Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-02

ulrbIy Tnterostinq from Fort sumter.

Highly Interesting from Fort sumter.
The Washington correspondent Of the N
Y. Herald telegraphs as follows of matterr
relative to Fort samter
WAsRneTON, Jan. 30, 1861.
"Priyate adyices from the South, received
here Tonight indicate that there will be q
fight 10 less than thirty hours.
The President declared to q member o.
Congress yesterday that be had no doubt that
Fort Sumter would be attacked in less than
a week, when fght would ensue and the
/ war Bonld commence, The Congrcssman
inquired why be did not reinforce Major An
derson2 The President replied, that there
were not vessels enough In the American
navy, to reach Fort Sumter In the first
place, they would have 70 enter ia tho day
! time, and move slowly in order to clear the
old vessels that have been sunk 10 the chan-
mel as barriers against any attempt Of COW
erument gesseIs 10 enter the hafbor. This
fact, il asserted, would cause their sure
destruction by the outer lighthouse batteries
on Morris Island, and before eneountefing
the Gre Of the Norris light beacon batteries,
and Point oumin's batteries, and thegun Of
Fort johnson o. James Island, and Fort
Moultrie on SulliFan's island all Of which
they would have to suffer before reaching
Fort Sumter. Besides, Major Anderson
could afford no protection to vessel against
the outeE batteries on Morris Island. 81
This is the opinion of the authorities hav-
ing power to send relief, but in justice to
those who would have 70 execute tho work
aud risk their lives before the FIRE Of the Sc
eessionists, I am assured that the harbor OF
Charleston can be entered by light draft YES
sells of war, and Major Anderson can be rein
forced. There are men in the American
navy who believe that the business of firing
cannon is a game that two can fire at aud
that as good a shot can be made from the deck
of an American ship-of-war, as from Morris
Island.
Letters are received from Fort Sumter as
late as the 26th inst, stating that all the off.
GERS and men are all well. While they would
like some fresh meat for a change, they are a
unite in feeling against succumbing to the
Terms of the authorities of Charleston to sup
ply them either by courtesy or to let them
have daily rations, which they can cut off at
any moment. When the authorities will al
low Majoi Anderson to contract for quanti-
ty of supplies according to the usual practices,
untrammelled by threats of any improper
influence, he will do so, and not before. I'm
less he can do this, the men prefer to confne
themselves to the fare they now have, and Of
which they have ample supply.
Floating batteries, the superstruetures of |
which are composed Of cotton bales, are in
course of erection by which means in part
the South Carolinians expect to attack Fort |
Sumter. The officer who writes from Fort |
Sumter, alluding to these batteries, says -
''The difference of fighting behind cotton !
bags in 1912 and now is, that General Jack
son commanded behind the bags then, and |
had no Robert Anderson with the lmpregna-
bic walls OF a Sumter, with the destructive
weapons which the ingenuity OF man for half
! century has invented, to contend with.
Besides. jackson is dead
The same writer in another connection
says: I'VE have been wonderfully favored
by Providence in all our movements. We
abandoned Moultrie under cover of night by
aid Of a vessel chartered to take the soldiers
wives, twenty-five IN number, to asafer place.
When the captain discovered the intention of
Major Anderson he became rebellious, but
was soon sent below and locked up until we
we're safely landed at Sumter. Our nights
work was crowned by glorious sunrise.
The men were all summoned around the flag
itaff, and the stars and stripes were run up,
md the chaplain invoked Gods blessing to
est upou. our little band, and to aid us in the
work of our country defence, and in defend
ng the national honor and flag. shall
never forget the scene. If we had been as
ailed on that day by any considerable force
t is doubtfulif we could have held ont, as the
ort was in a miserable condition for defence.
But the Almighty heard our prayers. A storm
anne up and lasted ten days It was so ter
ifc that the sea, tired Of knocking at our
linty walls, would dash far above and over
Is. During those ten days no vessel could
pproach us. We put our house in order, so
hat atthe end of the storm we could have
lefed any power on earth
Col. Haskell, aid-de-camp to Gov. Pickens,
rrived here this afternoon, with dispatches
0 Col. Hayne It is understood he brings
he ultimatum of South Carolina respecting
be public property within that State, and al
0 in regard to Fort Sumter. Col. Haskell
ad protracted interview with Col Hayne
after his arrival Until Col. d.
makes bis Communication to the President,
zhich will probably be tomorrow or the day
fter, nothing definite viii be known res
ecting affairs at Charleston
]