The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-02
INTERESTING FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
Visit 10 the Charleston Forts, after the
mbarimcnt OF Samfor.


CHARLESTON, s. c., April 10, 1901
Visa 10 Norris Island and Fort Sumt-Egccs Of the Ba,
Ge-Cdmp LVe-Providenidl Escdpcs-iacideats, de- dc.
In company with Mr.. w. II. Russel, correspondent of
the London Times Hon. j. l.. Manning, ex Governor O
south Carolina Hon. James Chesnut Jr United States
Senator Hon. w. Porchcr Miles, member Of Congress
aids Of General Beauregard Colonel j. j. Lucas Of th
Governors staff, and Major Whiting OF the army the
Southern conederacy your correspondent yesterday
oyed the pleasure Of careful visit among the forteca.
tions on Morris Island and the runsfor such they may
be called-of Fort Sumter, special steamer being
detached for the purpose ~ the kindness of tie Com
mander. in Chief.
Passing the old fashioned Castle Pinckney the floating
battery, ennlade. and mortar batteries on Sullivans
Island, and Fort Moultrie, the Lady Davis steamed
around Fort Sumter ard made her way Morris Island
the opposite shore. Hero tho party landed in a fat
boat, and received by guard " soldiers who are
always duty at this point 10 keep OF in,ruders and
inspect the perms by which strangers obtain access to
this now thoroughly military locality.
The from this point whilo lively and interesting
for the moment. cannot but strike every viser with Il
utterly dreary and desolate character. Commencing a
your feet broad white beach, upon which the surf Of
the Is dashpg, either way until its con
tour lost in the OF the island few rod, in
advance the first objects which attract tho attention are
the immense hills Of sand thrown up, ten twenty and
thirty feet high breastworks to receive the enemy
The next instant the eye takes in ,mplee picture of
the "paeeantry OF war" Fierce looking guns jut out
from dozens Of crevces where would least expect
find them. Huge piles Of bags filed with mother
earth loom up high in air and glisten In the sunshine
dcfyDg in their eitramped sodity the heaviest shot
Narrow paths pursue among thei, zgzss course to
afford protection to those who have to move
from point TO point; while in the Distance over the
irregular surface Of the isand scattered the ghs
tents Of the various campsthe cottage hoes Of tho
sodersimpenetrebe marshes pools Of staguaut water
ard now and then trec house low h!l, crowned
With stuntod growth Of vegetation whih relieves the
mcnotony Of the scene
To stranger the Typographical character OF tho locai
ty Ia not by any means charming Py buta South
Carolina sodier would IT be thought remotely comorta
ble Yet, 10 certain extent IL has been made "eyen
So" With cheerful adaptabillty 70 circumstances
worthy OF the French zouaves these brave fellows have
dropped into their places contentedly they had
been accustomed 70 them all their lives. witb nothing
but canvass for their roosfrequenty nothing but tho
open airpanks and straw bcds here they have
eaten drunk slept, drilled and fought like men inure do
hardship.
iew Of the most delicatciy nurtured have suffered II
Is true, from colds and rbeumatisms, but have
given up their duty disabled whc tho bronzcd and rug
gcd features hard hands and robust forms Of c largo
proportion Indicate the beneficial physical eject OF tho
severe training which has been undergone.
10 return 70 starting point, however Passing up
tho beach few steps carry party into what called
THE FONT BATTERIES.
These are mounted with three ten inch mortars and
forty poundsrs between which placed the
rife cannon Beneath your feet s plank oor In frcnt
plank wall, say twelve feet high the other side OF
which lea the mountain OF sand, which constitutes its
strcpoth; while little way distant s tho magazine also
impenctraby covered with the abundant Material
II was here that Capt. JONES' OF the ordnance while
standing with his back against the prapct resolved
thirty two pound bali upon bis shoulders which struck
ouside bounded and rolled down upon him, Luckily
s only effect was 10 prosrate him for moment and no
at duty again. hear that the captain
that no would "much rather carry the Dill upon his
shoulders than in his stomach. y
within fcw rods Of these batteries, looking seaward,
is the
STEVENS IRON BATTERY,
which has been 30 thoroughly described by you that
repottion 10 unnecessary. Certainly nothing could be
more unique than tnis ingenious comb nation Of lrol
wood and sandbags as stronghold and protection fro
the eDcmys guns could kcp the animal 10 nothing
better than hugo iron wedge laid is side. Six la
dcnteons upon s surface show tho force OF Anderson
guns. Ono Of these on tho door covering port, aud
nearly went through. Numbers OF others struck tho
sand at m foot, and many glanced and ricocheted hif
milo away In the swampe. Tho latter are filled
with marsh hens, and every tlms ball passed over
they sot up their peculiar csckling, whish induced h
boys 10 ssy"Anderson's shooting marsh hens again "
These swunps fun OF balls thus fred Gould the ar
fetn barbce guns Fort sumter have been brought n
beN-an impoesiby because OF the rapii Gre from ~