Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-02-27
The Great Mortar Fleet.

An expedition for some unknowo South.
ern quarter has been forming for several
months at New York. 1t is known as the
mortar fleet, and is to be commanded by
Commodore Porter. The New York Times
Of Saturday, notices the departure Of more
vessels Of the mortar feet from the port of
New York, and says that day by day they
quietly slip their anchors and depart for
their mysterious rendezvous, nobody knows
where. Their mission is equally shrouded
I in mystery. But the most likely sugges.
tion is that the mortar fleet is to 60 to Char:
lesion harbor, where it will be the indis
peusable compliment of the stone blockade.
The mortars were cast at Pittsburg, and
have an average weight Of about 1900
pounds. The diameter of the bore is thir
teen inches, aud the depth thirty-6ve inch.
es, With thickness of metal around Of tf.
teen inches. The diameter of the truu-
MONS is fifteen inches, and the complete
length of the mortar is fifty inches They
may be used upon sea or land. Accurate
firing may be made at distance of two and
q quarter miles, may be aimed in any d.
rection. The mortar carriage weighs about
two tons, and is capable Of resisting pres
sure of about one hundred and fifty tons.
The bomb.shells to be used weigh, un-
filed, two hundred pounds eacn, and when
filed, an additional weight of twelve pounds
is given. About 5000 of these missiles
have been manufactured for the feet.
Each vessel has been provided with two
S2- Founders, weighing 3,7OO pounds
They are smooth bore and throw solid shot
and she'll
Instructions to be observed in time of
attack have been transmitted by the Gov.
ernment to the officers of the feet, aud a
convenient code of signals has been adop,
ted. The vessels, which are mostly schoon-
ers, of two and three hundred tons burden,
number twen:y.one in all. The side. wheel
steam gun.boat Octorara is to be the flag,
ship of the Aotilla. - Washington National
Republican, 10h.
A SNARE OF THE ENEMY-It may we'll
be doubted whether the frequent reports
we hear through the Northern papers, ap
psreutly from Europe, of the determine
tion of France and England to intervene
in this war against the North, are not
snares and devices of the enemy to lull Us
into a false and sleepy security, and prevent
US from strengthening our army and taking
those active and prompt measures for self.
protection which people should do who
are menaced with imminent and total ruin.
Look at it: Our Saturdays paper contain
ed statement from the speech from Ma
poleon himself, declaring that he would
still maintain strict neutrality in this
struggle under the hope that it would soon
be terminated, most probably, in his opin-
ion, by the subjugation Of the South, ] and
the same paper contained later kilograms,
from the North, to the effect that the inter-
ventiou was postponed only few weeks
Now put that and this together. See the
anxiety of the Northern papers to keep a.
live in the South this hope Of foreign inter-
vention. Spurn it and let us rely upon our.
selves alone. If we but do our duty, we
need no intervention ; if We fail in our duty,
Intervention will not come, but ruin will
be upon US and that speedily. For our
part we wish We had no minister at any
foreign court, instead of the half dozen We
have got there.-lNacon Telegraph.