, 1861-02-07
Preparations to Attack Fort Sumter.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Americana
OHAnLEroy. Jan. 80, 1851.

lCotfespondence OF Inc baltimore Americana
0HAnIEroS. Jan. 80, 1851.
PREPARATIONS At FORT MoELTRIE.
Fort Moultrie, under the ekillful direction
of Major Ripley, with his black brigade Of
picks and shovelR, has thrown up breastTorks
and mounted heavy guns to such IN ertent
that the whole appearance Of the fort has
changed, and hns almost attained its utmost
state Of efficiency. Huge heaps Of sand bags
surmount tile ramparts, faced with palmetto
logs, and covered with hides, from the embra-
sures Of which the grim dogs Of war protrudc
their mnzz1es, nine Of them 1eyelled directly at
Fort Sumter. Wlas is conceived to be the
weakest point in the granite mass has been
selected as the mark at which all these cannon
are pointed, and they will give the work Of the
mas On q severe test The interior of the fort
a;so presents most warlike aspect. The oven
for hot shot is in readiness, like your steam
hre.eDgines, for firing up ut any moment, und
all the equipments for carnage piled up around
the gun carriages. The magazine las been
buried in cavern Of sand bags, and is helieye';
to be beyond the reach Of shot or shell. Eve
~ arrangement has been made not only for
the protection Of, the men, but for receiving
the balls Of Sumter with the least possible
damage.
ANXIOUS FOR F1GHK.
The military are anxious for the fight tf.
commence, as, having come to Charleston to
fight, they are indisposed to 20 home withour
smelling powder. They arc most impatient
at the delay, and the stormy and unpleasant
weather has rendered their military duties very
severe and irksome. At Morris Island, three
lnrge Columbiads have been. mounted and ell
trenchcd in sand bags, with 42+ppun1er and
formidable mortar. The batteries at For:
johnson are also becoming quite formidable,
aud it is intended to keep up fire on Sumter
from these three forts for - hours before ali
attempt is made to assault the stronghold &
Uncle Sam. The impression is that brcac'.
can be made in tbs walls, Asd that N1ojor An
derson's limited garrison viii be SO worn oui,
by the severe lnbors Of working the guns IL
cessantlT for so long time, that the stormfn.~
eeca!ade without much difficulty or loss Of
life.
THE PROPOSED ASSAULT.
There is no doubt Of the fact that rafts are
being constructed for the assault, and ha =.
seen one of them in progress, though it Is :,
portion Of the secret work Of the campaign
that cannot be too closely inquired into. They
will be constructed Of palmetto logs, and cot
ton bales used Us protection for the assault
is no aaggging on the part of the military III
view Of the havoc Of life that must be the re-
suit Of the assault, and the anxiety from da:
to day to commence operations is increasing.
The temporizlng policy Of the Governor AM.
his Council meet with much harsh criticism.
~ LIE 1IlEDAE40tl1tEy UuL IL Is Ef1uH1i Liza.
even should the attack ultimately be made, st
far as preparations are concerned. South Caro-
lima has obtained more by the delay than Mai
Anderson.
WHAT CAN MAJOR ANDERSON Dos
In oil the conversation aud speculation o.,
the subject Of the attack Oh Sumter, hear
but few thoughts expressed as to the amoun*
of damage Major Anderson will be able to dt.
On the military defencas Of his assailants. Tht.
frrHr, rSar,f L. hat i-1..
commencing with Fort Moultrie, and here
"sandbags" are considered match for cast
mated granite. The question as to whether
he can silence tile guns Of Aloultrie is never
broachcd, though it is said that he can dis
mount n1s their guns in Il few hours aud thcr4
turn bis attention to the weaker batteries on
Morris Island and Fort johnson. Should hc
be able to thus silence all their heavy guns bt-
fore any serious impression is made on his
walls, which he deems imprcG lable, what will
become Of the projected assault and escalade:
The Governor md his Cabinet doubtless anS-
ious]y discuss these matter-offact eventaali.
ties, but the military think Of nothing butsuc
cess and victory.
The rurnor7 in circulation rs the arrange
ments made by Major Anderson to defend his
position are various, but Of eonrse not alto
gethcr reliable, rs he keeps lis own counsel,
and there is little or no Communication roE:
with lin. The landing, or wharf, in the rear
as to blow up IN assaulting party, and Aanst
grenades supplied in great abundance to tb1ow
on them from the ralnparts. 1t is, therefor,
evident that if Sumter is attacked there VII;
be great sacrifice Of human lit., even shonlh
the most favorable anticipatious Of our c;t;-
zens be realized.
Correspondence Of the Providence Journal.1
EXTRA FoRT1FIcAT1oNs.
The extra f,,r:itlcations here consist of four
land batteries and one floating battery, with
m available force Of about $500 men. Al
the eastern extremity Of Sn1liran's Island is Il
small battery OF o-mr:ld guns. It is cnn,
structcd OF barrels ami beyB OF saud, anu l.
intended to protect the north channel. On
Morris Island there arc three batteries. OH
the extreme cyst end Of the island is 4 battery
OF 2i-pOund guns, intended to project tl,t
main ship channel This channel is also oh,
structed by four sunken vessels, SO that ships
drawing over thirteen teet Of water cnunot
enter the harbor. At the middle and west GU;
OF the Island are two batteries Of heavy guuF
aud mortars, bearing directly on Fort Sumter.
They ure constructed Of palmetto logs ant!
bags Of sand. should suppose that bags O,
sand formed their chief material for consfruc.
tion, as cue firm in the city hes a contract for
10000. The floating battery is to be built il!
the shape of a wedge, of palmetto timber onr
foot in thickness, and cascd with iron, and nlsn
having IN inner easing Of iron, with three feet
space between the caaingE, which Is to BE-
filled with sand. How it is to be armed, anil
how used, unl unable to learn, as it is kept a3
secret as possible. With al1 the armament and
forces here which can be brought against Fort
Sumter, an told by the very best military
authority that it will be impossible to take il,
It Anderson is disposed to defend it.