Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-03-18
Contemplated ATTACK on Charleston.

}63.
Contemplated Attack on Charleston.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Amer.
icam, &C. G. Fulton, one Of the proprietors)
writing from Port Royal, s. G., gives the
following relative to the -scoming" attack
on Charleston: 81,
The first intelligence received at the
North from the anticipated demonstration
| on Charleston will doubtless come to you
by way of Richmond. In crediting these
statements, whatever they may be it must
be borne in mind that Beauregard is in
command. There will probably be iron.
clad reconnoissances in the lower harbor
for two or three days prior to the main at.
tack. After accomplishing their purpose
for the day, it may so happen that they
will fall back to their anchorage for the
night. Beauregard will forthwith telegraph
to Richmond, in sounding bombast,
accounts Of smashed turrets, disabled yes.
sells, a severe repulse, and perhaps the sink.
ing Of one OF two Ct the "Yankee cheese.
boxes.' You must be prepared for all this
characteristic "Beauregardiana," and place
Just so much credit in what may reach you
from that source as the circumstances may
warrant.
That the humbling of Charleston, the
taking of Sumter: and Moultrie, the resto.
ration of the power of the Government,
and the raising Of the old flag, are under
takings Of magnificent Importance, and Of
doubtful results, there can be no dispute.
We may find the work one Of such magni-
tude as to be compelled to abandon it, but
that there will be any serious disasters at
tending the iron-clad demonstration is not
to be anticipated. The operations Of the
Montauk at Fort McAllister, and the man.
ner in which she has received sixty shots
full in the face, from the most powerful
guns in the possession of the rebels, has
settled the point as to their invulnerability.
They may not be able to pass the obstruc-
tions, they may be compelled to abandon
the attempt toreduce Sumter and Moultrie,
but that any of them will be captured, sunk
or disabled by the enemy's guns or gun
boats, is not at all to be anticipated
At the last accounts from Charleston the
number of gunsi in position to check our
advance on the city was estimated at one
hundred and sixty. More have. since
doubtless been mounted, and we may CAL
culate on at least two hundred by the time
the attack is made. Of these probably ff.
ty command the approaches to Fort Sum
ter, and when that point is reached the feet
will probably receive the concentrated fire
of Moultrie, Sumter and Cummings Point,
where the famous railroad battery is sta.
toned. They will doubtless however, be
able to place themselves in such position
between Sumter and Moultrie as that their
miss shots will strike where they are not
intended. The battery at Cummings Point
will be mile distant, too far altogether
even to dent the armor of an iron,clad.
The mode of attack concluded upon by
Admiral Dupont is Of course altogether
unknown. He may have determined to
reduce the batteries on the islands at the
entrance Of the harbor, and then dash past
Fort Sumter and demand the surrender Of
the city, receiving their combined shot and
shell without response; or he may deter
mine to first make the effort to reduce and
retake Sumter as base Of future operations
on the city. The distractions in the har-
Dor are understood to be between Sumter
and the city. Indeed, it would be impos-
sible to place any obstructions below Sum
ter, as the fate Of our feet Of aunken wha-
lers has already proved. Thus when Sam.
teris passed the city will be at the mercy
Of, our fifteen inch shells, and must either
surrender or submit to destruction. The
passing of Sumter will, however, put the
Monitors to full test of their powers Of
resistance. If able to move on despite the
showers of shot and shell that may be
poured upon them, or to hold their ground
until they have silenced the euemy's guns
at this point, the city will of course be at
their mercy.