Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-13


THK Fonrs. BATTERIES. CHANNELS. OnsrRuo
rfoSs, CuNBoArs AND TRooPs-TnE CIrY DE-
FEsDEp BY $40 CANNON AND $1,000 Mrx.
As Charleston Is the .o.st to which public at
tention Is how most largely attracted, a brief de
scrrtion OF it, deferses will be of interest.
FORT SUMTER.
Fort Sumter il built upon an artificial island mt
the mouth of Charleston harbpr, three andthree
eighths miles distant from the city OF Charleston
This island has for it, base "a sand and mud bank
with a superstructure formed of the refuse of
several northern stone quarres. The island it.
sell cost a hall million OF dollars and was ten
years IN course of construction. The lortifcation
cost another halt million, and when Mai Ander-
son took Possession of H. IL so near com
pletioa that's portion Of It's guns had been placed
in position. The walls are OF solid brick and
concrete masonry, built close To the waters edge
without sbesme They are SIXTY feet high and
from eight 10 twelve feet in thickness and are
pierced Tor three tiers OF guns, on the north, east
and west exterior sides Its weakest point is on
the south sIde OF which the masonry is not only
weaker than the other Sides but IL is not protect
Ell by any flank fire which would sweep the land
ing wasrs tOnesoi the garrison OF the fort, who
lett there only a Few weeks ago, and is now at
four guns ready for action. about fifty two Zone
halr OF which are ten neli coliimbiads the re-
REMAINDER peisg eight aud ten inch UsIllgrens
and howitzers There are four heavy mortars in
the tort, one being stationed at each corner
There are about twelve rihed guns in tho works
but IN consequence of the explosion OF one of
those guns by which an officer of high rank mar
rowiy escaped losing his life, il had been deter
miaed no. "a, pince any more reliance upon such
pieces. They had, therefore, given up the idea
OF riiiing old guns. and had thrown into disuse
those already rified The fort was in about the
sane condition a when Ia ken by the rebels. 1t
had not been iron plated.
FORT MouLrrE.
Fort Moultrie is situated on Sullivan's Island
opposite Sumpter, but farther up the harbor and
about one and half miles distant Ii Is prop
erly sPeakng. hsge water battery having no
casenates. The outer and inner walls are of
brick, filled with earth and capped with stone
maxim. solid wall about sixteen inches in thick
ness. The fort mounts fisty guns a tew OF which
are in bomb proofs while others are protected
with sand bag ramparts. new bomb protected
retrest hts been built on The parade ground for
the SOLDIERS to retreat 10 when hard pressed by
the shells at the enemy With this exec ption
there has been no important alteration made in
this work siace Il passed from Federal possession.
CASTLE riscKSEY.
This work i situated ON the southern extremi-
ty OF Shute's Folly Island IL is not fortified
ton OF much account. except in regard to its DO
stion, which enables il to command all the east
eru wtarves IL i. IN fact. outwork OF the
city rather than a defence t. he harbor. but in
the event OF m invading feet passing the lower
works II would somewhat annoy them. There
are two tiers OF guns. the lower one being in
bomb proof casemares, the embrasures of which
are about seven feea above low water mark the
upper ten being en- barbetfe The width of the
outer wall ana parapet is SIX feet The arma
meutis about twenty five pieces. twenty four and
thirty two Founders. a few coast mortars and
SIX ten inch columbiads
FORT RIPLKY.
This iron-elad casemated work. located on
the middle ground. will il is believed give the
asSaiiins fleet more trouble than any other work
IN the haibor. IL is believed to be almost i'm
pre-nable Its guns sweep down the Swash
Channel crossing the fire of Sumter and Mou-
trie. Eight guns were to be mounted on this
work, two OF thom powerful Armstrong;.
PORT JOHNSON
Fort johnson is simply a huge sand battery.
IL i situated one and quarter miles from Fort
Sumter. and mounts heavy guns The work is
considered by military authorities as the KEY TO
the defensive WORKS OF the harbor. and espe
caaiiy important defense asainst Land attack .
There L battery OF four SEA coast mortars in
connection with the work
CUMMINGS POINT BATTERY
he nearest point of land To Fort Sumter is
Cummings Point. distant ,I5O varus On the
point : The celebrated railroad iron battery
structure oi yellow pine logs rooted with I rail
IL = pierced Tor three port holes WHICH are coy.
eFed. when the gun is being loaded with iron
shutters.
THk FLOATING BArrFRY
The floating battery is constructed Of pslme,ro
logs. armored with boiler iron 1t mounts r., ~
heavy guns Ihis battery nos lies aground. and
viii be used Ia are With Fort Ripley
TsE BATTERY At cHsRiYsrOx
On the battery at Charleston nave been mount
ed eight guns. four of which are rifed pieces of
eight inch calibre. and the remaining four ten
inch eolrmbiads. These guns are expected to be
used To prevent The troops on the transport YES
sels from etieeting landing II this part of the
city, should they succeeii Ia passing the forts aud
are looked upon a kind Of last gesort
rHt WORKS on rHE IsIANps
Ga lanes Island the old batteries about Se.
eessionTiile have been renewed. but no new opes
have been erected On the northern side OF wau
POO Creek. where II enpties iutp To the Ashley
river. battery has Oeen erected commanding
bsssers hs- been erected near the Moaltrie House
aud another four gun bstIery-at about a
mile from that spot On Morris Island there i
one slx gun battery. besides the one on Cum.
mingis Point