New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-22
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
FORT SUMTER TO BE ATTACKED.
From Our Own Correspondent
CHARLESTON s. c.. Feb. II. 1861.


CHARLESTON, S. c., Feb. IL, 1861
Nobody here seems to doubt that, either with
or without the permission, if not by the positive
orders OF the State and cOntt ierate authorities,
the siege of Fort Sumter win soon commence.
Ii is the absorbing idea, and seems to relieve
somewhat the di appointment created by the pro-
ceedings at Montgomery. The Floating Battery
is nearly ready to receive its guns on board; the
requisite amount of ammunition has been trans
ported to James, Sullivan, and Morris Islands,
and, to all appearances, the Rebels are now
closing up their ranks and completing their prep
arations for the work As the hour approaches,
their confidence in their ability to take the Fort,
even with the loss they profess themselves Wiling
to encounter, grows less. 1t has tIansp'red That
while they have been erecting their TO- thcations
and planting their batteries all around Fort Sum-
ter, Major Anderson has not been idle. Ills
garrison, if what we hear be true, have performed
Herculean labor, in strengthening the weak side
of the Fort, and in bringing its defensive caPaci'
ties to the highest state of perfection. The REQ
els have been counting efecting an early and
easy breach in its walls by their formidable
Cummings Point battery bearing directly on that
famous weak side, whose weakness they have
counted on quite as much as on their own
strength. They are destined to be not little
disappointed 1t is known that that weak side
has been strengthened by numerous devices and
applications which Maj. Anderson's mechanics
have been able to invent 80 mat instead OF being
the weakest that side may turn out to be the
strongest II ever the Rebels get into the Fort,
they viii first have TO open the way, by making
a hole large enough; for the opening or entrance
originally left, has been masoned up, so that but
one man can possibly enter at time Should
a Carolinan be daring enough to present HIM
self at this entrance, he will get no further.
Five men can guard it for days. Should breaches
be made, the hand grenades are relied on to prove.
efectual to repuse any stOrmiDg party that may
present themselves The walls Of the Fort are
sixty feet in nights to scale them would seem to
be impracticabe. If attempted, as was for
time talked of, it must prove murderous enter
prise, though in the and it might probably be
DONE For seventy men, exposed as they would
be TO the rifle shots of the assahants could not
be expected to make . perfect defense, though
supplied, as the garrison is, with an abundance
of grenades, they would unquestionably be able
to destroy hundreds, and perhaps Thousands OF
lives before they would be overcome.
If the Federal Government contemplate start
ing reenforcements, SO as to have them at the
mouth of the Charleston harbor, with the view
Of reaching Fort Sumter while the siege is IN
progress, j take the liberty to advise those
having the matter in charge to hurry up the
transports.
The dissatisfaction at the prohibition Of the
slave trade by the Montgomery Convention, and
the laying on of tariff, is daily on the increase.
1t is quite certain that this State will not sub
init to these two measures, but will rebel from
the COnfederacy unless some exception is made
In her behalf.