Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-01-03
The Guns Of Fort MOultric Spik-
ed--Ehc Batteries of the OPP
pOsitiOn SilcnCcd.

The GUNS of Fort MOuItric Spik-
ed--Ehc Batteries Of the OPP
position siicnccd.
The Telegram, which we print to-day.
stating that MajIAnderson had evacuated
Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, spi-
ked the guns, and destroyed by fire the
gun carriages. was received by our citizens
Of the Abolition persuasion, with all sorts
of feelings. First they swore and snor.
tel-ripped and tore, and averred "old
Buchanan" had betrayed thee ountry, and
the old "Devil incarnate" ought to be
impeached, gibbeted, hung, drawn and
quartered, and then killed. Then their
tune changed. Old Buck had played false
he was afraid of hght--a miserable
old coward, pusillanimous old cuss, who
had ordered his men to run from Fort
Moultrie, and spike the cannons, just to
keep from fighting the South Carolnians,
leaving that to bc done by old Abe and
his "Wide-Awakes," OF whom enough
could be raised to sweep South Carolina
from end to end, free all her niggers and
unbale all her cotton. and eat up all her
rice and play smash generally.
The friends Of law and order, who deem
anarchy and misrule--civil war with all
its horrors, the greatest Of all evils, rccev-
ed the news with feelings of the most un-
alloyed satisfaction, as coup a. etat--a
master stroke Of policy that will prevent
the shedding Of blood.
Fort Moultrie, which has thus been
abandoned and made useless. is situated
on Sullivan's Island in Charleston han Dor
its guns pointing sea-ward. only com
mand the month OF the harbor, in order to
aid in preventing hostile feet from
entering. From the city it could easily
be attacked by a land force from the village
of Moultrievile, on the same Island.
Fort Sumpter to which Major Anderson
removed his troops when he evacuated
Fort Moultric, is, in tho opinion of Gen.
Scott, the strongest Fort of its size in the
world. It's guns bear direct upon Fort
Moultrie and the mouth Of the harbor and
on the city of Charleston, and it commands
every part of Charleston harbor. 1t is a
work of solid masonry, octagonal in form
and faced on the north, east and west sides
with double row of port holes for the
heaviest guns. On the south and west
sides, in addition to the openings for guns,
it is loop holed for muskctry. 1t stands
in the middle of the harbor, on the edge of
the ship channel. and is bomb proof. The
armament consists of l40 guns, many Of
them the large ten inch Columbiads, which
throw both shot and shell and have fear
ful range There is in Fort Sumpter over
140, 900 pounds of powder AMI proper
tionate quantity Of shot and shell. The
wharf on the south side, being the only
landing-for the Fort is entirely surroun-
ded hy water--is exposed to cross fire
from all the openings on that side.
1t has been known for some weeks that
the first attempt to reinforce these Forts
would lead to strife. Not single com
pany Of artillery or infantry could have
been orderd to Charleston without the fact
being known and telegraphed by men who
, seek to bring on collision. This the
President determined to prevent, and he
has done it most effectually by coup de
main. which renders our good Abolition
brethren of the Western Reserve of Ohio
rabid in her abuse. Major Anderson has
} been reinforced by large number Of Ma
rines, and has abandoned the Fort which
in case of an attack, would have been an
ncumbrance on him, and after rendering
it's guns useless, has concentrated his force
in fortress that commands the entire har.
Dor and the city of Charleston, covering
both with it's guns. and able to rcduce--iI
the sad necessity should aiise, by an overt
act against the property of the United
States---the city to ashes in few hours
time.
This movement will check any attcmp
on the part of South Carolina to embro
herself with tho Government, by seizinl
, the property of the Notion. TO attack For
Sumpter with such force as South Car
olina could command would be like al
attempt to storm tho fortress of Gibralte
with pocket pistol.
Since tho secession ordinance passed
0 the President Of the United States has. w
i have reason to believe, been advised tina
o such an attempt would be made. This at
y tempted, all idea of a compromise woul'
o at once be at an end Like the blood she,
h by order Of Major Pitcairn, at Lexington
$ it would raise the whole country in arm
= and lead to assembling of armies, and
n war to the knife. This the President b,
his coup a. etat in ordering FL. Moultrie t,
= be abandoned and the forco of Major An
s derson to be concentrated, and has pre-
= vented this movement. in our opinion
, WILL preserve the peace, and may yet b
: tho means of saving the Union Nationa
g Democrat