New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-06

ont Of tbsir hands. Behind Fort Sumter, a new
fort which takes its name from Gen. Ripley, and Is
built almost entirely Of palmetto wood, enhances
the difficulty to which ships are exposed in approach
ing the town. All that two Of the most accom-
plished engineer officers of the Coutederacy--Gens
Lee and Beauregard-c0u!d suggest or DEVISE has
been done TO strengthen the town on ite land SIDE
Gen. Lee, before he was moved TO Virginia and as
umed bis present high position, was for some tiIne
in command OF Charleston, and by him the hrst me
o. land defenses was planned and eXecu'ed' In'1
line has grown and expanded At the inspirauon %
Gen. BeaureRard into perfect ne1woFh Oh - -. |
works and redoub's, reaching from the Coolei "'I
on the north to the Ashley River on tne eo'e coa
is not likely that go scientific an engineer as Non
Bsauregard would be fully satisfied win MS y ssGn
OF deieuses until he had spent four or hVe yeho IA
perfectiDg them. Suffice II 10 say lnat III 'uo Op.
Of competent Judges they are suihcieitiy kMohs W
defy force ten times stronger tnan e'u nAe,y ~
be brought against them. La ADDITION 70 'his, sveiJ
slIoht acquaintance with the country 10 the negh-
horhood OF Charleston satisfies the spectator now luz
possibis il is for an invading army 10 penetrate sue
lsooons and swanps and forests as lie De'"een 'no
r. ouent rivers which Dersect the surface OF Soutn
| Carolina had occasion last week to 20 10 P0c;-
ta4o, about half wsy between Charleston ana ga
vannab 10 inspect the battlefield on which the FEEDER
ais recently encountered a very inferior force, anu
were BY them routed and driven back 10 their gun
boats. Between Pocataglio and Chsrlesl0n q oV.en
low.lying swampy rivers such as the Ashepoo, the
Combahee the North and South Edis,o, anu n'ny
more, find their way to the sea, ana aions ,neii
banks the far-famed rice plantations oil south caro-
lima present their e"9ning unc!uous sSia,s 70 .ar
sun and scarcely afford foohold to anything heavier
than 1oxbouud. II is through such country US
ms that An invading army would have TO advance
70 attack Charleston from the land SIDE IL requires
but one ook at this country to make one understand
Wby during "a war OF twenty-one months tue rail-
road between Charleston aud Savannah. which for
miles and miles is conveyed upon tressework, hss
never been cut and why there Is little danger Of Its
being cut in the future.
In addition to the other land and sea defen'es OF
Charleston, great credit Ia due TO its defenders for
the energy with which they have built and equipped
Two large iron-ced rams, which now lying at the
wharf, and are likely TO be very prominently heard
Of if ever the ong.threatened assault shall fall upon
the devoted head Of this "pestient nest OF sedi-
ton" TRree other similar iron-cad rams are in an
advanced stage Of progress. A. regards the It'll
cheney of the blockade, which clutches the throat OF
Charleston llsrbor, it may be that nothing moro
efficient could, under the circumstance be instituted
by any nation; but, If the efficiency OF blockade
be tested by the frequency OF the capture OF ships
attempting egress and ingress it is farce TO cOn.
slider Charleston, Wilmington, Savannah and Mobile
efectually Dloekaded. Scarcely dark night passes
but vessel goes into out Of one Of these portsi
and yet il would be difficult, 80 far as the number
Of blockading vessels Is concerned Tor any nation
70 institute a restrictive blockade. The
truth appears to be that, If it was difficult for
any nation TO institute en- efficient blockade In
the days Of sailing vessels-and how difficult IL was
the British nation fully learnt in their long war at
| the beginning of this country with Frsnce-it Is
almost Impossible to do 80 in these days of steam.
Swift vessels OF light draught, PAINTED lead color
scarcely 10 be vlslble at distance Of 80 yards and
consuming coal which emts only light vapory
smoke, laugh the blockade 10 scorn ss they noise.
lessly emerge from or creep into their sheltcring
harbors at slow, stsathy pace, which is ntteuded
by no sound from screw or paddle. There are veg
sells which, during this war; have run into and out
of Southern harbors some ~ times and have scarce
ly had one shot fired at them. The world has learned
many truths from this gigantic struggle which for
two years has convulsed this continent, but it IL
doubtful whether any more pregnant lesson has be,n
taught than the impossbiity, In times, Of inst-
tuting q rigorous backade along an extended and
difficult line OF coast, be the maritime power of the
nation insulating IL what it may. The suecess Of
one large Charleston firm in the blockade running
business is secret either North South, and was
% 70 It's My psy object many SGss
this firm al present is in order that justice may
r be done TO the hberality which its enlightened
e maDsgers have evinced IN their dealings with the
y Confederate Government. No chip which belongs
+. 10 Messrs. Fraser 81 Co-tbe firm OF which | am
n speakiDg--eyer reaches Charleston wharf without
g its invoice being submitted TO Gen. Beauregard
with the cost OF each item fully marked, and with
request that be will select from the cargo his own
price whatever will, in his opinion, be useful to tie
Confederate Government. 1t 10 possible that thix
liberaiiy msy have brought ito own reward, il ia
understood that the Confederate Government have
paid for what they have selected higher prices than
Messrs Fraser are likely TO have asked; but when
it is mentioned In connection with the fact sat there
10 no charity or public Institution In the City Of
Charleston TO which the managers Of the firm Of
Fraser 81 Co. are not munlceLt subscribers II ust
be conceded that very high praise is their due al
though they are bot apparently Of such make as to
value very highly this public mention Of their good
deeds.
1t is hardly necessary to state that nothing has o.
yet, been done TO repair the damage inflicted upon
Charleston by the terrible fire which swept from
river 70 river on Dec. II, 1861. From that moment
until the present hour the fate Of the city has been
doubtful that it has not been thought worth Wills
TO build up, 10 order that (as seemed at Que time
very probable the Yankees might destroy. Bot
the fearful havoc and devastation then iolcted upon
the town, and which were u. the time triumphan,ly
pointed at by the North as the work OF incendi,ry
negroes. are still awfully manifest and place the
fire of Charleston In the category Of the great con-
oo, .-ations OF this century. There seems every
reason Il, believe that, if the large building in
caught, the fire would Seve swept down 10 the bat.
terry and consumed all the richest and finest portion
of The town. The inhabitants are never tired Of tell
ing stories OF The disinterested ZEAL devotion and
energy of the black population upon this trying
.cason. Men and women Of color suffered their own
houses to be burnt without making an attempt to
save nythiDg, while their Efforts were frantic TO
save tho plate and linen Of the white families to
which they were attacl9u as Saves 1nere k
throughout South Carolina checrfulness and con.
tentnent about the slaves which can scarcely be |
paraeled in any other State. In the plantations
near Columbia, which visited last week it would
be difficult to find upon earth so Gght.hearted, con-
tented, and prosperous laborDg class US the black
population. AT one Of these Plantations, the owner
of which is attached to Gen. Lees army in |
Virginia, the eagerness add affection with which we,
who had lately come from Virginia, were cross.
questioned about the health and ebeing Of
:. Masaa Eraukn were touching 70 Wiiness.