Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-04
An EngIiShman In the Southern
COnfederacy.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT
SUMTER.
MIR. RnsseIrs Fifth Letter to the London
Times.

CHARLEsToN, S. G. April q, IS6I.-I find SONS
consolation for the disappointment of not arriving
IN time to witness the attack on Fort Sumter, ir
describing the condition of the work soon after
Major Anderson surrendered it. Already / have
upon my table pamphlet entitled 90 The Battle O
Fort Sumter and First Victory Of the Southern Troops,
&c, several poems" and variety of Versieules
songs and rhetorical exercItatons upon this event
which. however importaDtas political demonstra
tion Is of small value in military sense, except SC
far as the bloodless occupation of position com
manding Charleston harbor is concerned. It may
tend to prevent any false impressions. founded on
imperfect information, to state few facts connect
ed with the fire in the work, and its effects, which
will interest, at least some military leaders.
In the first place, 1t may be well to admit that the
military preparations and positions of the South
CarOlinians were more formidable than one was
prepared to expect on the part of small State,
without any considerable internal organization or
resources. This comparative efficiency was due
mainly to General Beauregard and his assistant
gineer, Major Whiting, who are both professional
engineer officer of the United States Army, and
who had capacity and influence enough to direct
the energies OF the undiscplDed masses in the pro-
per direction, instead of allowing them to rush on
their fate in the perious essay of escslade, as
they intended. The State of South Carolina had
for long time past been accommodating arms and
munitions of war, and it may be said that ever
since the notification contest she had permitted
herself to dwell on the idea of ultimate secession,
to be effected by force if necessary. When Gen.
Beauregard and Major Whiting came here the
works intended to resist the feet and to crush the
fort were in q very imperfect state.
Major Anderson and his officers had a true pros
fessions contempt for the batteries of the civilians
and militia men, which was in some measure Justi>
fable. One morning, however, as they took their
survey of their enemy's labors for the previous
night, they perceived a change had come over the
design of their works. That ''some one who knows
his business is over there" was evident. Their
strange relationship with those who were prepar-
ing TO destroy Them if possible however prevented
their recourse to the obvious means which were
then in abundance in their hands to avert the COM
ing danger Had Major Anderson maintained a
well regulated fire on the enemy the moment they
began to throw up their batteries and prepare Fort
Moultrle against him. he could have made their
progress very slow and exceedingly laborious, and
have marked it at every step with blood. His COM
mand over the ground was very decided, but he
had. it Is to be supposed, no authority to defend
himself in the only way in which it could be done.
Too late that fatal phrase, was the echo to every
order which came from the seat OF Government at
Washington. Meantime, the South Carolinians
worked at their batteries, and were soon able to
obtain cover on the soft sandy plains on which they
were planting their guns and mOrtars. They prac-
ticed their at the guns stacked shot and shell.
and furnished their magazines, and drilled their
raw leves with immunity, within 400 yards of the
Fort We all know what impunity is worth in Of
fensive demonstrations. II is q powerful agent
sometimes in creating enthusiasm.
Every day more volunteers hocked to the various
companies. or created new associations of armed
men, and the heterogeneous and molly mass began
to assume some resemblance TO an army. however
irregular. At the present moment Charleston is
like place in the neighborhoOd of camp where
military and volunteer tailOrs are at work trying
experiments in uniforms. and sending in their ami
mated models for inspection. There is endless
variety-often of uglness-in dress and equipment
and nomenclature among these companies. The
head dress is generally however, s smart cap like
the French kepic; the tunic is of different cuts col
ors facings and materlals-green, with gray and
yellow; gray, with orange and black and white;
blue with white and yellow facings, roam, brown,
bouses, cloth, linen, tweed, flannel. The officers
are generally in blue frocks and brass buttons. with
red sashes, the rank being indicated by gold lace
parallelograms on the shoulder straps, which are
like those in use in the Russian army. The arms
Of the men seem tolerably well kept and in order.
Many however still shoulder white Bess'-the
old smooth-bore musket with unbrowned barrel.
The following is official return, which | am
enabled to present to you through the courtesy of
the authorities. showing the actual number OF men
under arms yesterday in and around Charleston:
NORRIS IsIAND-Seventh Regiment 700 men; First
Regiment $50 men; Second Regiment 975 men; to-
tai 2,625 men.
SULLIVAN s IsIAND-Fifth Regiment, LOIS men;
Enactment of Eighth Regiment, $50 men; detach
ent of Sixth Regiment, 200 men; cavalry and 9th
e, 225 men; total, 100.
rStone and other points. $50 men Charleston,
900 men Columbia, ], $50 men.