The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-10

,boroi gu repair possible. Owing TO the want OF
yenta.b and the everhes alton of the sound
gage mept, The lower ter OF guns would btccme
useless and the occupants would be obliged - resort
entirely TO the bsrbete guns and mo,tars 10 this
the exposure to tho enemies sho. would be
great fer Tho parapet is higher than the huks Of mcst
ships, and much higher than he adjoining shore IA to
its impo lance, although If possessed Sumter
and Mourie, II wo1ld be OF comparatively little use,
yet Il an enemy possessed it, its proximity 70 tho city
would ennbe the TO damage Charleston seriously
THE IRON FLOATING BATTERY.
This novel machine designed for haIbor opera
tons, and is at present anchored near Castle Packney
Il Is constructed OF palmetto ogs sheathed with plate
iron, and supposed TO be impregnabe agans. shot. Il
IS embrasured FOR and mounts four guns of heavy ca be
II requires sixty TO operate IT, The first impression
seeing this machine is that Of immense sodity.
The outer gun side is covered with ak plates Of
iron-two OF them OF the railroad pattern,
placed horizontally, and the other four bolted
one over thee other, in the strongest manner, and
running critically. The wall Of the gun side IS
full feet thick constructed Of that peculiar palmetto
wood full OF abrous material that sixty Founders
cannot pierce IT, The main deck Is wide and roomy.
In nineteen open Chambers the port side Of the desk
we found profusion Of shes-thrty four Founders
while just beyond them immense pile Of Sand bass
which protect ovtrhaDgipg -oo under which II be
placed the hospital. This also protects the magazines
(three In NUMBER, under which is the hold proper.
There entrances the. hold, which viii contain,
if necessary, over three hundred When mcored
is kept place by four hesvy wedges, driven down by
species Of ram which will hold il fast and prevent any
swsying around by the tide.
oTRER WORKS.
There other works at Hadrils Point, Mount Plea
SAINT Stono Morris Isand and fronting the entrance Of
Charleston harbor, which constructed Of palmetto
logs and sand. They are all fully manned for action
with large garrisons and guns Of heavy caliore.
THE EXACT DISTANCES or THE FORTS.
Fort Sumter Is three and three. cghts miles from
Charleston, one and eighth nile from For. Moul.
trie three fourths Of mile from Cummings Point
and three eighhs mile from Fort johnson, and and
fve.eighths miles from Castle Pnckney. The city OF
Charleston is entirely out of the range Of the guns
Fort Sumter.
sToso INLET.
stono Point portion Of Morris Island facing the
coast Stono Iulet Is about leagues from the south
channel of Charleston. Between them lie Islands,
viz;--Morris Island, which the light house
stands and Coffin Island In stono Inlet there
are nine or ten feet Of water at low tide, but
it was not much frequcntcd uutn Charleston was
blockaded in 1875 when II visited by British vessels
In a stragetical point OF view the landing of United
troops at sono Point would appear be tho
purpose Of getting in the Of the Morris Island bat
eres, which guard the approaches to Charles
ton On Morris leland the Confederate States forces are
pretty numerous, and If attempt to land troops
is made by the United States forces the confi,t
will be thort and bloody AT last in regard
TO Stone Point, General Bauregard had ordered an i'm
battery TO be erected at the very place where
alleged the United States troops viii attempt to land
Subsequent report stated that several large guns were
in transitu from Castle Pihckny 10 that Point.