New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-09

sides st remains quiet Three monitors are taking IN
ammunition to-day.
The Bsmbsrdn,ens OF sumser-A Gr"Phic
Picture Of the scene-Tcrrible Eaesss
Of our rPire-Rxeremities Of thc Gnvri.
som-Ctter IIopclcssnc.s Of shc Defense
"A Lady I'm Fers wagncr-The EnIass
Pcrdus-Rennming tho Psrss-ESess
sfthe Recent Flood TidcS-Obstrnxtisns
OF the marboP Washed Away.
From OvE Special Correspondent
FoRr PuryAn formerly GRseel
M0RRn ISLAND, ;. e., Oct 81 lt~:)
As model of ruin lapsing into chaos, f'It
Sumter is perfect. For any otlar purpose it 10 Lot
available. Hereafter it may point moral as 10 the
inevitable destruction Of any faction plotting agiD,t
the Republic as it will certainly adorn the most 's-
nHcsnt tale written upon the historic scroll of tie
nineteenth century.
With the booming of shells and slots irea h'ir Ins
heaviest artillery yet constructedwith the ,rescfi
notes of the guns magcaly inclosed in the low mys
terious monitors lying mile to seaward-witb the
little weak voices Of the captains piping the words 81
/ command that awaken the huge engines above snd
around me: with al these minges the weird dapasen
Of the awful The tides bring up TO the beach their
eternal me ssages Of menace. They ravcDng over
the sands and swallowing by huge peacenees ffe soii
\
in hideous marsh where pools OF shinmering water a.
t.rnate with stretches OF black mud strown wifi tho
waste and wrask Of ocean: IA the midst @ OF aL inc
salt grass or the reeds of the ma'shcrcek and Tie v
turc swoops upon stranded srrays of HIS scaly prey
The only prominent objects, locking south, axe tho
mounds and trayerses II forts from which cona
the belching fire and suphury smoke OF cannon West
ward stands the doomed city, gray and grim ik'
hoary imperuent traitor brought to the block ln-
passive and defiant alike Of the gods and Of Fate.
Norihward. the cnemy's forts extend in 1--we on
either ride Of the black. sombrc Moultrie House
James Island stretches soaward from Charleston this
side and continued Ia the line presented 10
the eve by Long Island. These low beaches do,d
and diversified by sandhills and Rebel forts. with tn8
uniform background Of pine trees and live oaks provided
bv nature as the fringe Of nearly all the eastern coast
o the Atlantic, below Hatteras; but 10 sea, beyond
the monitors are tie bockadng ships at anchor, watch
f calm spectators OF this wonderful scene of stinsts
and desoaiion.
That which was Sumter presented TO present
point of view two sides of frowBing fort No esrensS
or labor lad been spared 10 make it perfect work
perfect according 10 the lights in military ,pSiD-
ecrne science that were known In The days when "ds
built Where now is indistinguishsbe rubbish heap
of shapess form and conounded materials, the shaT,
precise lines of scarp gorge blson and parapst saHed
The orderloyins eyes of spectators critical and ur.f-
cal As the finishing piece in the series Of forts where.
with Charleston was defended Castle Pinckncy Fort
Mouiric and other works Of brick and stone II must
have given symmetry and completeness 10 the nhoie
The ships and vessels obliged o pass under 10
guns and from the city safiting AS they went iha
immense proportions Of the work. made manifest by tie
soops and small craft coastng under its shadow IT fed
10 ts base; tie glowing vehement sunshine above t.
and yeasiwaves tapping lis abrupt sides such was.
indeed, picture worthy the sight aud remembrance oi
all travellers.
WHO of these could recognize 1t in that forornocx.
ing mass Of rubbish to which the gunSpf justyin.
eensel fathorland have now reduced itf On the eS.
trem. west corner nearest Charleston ainl
indications II what il few square yards II
masonry remain comparatively unhurt. Yet even here
feet az least and the eye rests house standing n
the line OF vision the shore Of Suvans Island be-
yord the North Channel. that interyeIes between ,hs
land aad the folt. Follow the Jagged outline to fh9
cas-, aud You other houses peerng over ne Top
the hear. Of you nearly one-haf from thd
crown of the roofs downwaid: VI 1Jncrs Sny lns
,ro and row the cloud II every shot clearing away
shows you OF their forms 10 prove that the Donnd
shots and shells pound away az the remains on an ave
erage in each half inmate through the entire day.
All night Ions the mortars In our two advanced WORKS
brick stone could stand such hammerng 30 hsps
up -.
destruction has done it's work Here has concentrated
the re OF the army aud navy -Four monitors the WeeS
hawkcn the PatapSco. the Catskil and the Lehish,'
have since Tuesday kept mp their awful fire OF 3nSh
shells Many o these fall short. Some Of them go clcal
over aud beyond their mark But when and where they
strike the effects noticeable in the masses OF matter
that immediately fy ard fall from the parapet s,dao
of the work. A breach has been effected which q
soiming party coa.d pass In few minutes to the .I-
terror Of the fort The northeast corner, partially
undermined, topples and threatens momentarily ID
fall And still do the pitless concal shells bury ard
explode in the walls and tho solid 800 200 and 100 pound
shots follow them ocompete the overthrow OF what the
first have mined and honey ycombed. How men car live
aud around In Sumter is q mystery-it is almost,
indeed, miracle. They manage every evening to FIRE
from the top of the heap the west angle eyen-
ing gun at sunset. and TO drop the dag. But atterly
even these ceremonies have had to be modified. Ihe
sunset gun is only the firing of bag Of powder whose
flash signal to the city that tho garrison holds on
rappng the ragged remnant Of the flag aronnd itS
trail stick is tho only salute that can DO gwen 10 me
declining orb Of day. The would bo sharpshoctes are
displaced and more crack their riaes vainy ~ tnv
ganners in works The peepng pckets on the base
ouistiyely and timdly at us They all gone into
tho vaults aud stuesses OF the fort TO undergo pro-
cess of slow nctematon by the crumong rubbe falling
Hee Eishth caGo.