Daily national Republican., 1863-09-14
From the Richmond Enquirer, s-p,. n.

From the Richmond Enquirer, s-ptiI.
CHARLEsToN FoREyER.-Old Sumter pos
sesses strange charm for the Yankee nation.
il has BECOME what Carlyle calls their " Fixed
idea" They firmly believe that If they had
replaced upon the ruined walls of Sumter that
old flag which was lowered By Anderson at tbs
first bombardmeut, the "rebelilon" " would be
as coed as crushed. The character of that ma.
ton has come to be essentially Thespian, and
they think all things can be best accomplished
by theatrical effect. ' ~
They have all along conceived themselves to
be enacting magnificent drama, which fixes
the regards of the universe; and, as the war
began by the hauling down Of that piece OF
drapery on that particular fortress, SO they are
Of oplnlon that the nfth act Of the drama would
certainly be o brilliant success, if they let the
curtain fall upon smother grand tableau-the
same Identical piece OF bunting waving once
more over Its ruins. ~
The midnight attack upon the ruined fort In
80 barges, with mutiled oars--aud the rebel
batteries an lying asleep-vthc surprise, 'thc es.
cnlade, and the thunder Of one grand Ana,
salute, as the sacred stars and stripes mounted
vlctoriously into the midnight sky, Announcing
to all the ends Of the earth that tho grand
American drama was finished, all this would
certainly have been triumph OF scenic effect
But one single circumstance spoiled all. Our
batteries were not asleep, and so, instead of
the superb midnight ta6ieau, arranged by the
talented manager, the grey Of morn iawned
upon the crippled and shattered remnant of
that barge fotilla, crawling back to their ships,
illed with mangled and groaning wretches,
tho Confederate banner stlll flying over the
much longed.for walls and worst Of all, the
old article OF theatrical property, tho Anderson
flag, borne oil to be hung up for trophy In
some church Of the proud city of secession.
How is the play ever TO be played ont, " Its
acts gre to be interfered with In this unwar-
rantable manner1 ....
The article concludes as follows,
Meanwhile Sumter stands defiant as ever,
and with sn aureola Of glory more radiant than
ever sncirces Its Immortal ruins. No wonder
the Yankees are so eager to get possession OF
those shivered walls. They have more reasons
for this than those connected with mere scenic
effect. In fact, they wish to make II pay the
expenses Of It's own destruction.
TO batter It down has cost them fur more.
counting mere ammunition, than ever Il cost
| 70 build. Seven thousand live hundred and
ifty-one shots have been fired at the fort. II
has been struck 1884 times. OF these shots
,595 struck the outer walls and 2 l39 struck in.
side. The old walls have swallowed all these
| enormous and costly missiles and digested
them, and stands 81 Ike Tenoriffe or Atlas, un.
J removed" defiant and pnbeRdipg as ever.
The expenses OF this representation have
| been great and one Of the objects of our cal.
culsting enemies ia, II they only get possession
of the place, to sell the bricks In Boston and
New York. The operation would realize q
large profit. A piece of Sumter brick set In
gold. presented To a Massachusetts lady, would
be truly delicate attention. Plymouth rock
would bring no such PRICES. We presume tha,
some prudent contractor has already farmed
the shattered brck.work from the Government
The contractor must send In sealed tender tc
the Government which has u In possession.
| On the other hand the bricks Of on uutakeI
sumter would not sell In Boston. Let then
only try; let them put upon the market som,
Of those brickbats which Major Eiliotts meu
made them present of.