Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-09

ChAhLEsIoh AND ITS r ORTIFIcATlONs.-In the
New York Herald Of yesterday we find the fol.
lowing letter:
No 107 Eass ELersnth Strset, FEB. 4, 1861
Having just arrived from Charleston, =. c.,
where have been for the past eighteen months
engaged by the State authorities, teaching navi-
CATION on board of the marine school ship being
obliged to resign my commission or take up arms
against the nag OF my county, chose the former
Seeing an article In the Herald Of the ID from
the correspondence of the Baltimore American,
dated Charleston, Jan. 90 1861, stating that there
were about dfty large pieces Of ordinance together
with several bombs aud howitzers mounted on
| the Citadel green and on the Battery (promenade)
OF Charleston, has induced me to submit to you
few facts, and through you to the public III Won
feel disposed to give these few lines a space i'm
your valuable paper. Up to the 25th of January
Battery, and three on the Citadel green, at which
latter place there Were two more ready to mount,
all only twenty four Founders; there were neither
bombs nor howitzers.
The nearest place at which land force can be
Of any service against Fort Sumter is Commings
Point, being only six-tenths Of mile distant on
this point small battery has been erected, to.
gether with few pieces Of cannon the same as
above. Fort Moultrie is the second place that can
be OF any service in reducing Fort Sumter This
fort bas ten eghtinch columbiads mounted
Directly In range with Sumter, and Is the only
fort which has any columbiads mounted
Fort Johnson 10 one and a half miles distant
from Fort Sumter and is mounted with a few
cannon OF 2l-pound caliber. The batteries on
isidno are tnfec ana tnrce e1ghths
miles distant, and mostly OF small artillery and
consequently cannot reach Sumter
Castle Pinckuey 10 two and half miles distant
and can bring but three 42-pounders aud eleven
32-poanders against Sumter-these with little or
no effect. The Green and Charleston batteries
are 81 miles from Sumter, and are only 10 be
used in case vessels should get into the narbor
Fort Sumter has four 40 Founders, five 10 inch
columbiads, and seven 32-pounders to bear on
Fort Moultrie, the former In bombproof casernates
also an equal number against Fort Johnson and
Commings Point.
Major Anderson has row nearly all bis guns
houhtea, having thirty guns mounted on the
ram parts to sweep the horizon, most Of them 81
FOUNDERS, and can be so elevated as to strike an
object at the distance Of quarter of a mile from
Its walls Every part of the fort has been strength
ened 30 as 10 make IL bomb proof
since my arrival In New York have heard a
great many say Fort Sumter cannot be reinforced
without opposition from the troops or authorities
OF Charleston and a serious loss Of life This I
believe to be altogether wrong. Fort Sumter can
De reinforced, and that, too, without the loss of
man. This, however, can only be accomp lished
In one way. Should opportunity offer would
wiliinciyofer my services, and am confident of
success. am also Of the opinion that the Charles
tonlans cannot take Fort Sumter Mai Anderson
CAM even with the small force at his Command
repuise them, from whatever q uarter the attack
may come, as long as his provisions and ammu-
hi''oh noid out CAPT J. G.