Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-02
Movements Mt Charlestsn


force now remaining in Fort Sumter consists of
about one hundred and thirty men, fifty of whom
are laborers and the rest troops belonging to the
artillery branch of the United States service
These latter are sufficient to man about one half
the guns Of the fort, supposing the guns Were all
mounted. Fortunately, however, this is far from
being the case. Out Of seventy-fve pieces of
heavy ordnance now in the fort only eleven are
fully mounted. These all casemate guns In
the lower tier. and include the nine guns OF that
face OF the fortress fronting towards Sullivan's
Island. Two more Of these casemate guns were
nearly mounted on Friday evening, but the work
OF getting them in position Is necessarily slow
and tedious, and, with the force now at work IL
10 impossible to mount more than three guns Der
| day at the utmost The heaviest guns too which
| are the ten-inch Columbiads, have vet to be
| mounted One Of the casemate guns at one of the
| as to cover Castle PinckneY. The garrison were
on Friday evening getting ready to mount some
OF the casemate guns on the south side Of the
walls.
Besides these heavy pieces, four of the lighter
bdroetts guns are mounted upon the ramparts
| pointing towards Morris Island. These are so
arranged upon pivot carriages as to sweep around
the Whole horizon. The magazine or the fortress
Ia well stocked with an immense quantity of
grape, canister and shells, and about seven hum
dred barrels Of powder. All the small arms and
with the garrison, and there Is sufficient accu-
mutation of provisions to last, in case of necessi
ty, for ak months at least Four large cistt rms
contain an ample supply Of fresh water, but 1t is
| to spare. The rumor current in the city that
number Of the guns at Fort Sumter, which are
not yet mounted, had been spiked by the South
ern workmen, is without foundation
| From the Courier Of Saturday we take the fol-
lowing:
| THE FoRTs-MILITARY MOVEMENTS, Rrc.
| The rubbish left by the Federal troops at Fort
| Moultre is being cleared away, and the fortress
| assuming defensible aspect Many apprehended
difficulties, of a nature we need not name, have
been removed; and the volunteer companies con-
fhn
| hardshps Of the soldier. Some of the guns are
| 1t is supposed, badly injured by the burning Of
the carriages. Activity prevails at the garrison,
and Its vigilant officers are determined on the
course that guides their action.
| Fort Sumter, as viewed at a distance. presents
an appearance Of lively activity. Schuoners and
channel during the day. Everything seemed to
| indicate active preparations.
Castle Pinckney was reinforced on Friday by
| tachment of the Marion Artillery from Fort
Moultrie, under command Of Captain King A
detachment Of the Washington Light Infantry
was transferred from the former to the latter place
In the forenoon, thus retaining at Fort Moultrie
| the same force as first occupied it,
The garrison at Castle Pinckney consists of
| ABOUT two hundred men. Ten twenty -four pound
| cannon are mounted on the rampars, besides some
| the lower tier. The work is well provided with
munitions of all kinds, and under the command
Of lis field officers, Col Pettigrew and Mai Eli
son CaPers, will make itself felt, If need DE when
u
cant position Of which 1t has the reputation AL
| though defective construction has impaired the
power OF the lower batteries to considerable ex-
tent II has an effective tier Of rampant guns which
from It's eligible position, capable of much
service 1t Is beyond the reach Of the largest guns
OF Fort Sumpter, and commands the entire line of
wharyes and shipping along Cooper river, and in
| the hands of an enemy would be capable of doing
vast injury to tke city
The Mercury Of Saturday says: The arsenal was
guarded on Thursday night and yesterday morn
Ina hut hn Dali u
The orders were strictly carried out, and no en-
trance whatever was made. Nothing placed within
| the enclosure by the federal Government was
touched, but the strictest surveillance was kept
around the walls. At p. m. yesterday, the two
companies on guard were relieved by the Irish
Volunteers. The Palmetto Guards, when relieved
numbered 6s men, and the Cadet X femen 81 men
The Irish Volunteers will be relieved at eio hit
O'Clock this morning by the German Fusiliers
We may here state that the report current that a
portion OF the stores Of arms and ammunition I'm
the arsenal have been injured or destroyed, is
wholly without foundation.
Temporary Flagstaff has been erected and the
Palmetto flag futters from the top of Castle Pinck-
ney. very strong guard is detailed, not only on
DEPARTURE OF MECHANICS FROM FORT SUMTER
The Charleston News notes the arrival In that
city Of about eighty mechanics and laborers from
Fort sumter, on Saturday, en- route for Baltimore
and Philadelphia, by the steamer keystone State,
bound to the latter port, and says:
They do not feel disposed to take part in bat.
tie, and as they could not remain without the
chance OF such thing, they concluded to STAY no
longer They report about forty or fifty mechanics
and laborers still there and seventy soldiers
About twelve case mate guns are mounted most
ly looking towards Sullivan's Island and four or
nve barbette guns which work on pivots, and cen
be worked facing in any direction: With their
present force they can place several guns In posi-
ton each day. and they have an abundant supply
OF shot and shell and provisions and water 10 last
them for months, the cisterns being large and
amply supplied with good rain water The guns
OF the largest calibre not vet in position and
the number Of cannon in the fort amounts to half
Its armament. On the night the soldiers took pos
session of Fort Sumter the great body of the troops
reached that place about seven O'Clock and the
workmen In the fort had no information or hint of
it until IL took place.
We are happy to state that most of the cannon
that were spiked at Fourt Moultrie are now in
GOOD condition, the metal pins that the United
states omcers were kind enough to leave In the
touch-hoies being removed.
MILITARY IN THE CITY
The city Of Charleston is nightly enlivened by
parades and meeting of the volunteer military
On Friday night the Washington Light Infantry,
numbering seventy members, held meeting and
all those present enlisted for active duty These
added to the number already on duy make more
than two full companies at this time in the service
Of the State.
The Montgomery Guards under the command
OF Lieutenant Armstrong, made parade on Fri
day night, numbering in their ranks over seventy
men.
The schooner w. A. Ellis, which arrived here
from New York on Wednesday last, had on board
5OO barrels GENE mt consigned to Fort Moultrie
We learn that its delivery to the United States
oficers has been prevented for the present, and
that 1t will be placed In store Two lighters were
alongside taking the cement on board when the
order for Its non-delivery was received
j. 6. Foster, Captain L. s. Engineers, has been
Tor weeks past constant consgnee by northern
vessels, which have brought all kinds OF supplies
rCm cannon to cement Charleston Courier.