Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-01-03
From the Charleston Mercury.
OUR HARBOR DEFENCES.

FORT SUMTER.-Fort Sumter lS Dullt
upon an artificial island, at the entrance o!
our harbor. The foundation being gofstone,
it must be of the strongest nature. That
portion of the fort above the water-line is
of brick and concrete of the most solid
character Its plan is truncated pentagou,
with one side parallel to the adjoining
shore, thus presenting an angle to the
channel. Of the truncated angles the
eastern, western and northern are simply
formed into Pan-coupees, whilst the other
two are formed of two small faces, making
an angle of about fifteen degrees with the
sides of the pentagon. At each intersec.
tion of the small faces is sally-port. The
height of the parapet above the water-line
| is sixty feet. On the eastern and western
sides are the barracks for the privates, mess
hall, kitchen, &c. On the southern side
are the officers quarters, which are finished
in very handsome style.
It is mounted with the heaviest guns Of
the United States service, arranged in
three tiers, the two lower being Classmates
and the upper Barbette guns The Case
mate guns are those which are fired from
an embrasure in the Scarp Walls, and are
protected from the enemy's shells by an
arched bomb-proof covering overhead; the
Barbetle, those which fire over the parapet,
which exposes the Cannoniers to the fire
of the enemy, although, in this instance,
the height of the ramparts is so great that
there is comparatively no danger from the
shot of an enemy's fleet. The armament
consists Of 40 pieces, placed in the follow
ing order: The heaviest guns, such as
the 80 and "a Founders, on the first tier ;
"a and 50 Founders on the second tier;
Columbiads e and 10 inch) and heavy sea
coast mortars on the top of the ramparts.
The heaviest pieces are turned toward
the harbor, the lighter toward the land
side; which side is further protected by
musketry, for which loop-holes are cut in
the Scarp Wall. The number of each kind
of gun IS about thirty 64.pounders the
same number of 32-pounders; forty a.
FOUNDERS ten of each oalibre of Columbiad;
ten 13-inch and ten l0-inch mortars, capa-
BILE of throwing about four thousand (4O0O)
pounds of shot and four thousand three
hundred $4,000 pound of shell at each dis
charge.
On the terra parade plain are situated
two furnances for heating shot. The maga-
zines are situated on the inner sides of the
|sally ports, and contain, at present, 10000
Tbs. of powder, and proportionate quanti-
ty of shot and she'll. The landing to the
Fort is on the southern, or land side, and
is formed by wharf projecting towards
the shore, and also extending the length of
that face.
This Fort would be nearly impregnable
if finished and properly manned. 1t is at
present so far completed that, with little
temporary work, it could be made so strong
as to defy any attack by fleet of large
vessels. Its weakest point is on the south
side, of which the masonry is not only
weaker than that of the other sides, but it is
not protected by any flank fire, which
would sweep the wharf: Once landed, an
entrance may, at the present state Of the
construction, be easily made; for the blinds
of the lower embrasures, though six inches
in thickness, may yet be easily blown away,
and even if this was impossible, scaling
ladders can reach those of the second tier
which are protected in this manner.
This concludes the brief sketch of fort,
which is most perfect specimen Of civil
and military engineering. The whole work
has been conducted in manner that reflects
the highest credit upon the engineers and