Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-04
Charlesteu Affair.

The members Of the South Carolina State
convention, together with a large party Of ladies
ana gentlemen, paid visit on Saturday to the
several fortified positions in the harbor. The
Charleston papers give detailed accounts Of the
excursion, which Is said TO have sstonished even
those who bad previously entertained the utmost
defences.
In description appended to an engraved illus.
tfation OF the famous ''Iron battery" on Cum
minsS Point (the nearest battery to Fort SUMTER,
The Columbiad guns, with which this novel
battery is equipped, bear on the south wall of
sumtes the line of hre being at an angle Of about
thirty. five degrees This is not of course, consid
cred favorable for preaching, but owing TO the
fact that the wall is loop holed for musketry
throughout Its entire length, which OF course
weaksns II great deal, the feet Of shot upon 1t
would, we think, even at the distance Of |, $50
yards, eject breach within reasonable time
On the return trip the two steamers Containing
the party directly under the grim walls of Fort
with officers and men "Dixie,s Iandn Wa,
played by the bands on the steamers and several
wnite mays were spread to the breeze, but whether
.ne gsnan. Anderson or any Of his small band re-
sponded the reporters 'saith not
General Beauregard, In order to exhibit the
skil OF bis arllerists, INDUCED the visitors with
ahght OF artillery practice from two batteries a
Duoy In the ship channel distant 800 yards being
o.eo az target. The Courier says of the result:
hree rounds were given at each round the Wis
itors expressed their admiration Of the excellent
iine shots that were made by the gunners The
smell rom the mortars were thrown beautifully
On the last round the balls nearly all struck i'm
mediately by and over the buoy
The Courier Of Monday thinks Il unnecessary
10 INFORM the members Of the Convention that
II orr SUMTER that monument Of imbeciIity and
vaclllalIon, and treachery, is not vet evacuated
III, saws the Courier, the order from Washington
uoes NOT reach rs very soon, IL will be proper TO
give an order from the " Generals room" In the
Secession Hall, roT the evacuation or surrender
A QUARREL OF Our Ows-The military an
thorties about Charleston harbor have per.ixtentv
refused facilities to the press Of the CITY, ALWAYS
urging The importance OF silence I'm reference To
Tue slate OF the military preparations and defenses
Although these are matters OF great desire to our
readers, ana completely within our reach, vet we
have readily acquiesced in the policy, sacrncing
interest from regard to the public veal But we
had a right TO expect, and did expect. that care
would be taken 10 exclude the reporters Of other
papers, and particularly Of northern papers The
noa'lng batter ~ was great secret and vet It's ac
cuIate description was heralded over the country
by hundred different correspondents
we had occasion TO notice, a short time ago.
the excellent engravtngs Of sundry Morris Island
descriptions TO Frank Leslie's Paper, I'm which
they appeared. To day we publish full descrip-
uon OF all the various batteries, with pames
number Of guns, &c, &C.. written as we under.
stand, by DR. Salter, the self-proclaimed cores
Pondent OF that yirulent Abolition sheet the New
lofk Times. Another description OF the same is
published In the New York Herald SO that our
people apparently have to 60 to New York papers
TO learn facts about our affairs ID this lust;
10 1t right Have not the press Of Charleston good
reasons to complain? We know our readers will
think, as we do, it is crying shame and piustice
III this be the result of our compliance We'll
make an end on It for the futare.-CharIsston