Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-02-28

ing the only accessible side for storming
party. This side too is full of loopholes
for musketry The gate is also on this side
about the centre. The walls are about "a
feet high and cannon have lately been
mounted on top, l3 can easily be seen bear
ing on Cummings Point-one in particu-
lar has been depressed so as to fire down
within hundred feet of the Fort. The
men are easily seen actively employed on
the out side, moving stone and strengthen
ing the side next Cummings Point. The
lower port holes appear to have been re-
Gently hlled with sand. The Barracks are
entirely exposed to cur shot and she'll, and
in case of attack vii. soon be Destroyed
1t is the impression of many that the Fort
is bomb proof. This is entirely mistake.
Only the case mates are bomb proof They
have well of water into which mos Of
the bombs will perhaps fall or roll, but
there are many other places where they
will do execution. was told by an officer
that they could throw shell now dis.
tance Of a mile within 16 yards every time.
Upon our arrival at the wharf on Sulli.
vans Island we found Lieut.. Minis, with a
detachment of the Edgefeld Rifles. They
were looking we'll and were all in fine
spirits. Every thing was busy in Fort
Moultrie, Capt Calhoun and several Lieu
tenants drilling in artillery exercise. The
guns are very heavy, AZ and 81 pouuders-
only ten, however, are bearing on Sumter,
and of these only two are Columbiads.-
These are improved 81 pound cannon the
barrel of one of these alone weighs over 9
thousand pounds. They are about %
inches in diameter at the breach and about
8 feet long. The other guns in this Fort,
some dozen or more, command the ship
channel The Barracks here are also ex-
posed to shot and she'll, and would soon be
destroyed. Some twenty negroes are now
employed making bomb proof shelter for
the protection of the men serving the guns.
The cannon point just over the wall, which
is about IA feet thick. Between each gun
are large embankments of sand and palmet.
to logs, but the embrasures are large, near
four feet, and it looks like many balls might
come in and dismount the cannon. An
derson has the same size guns, but it takes
at least FIVE men to work one of these guns.
He has at most not more than eighty men,
this will be l6 guns. He will be assailed
from five points, and if he serves the guns
on top, his men will fare but indiferently,
and his cannon will soon be dismounted.
There is also Masqued Mortar Battery on
Sullivan's Island, but as Anderson can't get
the distance of this, I shall say no more
about it. He is doubtless better acquaint-
ed with all the other places 1 have men,
toned than any of US, for he has large
glass and he uses it constantly.
Col. Gregg's Regiment Of Volunteers
could be easily seen drilling on the Beach,
in front of the Moultre House, and ex.
ceedingly regret that our time would not
admit of our visiting that place and seeing
our Edgefeld soldiers. will say for the
benefit of those in suspense, there is nc
probability of an attack just now, unless
something unusual turns up. Maj. An
derson receives his letters and papers regu.
larly from Washington.
People should be quiet and not complain
that Sumter is not attacked. They may
rest assured that it will not be child's play
If they think SO, I would advise them to go
and take a peep at it. Besides it would
be highly improper for the public to be
made acquainted with all the details con-
cerniug this matter. We must trust to
those in authority. Their reputation is at
stake, and they will doubtless act conscien-
ciously and for the best. MARION.