The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
and hospital have been protected by stone
traverses, and the parade cleared.
CUMMINGS POINT IRON BATTERY.

and hospital have been protected by stone
traverses, and the parade cleared.
CUMMINGS POINT IRON BATTERY.
The nearest land to Fort Sumpter is
Cummings Point. On this point is erected
the celebrated railroad iron battery. 1t
consists of heavy frame work of yellow
pine logs. The roof is of the same material,
over which dovetailed bars of railroad iron
of the T pattern are laid from top to bot
tom-all of which is rivited down in the
most secure manner, On the front it pre-
sents an angle of about thirty degrees.
There are three portfolios, which open and
close with iron shutters of the heaviest de-
scription. When open, the muzzles of the
columbiads fill up the space completely.
The recoil of the gun enables the shutters
to be closed instantly. 1t is asserted, on
high military authority, that this inclined
plane will effectually resist guns of the
heaviest calibre-frst, because no shot can
strike it except at an obtuse angle, which
would cause the ball to glance; second, be-
cause it's power of resistance is sufficient to
Withstand the fall of the heaviest shells.
The columbiad guns, with which this novel
battery is equipped, bear on the south wall
of Sumpter, the line of fire being at an angle
of about thirty.6ve degrees. This is not, of
course, considered favorable for preaching;
but owing to the fact that the wall is loop
holed for musketry throughout its entire
length, which, of course, weakens it great
deal, the effect of shot upon it would, we
think, even at the distance of 1,15O yards,
effect a breach within reasonable time.
The work is in charge of several companies
of the regular army of the Confederate
States. If employed to reduce Fort Sump-
ter, this battery will prove quite formidable.
THE IRON FLOATING BATTERY.
This is novel war machine designed for
harbor operations, and is at present anchor
ed near Castle Pinckney. 1t is constructed
of palmetto logs, sheathed with plate iron,
and is supposed to be impregnable against
shot. 1t is embrasured for and mounts four
guns of heavy calibre. 1t requires sixty
men to operate it. The first impression on
seeing this machine is that of immense solid
ity. The outer or gunside is covered with
six plates of iron-two of them of the T
railroad pattern, placed horizontally, and
the other four bolted one over the other, in
the strongest manner, and running vertical
~. The wall of the gun side is full four
feet thick, constructed of that peculiar pal,
metto wood SO full of fibrous material that
sixty-four Founders cannot pierce it. The
main deck is wide and roOmy. In nineteen
open chambers, on the port side of the deck,
we found profusion of shot-thirty- four
pounders-while just beyond them is an
immense pile of sand bags, which protect
an overhanging roof, under which is to be
placed the hospital. This also protects
the magazines three in number), under
which is the hold proper. There are six
entrances to the hold, which will contain, if
necessary, over three hundred men. When
moored it is kept in place by four heavy
wedges, driven down by species of ram,
which will hold it fast, and prevent any
swaying around by the tide.
THE STATE TROOPS NEAR CHARLESTON.
Commander-in.Chief- Brigadier General P.
7. G. Beauregard.
Staf-Colonel R. w. Gibbes, Surgeon Gen.
eral; Major w. H. Whitney, Engineer-in.C Chief
Colonel S. R. Gist, Adjutant General; Colonel
l.. NJ. Hatch, Quartermaster General; Captain
W. R. Boggs, Abide Camp.
First regiment artillery, Colonel Lock 270
First regiment rifles, Col. j. j. Pettigrew SOS
First battalion Charleston rifemen 222
Seventeenth regiment of infantry, Col.
Cunningham 825
Mounted companies 800
Other companies 49l
Total .2,733
Beside the above, there are one regiment
of volunteers from the upper districts of the
State (about 300 men), one regiment of
artillery and one squadron of enlisted men,
comprising the regular troops of the State,
which make the aggregate number of troops
now under arms nearly four thousand men.