, 1861-03-07
4 Southern View Of Fort Sumter.
Correspondence Of the N. 0. Delta-1


Ofthe many braye spirits who, in every sec.
ton of the s nth, are watching and waiting
with sore anxiety for the Eignal gun which
shall announce that the hombardment Of Fort
Sumter has begun, very few, apprehend,
realize to their full extent the almost insur-
mountable difficulties which lie in the way Of
the reduction of it's massive granite walls. In
truth, with an adequate garrison, 1t can hardly
be doubted that the Fort would be altogether
impsegnable to any force that the State OF
South Carolina would be able to bring against
it. Even with the eighty-six men who now
constitute the gaFrisonto oppose them, doupt
whether there are many volunteer armies in
the world that would not quail when brought
to face the terrible fact that those towering par
apete hive to be carried by assault at the point
OF Ihe bayouet.. FoI!1he benefit OF those who
have neyrr Eee4 Ire iaosition which the Fort
occupies in the narbof Of Charleston, will re-
capitulate briefly some Of the circumstances
w!lrh combine to give 1t SO formidable chaE-
acter.
Furs Sumter is 4 perfectly isolated work, the
nearest point Of land being three-quarters Of q
mile distant. Its walls, which are built OF
stone, brick and concrete, rise abruptly from
the waters Of the harbor to the height of sixty
feet. The faces Of tha walls are pierced with
| two tiers Of heavy caselnate guns, while third
! tier, en- barbette, may be seen with their black
! muzzles peeripg jealonsly from the top OF the
| parapet.
! 4uS IiGb 54Nab AIAAILAly GAlss eI*Ae t7 -"
| face is that to take thtse Wa1]s-unapproacha
=, bic BY lan1-we hare DO navy. Stormtng phl-
! ties then would have to approach the walls
either in steamboats, arrowboats for distance
! of full three quarters of s mile under the fire
| of shells, red.hot solid shotaud grape. But,
| eupposing this ordeal passed, and that the as
| saIlauts lave reached in sGfety the foot Of the
| walls. Amid the unpleasant concomitants OF
, showers Of hand Rrenaaes and vollieSo fmusket-
~, they must elevate their ladders, which, be-
ing more than seventy feet long, must necessa-
riiy be very heavy and unwie1dy. Now comes
another and vary serious trouble. Where are
they to plant their scaling ladders? The water
adjacent to the walls is too deep aud, to prevent
ali chance Of the ladders being hooked on to tho
edge Of the parapet, Msjor Anderson has cum
ning}y had his men at work sloping OF the
edge Of the masonry, and removing every ledge
Of ornamental brickwork. which might expe.
dite The process Of fixing the ladders. Thus
| you see the only chnnce ia to have the boats OF
rafts, upon which the stor1uipg. psrties ap
proach, Of sufficient strength and sondlty tc
sustain the foot Of the ladders while the men
ascend, How far it is likely that such solid
structure could be brought uuinjured :unde1
the walls, a9ser having passed the discharges o
! the eight-inch columbiads in the casemates,
1eave you to Judge ....
These are only portion Of the discouraging
facts which render the assault Of Fort sumte'
I rather serious matter. I have detailed then
merely to explain why it has been neceesa1.
that the preparations should have been CORES
pondinely elaborate. The annals Of warfare
present few instances where SO formidable
post has fallen before means Of attack SO en-
! tireiy inadequate. And yet believe that th,
, ilnpetuons yal0r Of the Palmetto Regiments
will atone for every deficiency, and that th'
: Federal fae Will not float much longer owe
the bulwark Of onr harbor.
Meanwhile may mention the great poin
which the State has gained. Notwithstanding
the clustering Of the Abolition papers at th
North, which pretend to believe the contrary
! it Is now utterly impossible to reinforce Majo
l Auderson's garrison without fight, in wtic]
Uncle Sam would be pretty certain to sc
worstea The ships or boats which bring re
: Inducements will have to run the gauntlet Q
> line Of batteries, which are certain 10 sinl
l even the largest ship. If an attempt shoul'
be made to send the reinforcements by land
g then we shall hare pitched battle, and th
: bravery Of men defending their homes an
: f1residcs will be tested against the grim m
S stolid chslge Of scott'ss disciplined hirelipgs
8 The whole Of the first Rifle Regiment $50
men) was orderet down to Morris Island a
1 half past 6 oalesf this morning. think th
end ct praparRions and the beginning Of IL
linn is near at hand.