The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-13


These works and fourth Of mile Fort
Sumter, and at present manned by two companies Of
regular artillery The position Of this old fort, which is
Of the utmost importance connecting pout in the
defence of the hrbor been considered by the highest
military authority the key to all the defensive works
in the hsrbor Against the attack of forces by lani
boat attack by the stono rver IL must be considered an
essential element of defence.
CASTLE PINCKNEY.
Castle Pnckney is small work, situated on the
southern extremity OF "shutes Folly Island" between
the Hog and Folly channels Though in itself not very
considerable military work. yet, from its position, co
mandng it does the whole line of the eastern wharves,
becomes of the utmost Importance for it to be held by
the State authorities 1t s, in fact the immediate out
work OF the CITY, useful to annoy an invading feet should
pass the outer forts and to render their landing very
difficult, II not impossible In its plan 1t presents TO
The south semcircular face the eastern and western
faces formed by the line OF rampant following the
direction Of the tangent to the circular arc at is
extremity, and for q distance Of twenty yards; the
northern side is pan at both the northeastern and
northwestern angles semicircular bastons, the
outer exremities of the arcs being tangent respec.
lively to the eastern and western sides Of the fort.
There are two Of guns-the lower being in case.
mates (bombproo the embrasures for which are about
feet above low water mark, and the upper being
en- bay1ee Tho height Of the rampant twenty, and
the width thirty two feet The width OF the outer wall
Of the parapet Fix feet the depth Of the casemases
twenty feet height ten the diameter east and wes)
Of tho castle one hundred and seventy feet The
trance the northern side either side Of which
are officers and prvates quarters, m, &C.
The TO the barbette made the northeastern
and north western corners OF the tTe parGdplen. In
the centre Of the latter is the furnace for heating
shot Around the foot OF the scarp wall is break
water, about twelve feet in width, horizontally, whic,
has Its western side extended in a tangent direction
to the south, to form the landing. The landing 10
protected by the nre OF vera guns sweeping its length.
The of this castle consists of about twenty
five pieces "a and % Founders few seaooast mortars
and six coumbiads-thc latter not being mounted. In
the magazine rs sufciency Of ammunition, including
shot and loaded shell This work been Of late put In
thorough repair as possible. Owing TO the want Of
ventilation and the reverberaon Of the sound in
gagement the lower tier OF guns would soon become
useless, and the occupants would be obliged to resort
entirely TO the barbee guns and morars In this case
the exposure the enemies direct shot would not be
great for the parapet higher than the huks Of most
ships and much higher than the adjoining shore As TO
It's importance although, We possessed forts Sumter
and Moultre, II would be OF comparatively little use,
yet II enemy possessed IL, Its proximity to tho city
would enable the garrison to damage Charleston seriously
OTHER WORKS
There are other works Hadrils Point, Mount Plea
sant stono Morris s;and and fronting the entrance Of
Charleston harbor which constructed Of palmetto
logs and sand. They all fully manned for action
with large garrisoSa ano guns Of heavy calibro
THE ExAcf DISTANCES OF THE FORTS.
Fort Sumter is three aud three eights miles from
Charleston one and eighth mile from Fort Moui-
,ric three fourths OF mile from Cummngs' Point
and three eighths mile from Fort Johnson and two and
nyeeighths miles from Castle Pinckney. The city Of
Charleston Is entirely out Of the range OF tho guns Of
Fort sumter.
sToEo INLET.
stono Point ia portion Of Morris Island facing the sea
coast stono Inlet Is about leagues from tho south
channel OF Charleston. Between them lie two Islands,
viz-Morris Isand on which the light house
stands, and Coffin Island In Stono Inlet there
are nine or ten feet Of water at low tide, but
IL was not much frequented until Charleston was
blockaded 1875, when II vsed by British vesses1
In stragetcal point OF view the landing OF United
States troops Point would appear to be for The
purpose Of getting tho Of the Morris Island bat
teries which guard the approaches TO Charles
ton on Island the Confederate states forces ara
pretty numerous, and if attempt TO land troops
a mado by the United States forces the conflict
will he short and bloody At last accounts In regard
N s,ono Point General Bauregard had ordered i'm
mense battery TO he erected al the place where IL ia
aeged the United States troops will attempt to Land.
report saied that several large guns were
in transtu from Castle Phckny TO that Point.