New-York daily tribune., 1861-02-16
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
PROGRESS, PROGRESS.


There would seem to be no intention on the
part of the rebels to rehuquish the control of the
question of besiegug Fort Sumter; on the con-
trary, they have at DO time been 50 active as at
present in preparing for that formidable under
taksg. Instead of diminishing their army, they
are daily increasing the number Of men under
arms. On SulTan's, Morris, and James Islands,
there are rising 1900 soldiers, while in and
around the city there are probably not less than
], 500 more, .hst could be called into the field
within few hours notice. 1t is boast heard
on all hands that in the event of an extreme
emergency the entire male population Of Charles
ton capable of bearing arms and some portion Of
the female also, would rush to the scene of con-
flict without regard to consequences. My Observa-
ton teaches me that there 10 COED deal of
ground fer the boast.
The Rebel leaders assert that they have twelve
points from which the attack on Fort Sumter
will be opened although, after toleraby close
inspection, eannot count so many TheGght-house
ard most Of the other batteries on Morris Island,
except the one ut Cummings Point, viii be Of
bat little service in the siege their distance from
the Fort being too great They are mainly
seryieeable in defending the mouth of the harbor.
As have before stated, the battery at Cum
rniug's Point will prove the uglest customer to
Fort Sumter, more, however, from the fact that
it is located so as to bear directly the weak
point OF the Fort, than from any remarkable
pecularities of its own. There is no Disgusting
the fact, however, that it is formidable Fortress
the work Of nearly q thousand men for a month.
In providing against the heavy guns brought to
bear on it from Fort Sumter, large quantity OF
railroad iron has been used, besides cotton bales,
Palmetto logs, and mountain, of sand. The
Rebels are peIsuadlDg themselves that this work
has been constructed so as to be secure from the
shots that Sumter will pour into or against it.
The distance is tbree-fourtbs Of a mile.
Although it seems to be expected DOW that
the Southern Coniederacy will assume control Of
the question, if were to judge from the move
ments which / see on all hands, and from what
hear spoken from all mouths, should say
that every body expected the attack which has
been 80 long contemplated would soon be made.
1t is only the superstition now current that the
confederated authorities will have another policy
that has given rise to the idea the siege will be
continued in no manner different from what it
has been kept up for upward of month. If
there is to be change of policy, and the siege
abandoned, there certainly is no outward ev-
idence of it. The reverse is the fact. Nor is it
entirely certain, as have before remarked that
should the command 10 abandon the siege, or
rather to stay more active operations, be given,
it would be obeyed by the South Carolniass en-
camped around Fort Sumter. ] think it admits
of much doubt whether they would yield assent
every idea and impulse. / may not be able to
give reason, satisfactory even to my,elf, new
ertheless / am unable to relinquish the belief
that Fort Sumter viii be attacked after the
manner Of the formidable preparations Of the
rebels. 1t may be postponed some days, posi-
bly, even till Lincoln has been naugurated, and
demand for its surrender made Of his Admin
istration by the Confederated authorities, though
it is the well-known policy Of Carolina to make
the attack at the earliest day possible after they
are ready; for they believe that the policy Of the
incoming Administration viii be vigorous and
positive, not only in defense of the fort, but to
regain possession of those now in the hands Of the
rebels.
The impression has obtained here within the
last few days--since the return Of Col. Hayne-
that it is the policy at Washington, inspired by
Gen. Scott and Secretary Holt, to concentrate
reenforcements, in ships Of war and other trans
port vessels, at some favorable poiDt-probably
Hampton ROads-to leave for Charleston on the
instant that it is known that the siege has been
commenced IL sppms In he Dpderstood that
while the Government will do nothing to produce
collision, even by undertaking to reinforce Major
Anderson, there will not be q single moments
longer forbearance after the rebels have opened
on Fort Sumter. Therefore it s believed, and
apparently on good authority, that reinforce
meDts will be introduced the earliest moment
possible after Carolina shaI have fred her first |
gun on the Fort, and that, too, with an array
of strength that will render improbable the repe-
titiOn of the Star Of the West sham.
The scheme doubtless embraces full realza- |
ton of the difficulties and hazards that must |
attend its execution. IL must be known to the |
Government that no ship can enter Charleston
HarbOr without encountering the fire from
several batteries located on both sides of the
barbor. 1t would seem that the expedition
should be prepared to engage thOse batteries
with heavily armed vessels of light draft. Ii is
entirely certain that the Star of the West
reached within from three to five minutes of
Fort Sumter, and then occupied nearly that
length of time in turning and backing out, all of
which time she was under the fire of the Light
House Battery. BY sinking vessels in the old