Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-03-13

Terfit0rle0-Mr. Wade.
Senate Expensss-Mr. Dixon.
Printing-Mr. Anthony.
Enrolled Bills-Mr. Bingham.
EnQrossed Bills-Mr Baker.
Why DON'T H DO Ir?-Some time
since, when Buchanan was President Of
the United States, the Republican press
was loud in it, denunciations Of that
dignitary because he did not seize and
hang as traitors, the commissioners sent
from South Carolina to treat with the
u. s. Government. 1t having come
our turn to ask questions now, we
would ask why Mr.. Lincoln don't have
those Southern Confederacy Commis-
sioners, who are now in Washington,
seized upon and haug for treason! Will
the Gazette answer this question
Interesting from Fort sumter :. Range
and Distance Of the Charleston Bat
Attack.
The Charleston Is. CO. correspondent
of the New York Herald writes:
The new Notifications, Nos. l, 2, 8. 4,
and 6, were thrown up in the order
named. No. l, the "Star OF the West"
battery, is situated on Morris Island,
and has three guns bearing on the main
ship channel. No. 2, which is situated
about tho middle Of Sullivan's Island
beach, is heavy battery, bearing both
on Maffit Channel and on Fort Sumter.
Its distance from Fort Sumter is between
one and half and two miles "a mod
crate range. No. is light howi.zer
battery, placed on the east end Of Sulli-
vans Island, in order to command the
ford between that and Long Island.
The site of battery No. 8 is one Of his
toric interest. During the battle of Fort
MouItrie, Clinton attempted to pass from
Long Island to Sulivan's Islanc, for the
purpose Of attacking Moultrie in the
rear, but was prevented from doing SO
by Colonel Thompson, the position Of
whose force was very nearly that now
occupied by this battery.
No. 4 is situated on the northern ex-
tremity of Morris Island, or Cummings
Point, as it is called ; it is, perhaps, the
most effective battery of all. The guns
are heavy columbiads, and besides these
there are several mortars. They bear
upon the channels of the harbor and al.
so upon the gateway of Fort Sumter, the
distance to which is only a thousand
yards, or something over halt mile.
from which bombs or shells could be
thrown with impunity for any length of
time, lnasmuch as it is placed so as to
be perfectly protected from the guns of
Fort Sumter. Its distance from that
fort is bcts cen one and a quarter and
one and half miles.
Fort Moultric, recently much strength
ened on the water side, has thirteen guns
bearing OH Fort Sumter and others
bearing on the channels. The distance
separating these forts is one mile. Fort
johnson has only three or four guns, and
is one mile and quarter from Fort
Sumter.
There are four channels of entrance to
Charleston harbor-main ship-chaunel,
running within range of Morris Island,
and for miles parallel to the beach;
Maffit Channel, which begins at shoai
named, Significantly, the Rattlesnake,
approaches Sullivan Island not far from
an ugly breaker, called Drunken Dick.
and then passes close by the no less ugly
guns OF Fort Moultrie. Betw cen these
two channels are the remaining two
Swash Channel, not well marked, and
North Channel, little used. The low
water depth Of the best of the four is but
eleven feet.
A steamer entering by either channel
to land reinforcements at Fort Sumter
would have to pass certain point, stu
ated IN the only navigable approach to
the fort. Should steamer succeed in
reaching that point, it would there re.
ceive the combined fire of Fort John
son, Fort Moultrie, Battery No. 4 and
Battery No. 2-the distances from the
points designated to the forts and batter
les named being respectively two miles,
three-fourths of mile, half mile, and a
mile and half A steamer, therefore,
at the point referred to would be cx.
posed to the iron hail from more than
twenty-five gunr, at an average distance
OF less than mile and . fifth. THE
"Star Of the West" turned back before
reaching it.
In the event Of an attack upon Fort
Sumter, there could be brought to bear
upon it the FIRE OF Fort johnson. Fort
Monltrie, Battery No. S, Battery No. 8
and Battery No. 4-that is, a fire from
at least twenty Eve guns and ten NOR
tars.
To oppose this attack from five point..
there are in Fort Sumter certainly not
more than seveaty-6ve men, if as many:
aud as 1t requires at least five men to
each gun, of the large number of guns
IN Fort Sumter, only fifteen could be
brought to action. But when guns are
mounted in easements THAT is, have
solid masonry above. beneath on either
side,) % in this fort, the violent concus-
sion accompanying their discharges soon
causes those who man them to suffer se-
verely from rush of blood to the head.
and, IN consequence, it becomes neces-
sary to relieve the men for q time.
hence, OF the seventy-6ve men garri-
sonlng Fort Sumter, at least one third
would have to act Is a reserve, and the
remainder. fiftv men conld m.r 81. -.