Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-02
FROM CHARLESTON The Charleston cores
pendent Of the Baltimore American says:

FROM CHARLESTON The Charleston cores
pendent Of the Baltimore American says:
Fort Moultrie, under the skilful direction Of
Major Ripley, with his black brigade OF picks
and shovels, has thrown up breastworks and
mounted heavy guns to such an extent that the
whole appearance Of the fort has changed, and has
almost attained its utmost state Of efficiency
Huge heaps of sand bags surmount the ramparts,
faced with palmetto logs and covered with hides,
from the embraces of which the grim dogs Of war
protrude their muzzles, nine Of them leveled d.
rect at Fort Sumter. What is conceived TO be the
weakest point in the granite mass has been selected
as the mark at which all these cannon pointed
and they viii give the work of the mason a severe
test The interior Of the fort also presents most
warlike aspect. The oven for hot shot Is in read
mess like your steam fire Engines, for firing up at
any moment and all the equipments for carriage
piled up around the gun carriages. The maya
zine has been buried In a cavern Of sand bags,
and is be eved to be beyond the reach Of shot or
| shell Every arrangement has been made not
only for the protection of the men, but for recev-
ing the balls Of Sumter with the least possible
damage.
The military are anxious for the fight to CON-
mence; as, having come to Charleston to fight,
they are indisposed to 60 home without smelling
powder They are impatient at the delay, and
the stormy and unpleasant weather has rendered
their military duties very severe and rksome. At
Morris Island three large Columbiads have been
mounted, and entrenched In sand bags, with A.
FOUNDER and formidable mortar. The batteries at
Fort Johnson are also becoming quite formidable,
and Ii Is intended to keep up fire on Sumter
from these three forts for twenty -four hours before
| an attempt 10 made to assault this stronghold OF
Uncle Sam. The impression is that breach can
be made in the walls, and that Major nderson's
limited garrison will be worn out by the severe
labor Of working the guns necessarily for so long
time, that the storming party on RATS will be
able to accomplish the escalade without much
difficulty or loss of life
In all the conversations and speculations on the
subject Of the attack on Sumter hear but few
thoughts expressed as to the amount Of damage
Maj Anderson will be able to do on the military
defences Of his assailants The impression is that
he will take them seriatinr, commencing with
Fort Moultrie, and here ''sand bags" are consid-
cred match for casemated granite. The ques-
ton as to whether he can silence the guns Of
Moultrie Is never preached though 1t is said that
he can dismount all their guns in few hours,
and then turn his attention to the weaker batter
les on Morris Island and Fort Johnson. Should
he be able to thus silence all their heavy guns be-
fore any serious impression Is made on his walls,
which he deems impregnable, what will become
OF the projected assault and escalade! The Gov
ernor and his Cabinet doubtless anxiously discuss
these matters of fact eventualities, but the mill
tary think Of nothing but success and victory