The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-09-27
Castle Pinckney, South Caro-.
lima

The United States Government HAVING
converted Fort Lafayette, liz New York
harbor, into prison for Southern rebel.
and Northern sympaihisers of JEFF. DA-
Wis, the Southern Confedsracy j, retala-
ting, and has designated Fort Pinckney,
near Charleston. as a Jail for Northern
prisoners. 1t will be remembered that
Col. CoRcoRAS, and other distinguished
Northern soldiers are now cooped up in
Castle PinckneY. The following descrip
ton Of the Fort will not be uninterestinp
TO our readers:
Castle Pinckney is to become to the
South what Fort Lafay cite is to the Uni
ted States government-the receptacle
for State prisoners The 156 men (part
Of the ru'nber taken at Bull Run) having
been sent from Richmond, to be detained
as prisoners of war in this fort once more
brings it into public notice, although not
in the same attitude as in the engagement
and bomhardnent of Fort Sumter We
therefore give short description of the
abiding place of our imprisoned soldiers.
Castle Pinckney is small work situa-
ted on the southern extremity of Shute's
Folly Island, between the Hog and Folly
channels. Though no. in itself very
considerable military work, yet from it's
position-commanding as it does, the
whole line Of the eastern wharves-it be-
comes of the utmost importance to be
held by the State of South Carolina. 1t
| is, in fact. the immediate outwork of the
city of Charleston, useful at least as
means of preventing the landing of an
enemy. or as a prison for those poor fell
lows who may be taken by the rebels.
In its plan it presents to the South
semicrcular face, the eastern and western
faces being formed by the line Of ramparts
following the direction of the tangent to
the circular are at its extremity, and for
the distance Of twenty yards; the north
ern side is plain; at both the northeastern
and northwestern angles are semi-circular
bastlons, the outer extremities of the arcs
being tangent respectively to the eastern
and western sides of the fort There are
two rows of guns-the lower being in
classmates (bomb proof) the embrasures
for which are about seven feet above low
water work, and the upper being en- bar
bette. The height of the rampant is TWEEN
ty and the width thirty-two feet. The
width of the outer wall and of the parapet
is six feet; tie depth of the classmates is
twenty feet. the height ten the diameter,
east and west, of the castle is one hundred
and seventy feet.
The entrance is on the northern side on
either side of which are tue officers, and
prlvateS' quarters, messroom, DC. The
ascent to the barbetts, is made on the
northeastern and northwestern corners of
the terre pardelplein. In the center of
the later is the furnace for heating shot in
case of an engagement.
Around the foot of the scarp wall is a
breakwater, about twelve feet in width,
horizon ally, which has its western side
extended in a tangent direction to tue
south to form the landing. The landing
is protected by the fire Of several guns,
sweeping its length. The armament Of
this castle consists of about twenty -five
pieces-twenty four and thirty>two pound
ers. few sea coast mortars and six CO
lumbiads The work has of late been put
into as thorough repair as possible.