Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-04-11
ggtlistellat1epns Artieles,
Especial Correspondence of the New York Times
The Fortitications on Morris Island.

Especial Correspondence of the New York Tlmes.l
The Fortitications on Morris Island
CHARLESTON, G. s. A., Monday, March
25, 1S6l.-Your correspondent has been
unwilling to acknowledge that he could be
defeated by the South Carolinians in bis
efforts to see the most important of all the
Notifications in the harbor, viz: those on
Morris Island. He had tried every expe'
dient, had been promised over and over
again that he should certainly see them,
but invariably the promise has been revok'
ed when the appointed time came. After
the avalanche of crinoline that alluded to
in recent letter, Gen. Beauregard issued
the most positive orders, that no civilians,
under any circumstances, should be permit
ted to visit either Fort Johnston, Moultric
or Morris. Notwithstanding this imperial
edict, the thing has at last been done, and
| have to thank that bundle of charming
contradictions, woman, for the modus
operandi. I was coming out of Quater-
master General Hatch's Office, on Meeting
street, last Saturday afternoon, when l met
very lovely creature in tears. She had
been to General Beauregard's headquarters,
in Secession fall, but he, she said, was no
gentleman, and wasn't an American thus to
refuse lady who had not seen her husband
for eight weeks. She had also been to Gov.
Pickens' headquarters, but could not see
him. returned with her to Mr.. Hatch,
and pied hard, but the Quartermaster, al.
thoug made of fiue,toned material, dared
not disobey t: e orders of his superior in
rank l determined on coup, and told
the 4dy that if she would come down to
Southern aoharf at 10 a. N. precisely, on
Sunday morning, that would have at ber
disposal safe boat with four trusty oarsmen,
and we would see if we could not run the
gaunte, successfully. I am thus minute,
because leading merchant here told me
only fortnight since that if "he heard ct
my going o. attempting to 90 to any Of the
forts he should notify the Government thai
I ecas spy" Yet an extraordinary piece
of good luck has enabled me to see the
whole network of immensely strong fortif
cations, covering the whole of Camp Gregg
as Morris Island, six miles long, is called
Puuctual to the moment, the lady arriv.
ed, and we sailed down the beautiful bay
with the thermometer at IS deg. When
off Sumter, we stopped to observe the effect
of that "accidental on-purpose" shot from
the columbiad at Stevens battery. I OBJ
served that place full two feet square had
been knocked away, and that deep linden
tation had been made, which is now par.
TALLY filled up. On the same size there
are two long rows of rifle holes on two sides
of the pentagon, facing respectively Forts
Morris and James. These also answer as
ventilators but owing to the imminent
danger of an attack at any moment, the
lower range had been sealed up with lead
and the upper one partially so, thus pro
tecting themselves on this side, but adding
to the dangers of long siege by shutting ou1
a free current of pure air. From Cummings
Point, which threw the shell into Sumter
we turned our course for Morris Island
Creek, and made for Col. Gregg's private
wharf, about one mile up from the bay
As we neared the landing, the sentry, q
rough up.country soldier, who, like many
of his companions, has not seen woman'E
face for over month, stared my beautiful
companion completely out of countenance
and evidently was so completely nouplussed
that we might have passed without any
1permit." 1 gave my card, and requested
him to send at once to Col. Gregg and in.
form him that the representative of the
New York Times had taken the liberty o.
visiting the island, and trusted that he
would be permitted to see the different bat
teries, and also to escort a lady who wished
to see Lieut.. -, of the Richland Rifles
In fifteen minutes Col. Gregg himself came
riding down, eyed me pretty sharply, evi
IDENTIFY wondering at the temerity of the
Especial" but, nevertheless, invited me tt
land, and also my companion. While she
was escotted to her husbands quarters,
was carefully shown all the batteries on the
island, for which 1 wish here to thank the
Commandant of Camp Gregg, and especial
ly Capt. MCGOWAN, the Quartermaster, who
extended every possible facility to me-
Starting from Cummings Point, let me de-
scribe then, IN detail.
At the point nearest to Fort Sumter
called Cummings or Pelican Point, We
have first the
ColumJia Battery.-This battery is com
manded by Capt. Green, and has four ten
inch mortars and t,co Columbiads. Second
ly, the
Stevens Batte,y-This is commonly
called the Iron Battery. 1t wasinvented by
the Cashier of the Planters and Mechanics
Bank of Charleston. Mr.. Stevens submit
ted his plan to Gov. Pickens, but meeting
with no encouragement there, he showed
his plan to Mr.. Hatch, who interested the
Secretary Of War, Mr.. Jamison, in it, and
he praised the idea so highly that Gov. Pick
ems gave his consent to the erection Of it.
His brother commands it. Here there arc
three Colurnbiads, sixty-four Founders; the
front or glace, as l believe it is called, is
protected by saud-bags twenty feet thick
The doors for the embrasures work by a
lever, which, although bomb.proof, can be
opened and shut, through novel contriv-
ance, by chain. These doors are FIVE feet
by three and a half. Tie 'rat trap" Of
this battery, as the place for the reserves is
called, is protected by sand-bags fifteen feet
thiob Tho roof of thie hatteru aa I he.