The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-16
F1om tho Rishnond Ennnlrar
A Rebel Account of the Defence,

a Rebel Account of the Defencef.
Charleston ID situated on a low, level
point Of land, at the Junction OF Cooper
and Ashley Rivers. No portion of the
city ia more than twenty feet above the
tide, so that upon approaching it from
the harbor its buildings and the beauti-
full spires of its churches seem &C rise
directly from the water. The Cooper
River joins the Ashley at a right angle
from the North, and the continuation OF
the latter river, running nearly due east,
forms the lower harbor and bay of
Charleston, which widens gradually
from 2 to 5 miles to its mouth, distant
about ten miles from the city. On the
opposite side of the Cooper River, where
it debouches into the harbor, a short mile
from tie city, IS Castle Pinckasy, q small
work, but mounting some heavy guns.
Nearly opposite, on the Southern side Of
the harbOr, ON James Island, about tieo
| miles distant, Is Fort johnson. About four
miiss from the city midway between SUI
livsns' and James islands, is Fort Sum.
ter, aud directly northwsrd of il, on
Sullivan's Island, at a distance Of two
thousand yards, is Fort Moultrie. Be-
tween these two forts is the only chan
mel for vessels to approach the city. Fort
Sumter has three tiers of guns, and under
the old Government, ranked as q %forti-
cation of the second class, in the extent
of the works and the strength of its
armament, but it was constructed in a
very superior manner, and was supposed
TO be invulnerable at the time TO the ef-
fects of any naval ordnance then in use.
It's reduction by South Carolina, In 1861,
was effected by hot shot from Fort Moal-
trie setting FIRE to the wooden roofs OF
the capasiOus buildings allotted for on
GERS quarters, by which Anderson and
his garrison were literally roasted out
Care has been taken, in the reconSsruction Of
tie buildings, 10 AVOID all chances for a rsps
titi0n Of such a b1rbecue. Fort Moultrie il
a work of inferior rank, but it is admi-
rably situated for dealing offensive blows
upon an approaching enemy.
The principal entrance to the harboI
is through Ship Channel, the outer ban
Of which is distant southeast from Fort
Sumter, about six miles. Shortly after
crossing The bar, the enemy's vessels viii
1 CUlut uuANL AlC hIG VI tuC DaLtCIleA OF
Johns Island, near and parallel to which
the channel runs in a westerly direction
for two miles, 1t then makes an angle
northward, running fer more than a mile
directly toward Forts Sumter and Moul-
trie. After passing the former, it turns
TO the west, and passes beneath the for
tiications, directly under their guns, AnC
then bends to the southwest, in which
direction il approaches Fort johnson foi
upward Of two miles, while on the RICH.
it is under the fire of Castle Pinckney
u 4 not unhl The enemy silenees or passes al
these works, and otherS tehich t0iH annouao
themselves at the proper tins, hSt he wiH b
able 10 occupy Copper and ashley RiverS, AM
place Charleston at Tie mercy Of ths Sh0t ant
shell Of his iton elads.
Whatever uncertainty prevails Is Il
the ability Of Notifications to resist tn,
impetus Of the formidable projeclileI
hurled by the Federal gunboats, tber,
can be no doubt that the inVulnerAbilitl
of the turreted monsters will be tested
on this occasion by a severer ordeal thai
any to which they have been heretofor
subjected, aud Admiral Dupont will I'm,
a different entertainment in running III
gauntlet of Forts Sumter and Moulirie
and johnson and Pincknsy, fcom tina
furnished by the miserable abortion
misnamed batteries Of Port Royal, So
pregnant Of disgrace and disaster {
South Carolina.