The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1861-01-10
THE UNITED STATES DEFENCE IN
THE SOUTH--iiARBORs AND COM
MERGE

we have already described the position OF
Fort Sumter, situste ed in the exact center of
Charleston Harbor, where rot q vessel can
pass without tleave--commanding Fort Moult-
rie--and isolated from all attack, except by
water, and defended by the gallant Anderson.
This fortress practically vetoes the whole rev.
outionary movement Of South Carolina. The
revolutionary Convention may pass ordinan-
ces, and muster militia and curse the Union,
but their treason is effectually vetoed, so long
as Maj. Anderson retains this position. The
revenue will bu collected, and all that South
Caroline, in its prodigious wisdom, has ac-
complished, is the withdrawal Of their mem
hers of Congress, who alone could be of any
use to them. In the war of words, paper or.
dinance and ridiculous threats, the people of
the United States can stand much--have al
ready stood much--without interference, but
an organised attack on the forces of the Gov
ernment could not exist without war, and will
not be permitted without condign punish
ment. The removal of the garrison of Fort
Moultrie into Fort Sumter is mastery
movement, and may save us from untold ca
| lamities. To do the President and Maj.
Anderson both justice, we may state that he
had orders to defend Fort Moultrie to the last
extremity; but Fort Moultrie being poor
| fortifcation. easily accessible. Anderson did
just what a Commander ought to do--aban-
doned weak place, to defend q strong one.
This as the Commender in Charleston Har-
Dor, be had a perfect right to do without or
ders, and we are much mistaken il all the Sc
cesson rebels in the South can drive HIM
out
In connection with this topic we may here
state that five ports in the South, and fifteen
hundred men, with the revenue cutters, will
embargo the entire Southern coast from Cape
Hatteras to Galveston, and utterly nulify all
attempts at secession. They will do much
more than that. They will prevent any real
civil war, by preventing any collision. Let us
here state the facts as dt rived from the reports
of the Engineer Department.
For a long series ofyears, in fact ever since
our war with Great Britain, the Government
has been building. arming and strengthening
fortresses on the Atlantic coast, to prevent the
possibility of foreign invasion; but the same
defenses which will keep n foreign enemy out
will keep domestic rebels in. 1t is true, they
are not all garrisoned, but they are not easily
will not be without more disciplined force
than can be got up in day.
TO begin at Norfolk; (where there is no
danger, the people being loyal. Fort Monroe
has regiment of artillery in i, and the great
frotress on the Pea Patch is in sight, and with
such garrison, entirely impregnable. Pro-
| ceedng further South, there is not a single
good Harbor in North Carolina, aud that
State is too loyal to need any military forces.
There is however, Fort Macon, Beaufort har-
Dor.
In Charleston harbor, there are Forts
Moultre, Sumter, johnson and Castle Pinck
ney.
In Savannah river is Fort Pulaski, several
miles below Savannah, and effectualy secu
ring all commerce in Savannah river.
In Pensacola harbor are Forts Pickens,
McRee and Banoncas. The latter is a new
fortifcation. Pensacola has the best harbor
iu the South, and United States Navy Yard.
1t has been and we believe is, the headquar.
ters of the Second Artillery. At all events
there are men enough there to take care of
Pensacola, town which las lived on the
money of the United States, and which we
presume has no intention of losing its fat ben
eft
In Mobile Bay are Fort Morgan, on Mo.
land 1t is only necessary to put small
gariis on in there, and cut off Alabama from
the ocean
In Louisiana are Forts Pike, at the Rigo-
let's, Macomb, Chief Monteur,) Botty Bien-
venue, Tower Dupre, Fort Johnson, Fort ST.
Philip and Fort Livingston.
On the Florida Keys are Fort Taylor { Key
West, and Fort Jefferson Garden Key
1t is obvious enough that, if the forts in
Charleston harbor, Savannah river, Pensa-
cola, Mobile Point and the Rik.olets be gar
risoned-which can be done with fifteen hun
dred men, in case of necessity-the entire
commerce of the Cotton States can be cut off.
The revenue will, in any event, be collected,
and that, too, without boodshed All the
militia and volunteers of the Cotton States
may arm themselves, ,ifthey are in a valorous
humor, and march up and down the costs,
wearing blue cockades, but they cannot avert
the action of the United States laws, or touch
the supremacy of the Union.
The great weakness of the South has not
been touched upon in political discussions
nor have the Secessionists yet condescen
ded to notice it. This is their total want of
all marine strength. They have but two
good harbors-Charleston and Pensacola
between Chesapeak Bay and the Rio Grande,
and they can be held by the United States
Government against the entire strength of the
Cotton States. The south has no seamen, no
naval vessels, and no harbors except what
are garrisoned by the United States. The
entire region is not equal in these particulars
to the State of Rhode Island. aud not to be
compared to the Slate of Maine. There are
certainly things to be considered by states
which are to set ap an independent Confed
eracy and go in for free trade with all the
world, whether the United States choose or
not The first in that free trade will be to be
cut off from any trade, and the starvation
process will be the fatal step in this mock
revolution. That we may give a practical
idea OF the marine weakness of the South,
here are two facts: First the entire ship bull