkney, in such AZ event. would not be
| useless
| We throw out thu above plain, common
| sense hints for what they may be " osth. We
| have officers OF high accomplishments, both
| of The army and navy, and skiilfui engineers,
| and having once decided upon the sources OF
! danger and our deficiencies, with th- plans
! Tor meeting them, their work OF preparation
/ Will, We donbt not, 20 rapidly on, The pre-
sent is \ time for decided action With aens.
Lsss Ripley, end TTapiss. VITA cspss, 1axra'
6kia, hssistein, ssA Hsaailtsa, We uGst tEi
tas u var VIII nsl eslas sJs ssdss ias GSafles'