The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-06-18
A FOREIGNERS OPINION.

The fifth letter from the celebrated war cor
respondent" of the London Times, now travelling
in this country, is published. 1t was written FROM
Charleston, soon after the capture Of Fort Sumter
We have not room for it but the following para
graphs of interest
The physique of the South Carolina troops is
undeniaby good. Now and then understood,
weakly men may be met with, but the great ma
jority of the companies consist of rank and file,
exceeding the average stature of Europeans, and
very we'll built and muscular. The men run very
large down here. Nothing, indeed, can be more
obvious, when one looks at the full grown, healthy
handsome which develops itself in the streets,
in the bar-rooms and in the hotel halls, than the
error Of the argument, which is mainly used by
the Carolinans themselves that white men cannot
thrive in their State In limb, figure, height,
weight, they equal to any people l have ever
seen, and their features very regular and
prominent. Many Of these who serve in the
ranks are men worth from e5 900 to 10000
year-at least, l told-and men were
pointed out to me who said to be worth far
more. One private feeds his company on French
ates and Madeira; another provides his comrades
with Unlimited champagne, most grateful on the
arid sand hill third, with a soldierly view
to their permanent rather than occasional eficen-
cy purchases for the men of his "Guard" a COM
pletc equipment of Eu6eld rifles.
Yesterday morning waited or Gen. Beaurc-
gard, who is commanding the forces of South
Carolina. His Aides de Can,p-Mr Manning,
MIR Chestnut, Mr. Porcher Miles and Colonel Lucas
accompanied me- Of these, the former las
been Governor Of this State, the next has been
Senator, the third member of Congress- They
all volunteers, and gentlemen of position in
the State; and the fact that they are not only con-
tent but Sratifed to act as aides to the profess
sonal soldier, is the best proof of the reality of
ho oh, kI.-1
The General seated at his desk ANY one
accustomed to soldiers can readily detect the
:" real article" from the counterfeit, and when
General Beauregard stood up to welcome us it was
patent that he was capable Of greater things
than taking Sumter. He is a squarely-built lean
man, Of about forty years of age, with broad
shoulders, and legs "made to fit a horse of mid
die height; and his head is covered with thick
hair, cropped close and showing the bumps, which
reflective and combative, with true Galc air
at the back Of the skull the forehead, broad and
we'll developed, projects somewhat over the keen,
eager dark eyes, the face is very thin, with very
hig check bones, we'll shaped nose, slightly
aqulne, and large, rigid, sharply cut mouth, set
above full, fighting chm. In the event of any
important operations taking place, the of this
officer will, feel assured be heard often enough
to be my excuse for this little sketch of his out
ward man. - I'D.
After describing the condition of Sumter as he
saw 1t after the bombardment, and the wretched
provision made by the government for its defence,
MIR Russell says: :.
Had Major Anderson been properly provided
so that he could have at once sent his men to the
guns, opened fire from those in barbette,, thrown
shell and hot shot, kept relays to all his classmates
and put out fires as they arose from red hot shot
or shell. he must, / have no earthly doubt, have
driven the troops off Morris Island, burnt out
Fort Moultrie and sicnccd the enemy's fire. His
loss might have been considerable; that of the
Confederates must have been very great"