New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-11
ATTACK AND DEFENSE.


Prom Our Own Correspondent.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Feb. Z, 1901.
The rebel batteries at Cummings Point, Fort
Johnson, and at point intermediate, bear d.
rectly on the weak side of Fort Sumter They
have been constructed with considerable skill, at
the cost of great deal of labor. The battery
nearest to Fort Sumter-that at Cummings
Points not less than twelve hundred yards dis
tant. Directed upon any other point of Sumtcr's
walls these batteries could not be expected to
accomplish q breach; but constructed as the
walls were, with no expectation Of ever being
required to sustain q siege from the land side, 1t
is highly probable that breach will be effected.
The rebels think they viii be able 10 do IT in
the space of twenty-four hours. This may be
done without the loss Of life to the besicged but
not without considerable loss to the besicgers.
While the men in Sumter will be almost per-
fectly protected, those at the batteries will be
much exposed to the shot-tho.e of the terribly
explosive character-whcb Sumter viii pour in
upon them.
A breach will be but small part of the bus.
ness which the beseigers VIII have taken on
Themselves. The next thing will be to assault
the fort in force. How viii they reach it
II il asserted that the floating batteries will
take several hundred men, whom the peculiar
character of the structure Will protect I'll the
time they will be called on to make the assault.
An attempt to convey men in open or other boats,
in the face of Sumter's guns, would be madness.
We will suppose that the be.eigers will make
suitable provision for the emergency. The men
once under the walls Of Sumter and within the
breach, then the destruction of life Oh the side
of the assailants Will commence. The means of
defense which Fort Sumter possesses against an
assault of this kind are very great, and have not,
/ am persuaded, been sufficiently taken into the
account by the rebels. The fort is supplied
with hand and other grenades in the use OF which
the garrison can make stand against ten times
their number. The peculiar character of these
erenades, their destructive qualities and efficiency
for defense are quite unknown to the rebels.
They are indeed new feature, being an in.
yention Of the officers of the garrison. The
fort is literally supplied with them. The large
explosive shot with which the fort is also
provided has the same general characteristics.
IL therefore by no means follows that, when
breach shall have been effected, n successful
though bloody assault necessarily ensues. So far
from it, that will prove the hardest part of the
business. II is where the enterprise will fail, if
at all 1t is where the greatest lose Of life will
be inflicted, and the enterprise liable to receive
bloody check. 1t is true, also, that it will be at
this point that the garrison will be most exposed
A. l.. IN,
fatal to them. The sort of desperation which
will lead to the undertaking, and will become
fully aroused in the engagement, will not stop at
the loss of life, however great. Numbers will in
time triumph, when thus impelled and left to
themselves, it is difficult to see how the seventy
men in Sumter, even with their extraordinary
facilities for inficting loss on their foes can sue
cessfully maintain always this species OF haDdto-
hand contest.
The floating battery at Marshs Dock begins
to assume a shape. 1t is % feet long by 90 feet
wide on the bottom. The contractor hopes to get
it ready to receive the guns in about one week,
but it is doubtful whether he succeeds
The reyolutonists say that they are receiving
substantial /" aid and comfort from Northerners,
who nst only espouse the rebellion, but pay
money to carry it on.
To Major Anderson they held out the most ex-
travagant inducements TO allure him from his
duty to the stars and stripes. But that gallant
officer indignantly spurned them all, declaring
that the only flag he would fight for was that OF
Union.
For the last twenty.four hours the Revolution
lists have been considerably exercised. Broad
street, in the neighborhocd of The Mercury bull
letin, was at different times crowded with an
excited multitude, for there were rumors that
Fort Sumter had been reinforced by the intro
ductOn of $50 men during several previous
nights. They were in agony over it, and it was
curious to SEQ how the hopes Of the Reyoutioniss,
with their 1900 against 20, were dashed at the
prospect Of Fort Sumter being prepared to well
come them al 70 bospi:able grsves around ito