The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-07


In addition to details also refer TO Charleston
N the IA, u the Revolution, when 1t MAS placed under
siege by ADMIRAL SIR Peter Parker, and 10 the lombard
meat OF Fort snmier 4 Aprii, 1851
our ma u the locality drawn from the best inor
nation We arc possessed Of and be relied upon in the
riair berry authc.tic,
CHARLESTON pARBoB.
10 give The reader Of the emit ances 10 Charles
ton We furnish the following sailing directions that
formerly used =
aAfy snr cnAxwi--In approaching the Charleston br
to cltc "a, main sp channel the vessel was kept IN SIX
laurr- ur Walcr until up wh the belboat and the night
har, bore .t,r,hwest then opening Char ston five dc
gr 20 ,hc nnrhward ol Charleston light following this
range las ,ise lo the por, side OF TIN ee tac buoys Having
ic tho ucc buoy, The north or further channel hca-
cn. by Fort Gourie being open about It's width to The
westward rC the south channel beacon then the
corse wa north until the two channel beac ms were an
game This led up channel on course OF north three
q1arles west Keeping lIcaddrelIs beacon little opeu
&C. he stwird ui the range.
When Fort Sumter bore west one.eghth north and
Chllesion !ighi was opening midway between tho two
Morris !snd bcacons the northwest by
YVES, Que and half mile to Rebellion Roads. If
bound up the city by the Folly Island channcl when
ST hp spire opened TO the northward Of Castle Pnck
ney and Tho spre or 81. Micaels was open about the
distance the southwark the course was west one
quarter north, giving the wharf at Castle Pinckney
berth Of about two hundred and forty yards
Trs NoKr CH,NxE.-This is a shoal channel, and
usca only by light draught vessels
MsrIr's "R sSuLLvAN's ISLAND CnANxx.--This channel
Is l,c and trends along the shore Of Suvan's
ld with eleven feet Of water al low tide tho bulk
head southcas. from Moultrie.
swNH CnANSxI--lhs channel s q branch which on
The main channel. II has the deepest water,
Ia hv nf In tha
attack.
OVERALL CHAySs;-Formerly the Of this channel
straight one. with the Morris Island beacons in
range number of shoal spots have been made in the
chaarel, aud its abandoned
SANFORD CnASSK has feet OF water and Is only
used by small coasng vessels The shifting character Of
the sands which compose Charleston bar prevents any
thing like in the channels, which subject
60 frequent and very considerable changes in depth and
location, particularly after southeasterly gale
CHAR Observation-Disclosures, 81 degrees Al min
utcs 81 seconds longitude, 70 degrees, SO minutes 90
seconds. The lighthouse Is situated the south end
Morris Island formerly displayed a revolving light
The lantern hundred and twenty five feet above
the level tho sea- and clear weather could be
miles. Tho rebels have destroyed the lighting
apparatus, and consequently the lighthouse The
!ghbuat formerly there stationed and half mile
from tho southwest end Of Ratiesnake Shoa which
served guide for passing clear Of the shore. 1t
ren:ov ed early the rebellion.
TlprsThc rise and fall OF tides in Charleston.
hartor about five ieet three inches The velocity be
tween Forts Sumter and Aoultre is as follows =
fiood lid First quarter, knot; second quarter,2
knots third quarter, $40 knot fourth quarter, $40
knot.
En- 7ide-Frst quarter, knot second quarter, 2 2lo
knots third quartcr2 TO knots fourth quarter, ITO
knot
At this point tho flood sets north and the ebb sets
south.
We give these tidal data to show the of cur
reut vessels will be favored with have TO over
come and point where 1t to be supposed shall
meet with the resistance from the artillery the
enemy.
SUPPOSED OBSTRUCTION GROUND.
The narrowest part the ship channel is about
mile and quarter below Fort Sumter, within
sssy range its guns. The channel at that point s
than half mile wde and the Is only six faihoms
In depth. II is fair presume that there obstruc
ast torpedoes placed here The guns OF Fort
Moure also boar upon this spot while 1t 10 in short
tho clad battery Cummings Point, aud Of minor
batteries the immediate vicinity II the rebels
shown the proper skill, 1t will DO one Of the hardest
places get by with vessels On either side Of the
channel way this point there Shoals covered with
about seventeen feet OF water whish afford facilities
+,
while at this point Fort Moutrs has direct raking fire
along the decks. Sumter and Cummings Point converge
their fire slight ANGLE and the other batteries bring
% bear direct broadside and fire. 1t will be
place for 4 vessel there Adding TO this the fire
from the batteries Sulvans Island parallel but orpo
site to the FIRE from Norris Island and you will have
anpar alcled line Of defence.
FORT SUMTER.
Fort Sumter 10 work Of modern construction, and is
xnown uncsted pentagonal fort II is built upon
artificial island the mouth Of Charleston harbor, three
aud eghhs miles distant from the city Of Charles
This island has for It's base sand and mud bank
with superstructure formed Of the refuse Of several
Northern quarries The island itself cost half
million Of dollars, and ten years In Of
The fertilization another hall million, and
when Major Anderson took possession Of II
completion that portion guns had been placed in
position. The walls are OF solid brick and concrete
masonry, built close to the waters edge, without
BERNIE. They sixty feet high and from eight TO
twelve feet thickness and pierced for three tiers
guns the north, east and west exterior Sides Its
weakest point the south side OF which the masonry
only than the other Sides but is pro-
tecled by any flank fire which would sweep the landing
wharf Once landed party could have easily effected
entrance
The work was designed for an armament Of one hun
bred and forty guns of various calbres Two tiers of
guns In casematcs while tho upper is open,
N tdt>e the lower tier forty twopounder Paxhan
guns second tier eight and tennch coumbads and the
barbette and twenty four FOUNDER guns.
We learn from Thomas Kearns OF the garrison Of
For, Sumter many interesting particulars in relation
tina, work. Our informant left there only q few weeks
ago. and ~ now IN this city.
lie states that in Fort Sumter there hundred
Asd guns ready for action about nty two (onehal
Of which are inch c0lumbads, the remainder being
eigh, and six inch Dahgrens and howzers. There are
tour heavy mortars the FORT one being stationed a,
each corner. There about twelve iined guns the
works but in consequence Of tho explosion Of Of
these guns by which officer Of high rank narrowly
ESCAPED losing his life, 1t had been determined not To
place any more reliance upon such pieces They had
riven nm the idea rining old snns aud had