New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-28
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= = = : $3.50
The New York Herald publishes an interestn!
article upon the probabilities Of a successful as
sault npon Fort Sumter, from which VIC extrao
tile following:
| Passing by these opinions, we now advert Il
what is termed by military men q tangible ant
practicable plan of attack the fort, under the
pressure and strength Of which the garrison viii
surrender. The Pemounting Of the guns at Fort
Moutrie and erection of batteries on Morris Island
and to which much Importance is attached by
| many is probably nothing more than strategIcal
movement to cover the real plan of attack, which
4 we are led to believe is contemplated and decided
| upon The question SO often mooted, is Fort Sum
| ter impregHabe against any attack that may be
made by the South Carolina troops? We answer
emphaticaY in the negative. In making this state
ment we have the opinion of an officer who has
served twenty seven years in the American army
who says the work can be carried by an assault on
| the south or gorge side of the fort Its weakes;
point--and thus force the main gateway entrance
i TO the work, and by attacks with smaller detach-
ments etteeting an entrance through open embras.
ures OF the fort, at which no guns are mounted.
/ The attack would no doubt be made just before
daybreak SO that the movements of the assailants
| would be covered by darkness. At all events the
only obstacle to the approach of a fotilla from
Charleston would be exposure to the fire of a few
barbette guns; and il the attacking force should
be SO fortunate as to gain a position within one
hall q mile Of the fort these guns could not be de-
| pressed enough to keep the assaants in short
| upon the musketry of the garrison, and when the
assailanfs shall approach near the walls of the fort
/ to complete the defence with hand grenades and
/ shells dropped from the ramparts. That the as
sault OF Fort Sumter is fully planned we have not
the slightest doubt: and that that attack, when it
shall be put into execution will be made upon the
most scientific and strageteal principles. To bear
us out in this assertion, let us see who the sup
posed authors of such plan may be. In Charleston
today there the following officers lately hold
| ing commissions in the Federal army, who are now
| actively engaged in sustaining the honor Of this
new Republic, viz: Major Ripley, Capt. Dunovant
Capt. Barnard +. Bee, Capt A. G. Meyers Lieut..
George ST. James, Lieut.. " Fl. Gibbs, Lieut.. Jas.
II. Hallenguist. From the Federal navy-Com-
mander Henry J. Hartstene and Lieutenants Ro-
lando Dozier, Master VIM. E. Evans and Midskip-
men Hamilton, John Grimball. These officers have
had from ten to twenty-five years experience in
the regular SERVICE and the greater number of them
were promoted for brave and mertorious conduct.
Many persons are under the impression that can
non OF very large size, such as those with which
Fort Sumter Is armed, can do great damage at
distance of four or five miles, but such is not the
fact as ascertained by actual experiment by the
United States Board of Ordnance. Commander
Dahgren, in his work heavy artillery, has given
the result. The furfhest range of hundred pound
she'll even at an elevation of tlirty.f degrees
given to the gun, is 1928 yards; the time of flight
being thirty-five seconds. The great Jwelye.inch
Columbiad the largest gun made, loaded with
twenty-five pounds of powder, q she'll of III
pounds, and the piece at elevation of thirtyfive
degrees, has made range only of 5409 yards, the
projectile occupying tirtytwo seconds in its flight
By increasing the elevation to thrty-nine degrees
only 100 yards more was gained in the range
From the same gun, with charge of powder
twenty eight pounds, shell of $50 pounds and an
elevation Of thirty-fve degrees, range of 567l
yards has been attained and at an elevation of
thirty degrees range of 576I yards (Ehree and
third miles, which is the greatest that has ever
been accomplished BY any gun in our service. The
Hight occupied thirty.six seconds.
Charleston is therefore Derfactlv safe from the
gums Of Fort Sumter. If it were even within |
the range Of those guns, the angle of elevation |
necessary to accomplish such distance is so ex-
treme that to hit the city would be matter of |
extreme uncertainty. The guns Of Fort Sumter
can only be raised TO an elevation of thirty
three degrees on account OF the classmates, and |
consequently could do no damage beyond about
two miles and a half.
A ten-inch Golumbiad at an elevation of thirty
three Degrees will throw o shell about three
miles. There are no such guns in barbettes at Fort
Sanlter, and II there are any casemate guns of
that calbge no such elevation could be had. The
upper surface Of the gun would strike against the
top of the embfasuee at an elevation far short
Of thrty-three degrees.
NORRIS Island The batteries on this island
are unquestonably rather formidable, and of much
more Importance than Fort Moultrie. They COM
mand the entrance to the harhor, and mount
some five or twenty heavy Columbads. Additional
batteries have been erected within few DAYS.
The approach to the harbor is obstructed by
the sinking of ship in the channel: vigorous
are pushed forward for an attack
upon Fort Sumter; the supplies of tie garrison
are reduced, the men becoming dispirited, aud I
everything tends to the ultimate surrender of the
fortress into the hands of the South Caroiiaans.
Fort Sumter is regarded as All ugly customer,
and the taking of her under any circumstance
could be only with fearful sacrifice OF human
life.
After carefully weighing all the circumstances
above related we are inclined to the belief that,
considering the paneity Of the garrison at Fort
Sumter. and the large number Of troops now at
he disposal Of Governor Pickens of South Car
alma an assault on Fort Sumter will be practical
and successful.