Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-01-04
Irnu Dec 21-2 2 NJ
The Forts in Charleston Harbor.

Fort MoULTRIE is an enclosed water
battery, about one mile northeast of Fort
Sumpter, having a front on the south, or
water side, Of about 200 feet, and depth
Of about $40 feet. 1t is built with salient
and re-entering angles on all sides, and is
admirably adapted for defence, either from
the attack Of a storming party. or by reg
ular approaches. The outer and inner
walls are Of brick, capped with stone, and
filed with earth, making solid wall l 5 or
Is feet in thickness. The height of the
wall, from the bottom of the ditch to the
top OF the parapet, is twenty feet The
ditch Is from twelve to fifteen feet wide at
the base, and fifteen feet deep. The work
on the south side is nearly finished. The
counterscarp is substantially built of plank
and spread with turf. The elacis is COM
posed of sand and covered with layers Of
loan and turf, all of which are kept firmly
in place by the additions of sections of
plank nailed to uprights sunk in the sand,
and cross each other at right angles mak-
ing squares of about ten feet each. The
purpose of the glacis, which is an inclined
plane, is to expose an attacking party to
the fire Ct the guns-which are so placed
as to sweep it from the crest of the coun-
terscarp to the edge Of the beach mas
much as its guns have been spiked and
dismantled, it is unnecessary to 90 into the
details of It's late armament Whatever it
contained is now in the hands of the enc
mics Of the United States, but it is safe to
presume that Col. Anderson's leavings will
not be effectually employed against the
United States much before the end of Mr..
Buchanan's term of office.
Fort SUMpTER is situated in the middle
Of the entrance to the harbor on the edge
Of the ship channel, about three miles from
the city, and said by Gen Scott to be the
strongest fortress On the Atlantic coast. 1t
is built on made ground, octagonalin form,
of solid masonry, pierced on the north,
east and west side with double row Of
port holes for the heaviest guns, and on the
south or land, in addition to openings for
guns, loop-holed for musketry, and is bomb
proof. The armament Of Fort Sumpter
consists Of 40 guns, many of them being
the formidable ten-inch Columbians, .
which throw either shot or shell, and which
have fearful range. There is also large
amount of artillery stores, consisting of
about 10000 pounds of powder, and a
proportionate quantity of shot and she'll
The wharf or landing is on the south side,
and is of course exposed to cross fire
from the openings On that side
CASTLE PINCKNEY, which has been taken
possession Of by the mob is located on the
southern extremity Of narrow strip of
marsh land, about half mile from Char
lesion. To the harbor side the castle pre-
sents a circular front Tt has never been
considered of much Importance as for
tress. although its proximity to the city
would give it Importance, if properly armed
and garrisoned. There are about fifteen
guns mounted on the parapet; the major
ity of them Is and 24-pounders. Some
"Columbiads'' are, however, within the
walls. There are also supplies of powder,
shot and shell. The Castle has been gar
risoned during the present crisis, by two
watchmen, who have charge Of the barbor
light 1t is not supposed that two lamp
lighters offered any considerable resistance
to the beseiging force