Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-02-20
For the Advertiser.
The Forts in Charleston Harbor.

a1out Tue ornncntlOnS III charleston liarpoI, ~
many idle rumors and su many incorrect state
ments, ii is difficult for any to form correct
opinion of their strength or position. Having
just returned from these places, think can give
you some facts which, if not new to you, may be
Of interest to some Of your renders. From the
fact that Martial Law has been declared on
the different Islands, and no one allowed to visit
the tor'a many of the Charlestonians apprehended
an attack on Fort Sumter in few Juys. Iam
sure however, this mistake.
Gov. PIcKENs, accompanied by two Of his staff,
Gen. DuSovAHT, Col. GwYX Lieuta HARrSTrIN
and HAMILTON, and some hulf dozen others,
among whom your humble servant, ade
personal examination Of the Notifications ca We'd
nesday last. The little Steamer Edisto first took
us to the much talked Of Floating Battery on tho
wharf at the foot Of Hoyle street, I think it is)
1t would be difficult to give you q correct opinion
of this Battery or paper some OF the New York
papers have very correct drawing Of it already,
which raw yesterday. 1t is about so feet 80
feet; onc side and the two ends are planked up
with inch pine plank some ten feet high,-tho
| other side is the Battery and to be presented
against Sumter. 1t is made Of l2 inch pine sills
about 90 feet long placed perpendicular, or nearly
so, the top ends leaning over the water, go that
shot striking the side will glance downward short
heavy tmbers, about feet long, are framed to tho
ends of these sills projecting over the Battery;
these form right angle With the side, aud shot
striking this will Of course glance over. This
Batteryside is to be made several feet thick with
Palmetto logs, which they are now laying trans
rcrsoly and spiking firmly to the sil!s. There is
to be water enough let in the bottom to render
bombs harmless in case any are thrown in, and
some cotton is also to be taken in to form u pro-
lection for the Magazine md the men not employed
at the guns. This Battery when completed, which
will probably be some two weeks yet, is to be
Aoated out quite near Sumter under command of
the former Lieutenant, now Capt. HAMILTON of
s. c., and from his confident manner and expert
cnce we may e1pecta decided impression. There
have been so many rumors about Floating Batteries
/ have said more than intended. 1t was cuI-
rently reported there we're Eve in process Of con-
struction out Of cotton bags, that Gov. PIcxExs
had purchased 500 bags for the express purpose,
&C., /. Cotton bags will never do for breast
, works, they would take fire and burn up every
thing never saw or heard of but the one Bat
terry above alluded to.
Our steamer next took uS to Castle Pinckney.
You remember detachment Of volunteers took
this place rather by surprise. The party had lad
ders to scale tho walls, but when they arrived but
three ladders were long enough, and one Of these
broke. Fortunately resistance was made, and
the Sergeant in command quietly surrendered.
Ono Of the officers who took part in the affair. sad
he saw ono Of his men throw his gun overheard
and seize ladder, such tho haste to scale the
wall. This is a circular fortress, wall about 10
feet high and 10 thick some dozen cannon mount
ed, several bearing on the City This Fort is Of
considerable importance to the City-it can de-
fcnd or destroy it-but of no use in the conten-
plated attack ON Fort Sumter; although some Of
the soldiers think they could reach Sumter, and
oven COL GwYN is reported to have said, he wished
to mike Castle pirckuey play purt in taking
Sumter. Not meaning to expresa any opinion of
my own, but only ray, if the history Of distance
Of shot and shell in similar engagements be c1-
umincd, it will lie useless to fire ut Sumter from
this Fort. The distance is 2 miles and furlouge.
The Fort is ut present under command of Ger
man Volunteer Company from the City, and every
thing IL ready, neat and clcun.
The Steamer next landed ua at Fort johnson,
where there is n Mortar Battery consisting Of two
large ten inch Mortars placed behind heavy
bank Of sard. The men engaged here will DO
sl,.,t nE Sniutur
not from she'll. The distance from Sumter is 22j0
yards.
wenextvisitcd Cummings Point. These two last
mentioned places nre to the South Of Sumter-Muul-
,rie to the North Of it. At this point several Bat
ter:cs have hren erected, both mortar and cunnoE.
One n particular is to be nm experiment. 1t coz
.ists Of heavy s!opng roof, the nenr side to Sum-
Ter resting ON TIE ground, aud is covered with
Rsil Road iron Ms cluse ~ the bars can be laid.
Shot striking this will o: course glance over. I'm
ler this she'd arc three eight inch Columbiads
bearing directly on Sumtcr-thc distance 1854 yds.
The PORTFOLIOS, in consequence Of the 'l"sing
roop, are necessarily very large, hut lurge iron
dnor il 50 arranged ns to cover the hole while We
nrc loading and raised when ready to fire; and
this can be done il. double quick time. lmmeGi-
a.ely to the right Of this, ard behind high bank
Of sand, nrc three ten inch Mortars. The other
Bnl:rrie' at h. place point in another direction,
and command the ship channel
The steamer HEX, took Ia tu Fort Moul'rie. In
20 dung We passed within few hundred yards Of
Sumter, most unpurs;iunably formidable for
.resS ard if well mauue a. strong rs it looka. 1t
is hexng"I, with cut of. It covers
ahuut :hrcr the largest side il "l2 feet; tho
n,hcr four .i':cs about 1870 feet each. On either
corner Of the lnng siio are Bnsions with Bartetts
guns, this Icing the only accessible side for
siormins party. This side too is full Of loop
holes for usket:y. TIE gate il also on this side
about the centre. The walls ARE about 81 feet
high ard cannon have lately been mounted on tor,
u can easily bc seen bearing on Cummings
Point--one in particular la. been depressed so as
fire down within hundred feet Of the Fort. Tie
men are easily seen actively employed on the OUT
side, moving stone and Strengthening the side
next Cummings Point. The lower port holes al
pear to have been recently filled with sand. The
Barracks entirely exposed to our shot ard
she'll, ard in case Of attack will soon lie destroy
ed. 1t is the impression Of many that the Fort is
bomb proof This is entirely mistake Only
the matca are bomb proof. They have we'll
IT water into which most of he bombs will per-
hap< fall or roll, but there are many other places
where they will do execution. J. was tUli by IN
0fhcer that they could throw shell now dis
tsncc of mile within l6 yards every time.
Upon our arrival at the wharf On Sullivans Is
land, we found Lieut. MINIS, with n detachment
Of the Edgefcld Rifles. They wero looking we'll
and were all in fine spirits. Everything was busy
in Fort Moultric, Capt. CALHOUN and several
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