Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-15
From the Philadelphia InquIrer.l
Charleston Harbor--Its Forts and Bat
teries--I,OcaIitiea and Distances


teries-Localities and Distances.
I am indebted to Captain Platt, Of the Coas
Survey steamship Blbb, for mammoth char
Of Charleston Harbor and its surroundings
having on It all the distances from point Il
point, not only In tho harbor and around th,
city, but out to sea, with the depth of water ac-
curately noted at all points. Il also gives the
location of all the batteries and forts erected By
the rebels on the Island approaching the harboF
From this chart L compile the following inter-
eating and accurate statements Of the surround
ings of Charleston:
What is termed Charleston Bar is a gentle
elevation of the bottom, extending across the
whole point Of the harbor, long and broad
ridge of sand, rendering the water too shallow
for the passage of large vesaels, except through
three channels which were carefully buoyed and
marked out by the Government before the re.
belllon, oil Of which have been taken up by the
rebels. They have also out down the trees on
the Islands, which were used by pilots as ranges
for the channels, aud have thrown all obstacles
in their power In the way of our entrance -
With the aid Of the Coast Survey charts, and
the still more valuable personal services Of Cap
tain Boutelle and Lieutenant Platt, aud the
other officers of the steamer Bibb, but little
difficulty is appreheuded In finding these chan
nels
There are three channels through the bar 10
Charleston, one called the Ship Channel, run.
ming in front of Morris Island, on the south
sie of the bar; the second, the Swssh Channel,
| In the center; aud the third, Suilivan's or
Maffitt's Channel, running along in front OF
Sullivan's Island, on the north side of the bar.
The distance from either OF these channels from
outside the bar to Fort Sumter is from four to
FIVE miles; that by the SWash Channel, being
more direct, is less than four miles. Morris
leland ia on the south side Of the bar, and is
three miles long from Lighthouse Inlet to Cum
mings's Point, which is In the rear OF Fort Sum.
ter. At different points along it's three miles
of front, it has four heavy sand batteries, COM
pletely commanding the whole length of Ship
Channel. At Cummings's Point, IL will be re-
membered, the iron clad battery is located,
which was so effectually used by the rebels in
their attack on Fort Sumter.
The harbor of Charleston, inside of Sumter,
is three miles long from Sumter to the city
front, and has IN average width of nearly two
miles. Fort Pinckney is on Shutters Folly Is
land, Immediately opposite the city, and at the
mouth oil Cooper river. Ii is small stone
structure, Of noaccount, and could be shattered
to pieces by fifteen inch shell. There are,
however, numerous land batteries said TO be
located along the shore within the harbor,
commanding the approaches to the city. There
is also Haid to be powerful fcrt located on tho
middle ground, which is in the center OF the
harbor, mile and half from Sumter and
from the city. The City Battery, a.public
promenade, similar to the New York Battery,
but much larger, is also said to be mounted
with heavy ordnance.
The location and form Of the city Of Charles
ton IA very much like that of New York, the
Cooper river representing the East river, and
the Ashley river the North river. lts width,
from river to river, is not half so great as New
York, consequently when once taken 1t can be
easily held by gunboats, stationed on these two
rivers, against any land force that might be
brought against it. 1t can thus be cut of from
all communication with the main land, like
an island, for all military purposes.
J Sullivan's Island forms the coast Oh the north
side of the bar, and is three miles long from
Beach Inlet to Fort Moultrie, There iB very
heavy battery on this island and Beach Inlet,
and several others along the shore, commanding
the whole of Sullivan's or Mafft's Channel.
Fort Moultrie thus commands the entrance
to the harbor of the city at the end OF Sullivan's
leland, on the north side, while Cummngs's
Point Battery, at the end of Morris Island, on
the south side, and directly opposite, holds o
similar position, the two points being in di-
rect line, just ore mile aud o half apart. All
three of these channels converge into one in
front OF Fort Sumter, which stands precisely
midway between Moultrie and the Cummings
Point Battery. Fort Sumter is not, however,
in direct line between the two, but is located
about half mile nearer to the city than either
of them, consequently its position ID at an angle
of three-quariers of mile from the shore on
either side.
What is termed Charleston Bar is not gener.
ally understood by those not familiar with nau.
tical mates. The entrance 10 Charleston across
this bar from the sea may be likcned to q funnel,
the email portion Of the funnel commencing at
Fort Sumter and extending to the city. The
sides of the large portion Of the funnel are
formed by Sullievn's Island on the north side,
and Morris leland on the south side. The
Charleston Bar commences four miles 10 the
seaward of Sumter, and extends along the whole
large end Of the imaginary funnel from Sulli.
vans leland to Morris Island, o distance Of
fully eight miles. The width of this bar and
shoals is fully four miles from the outer limits
of Sumter, and eight miles long. The distance
from the entrance of Mathis Channel to tte
entrance of the Swash Channel is over two
miles, and from Swash Channel to Ship Chan
mel nearly five miles. These outer distances are
bounded Dy the deep waters of the Atlantic
The greatest depth Of water that can be carried
through these channels at high water ia but
sixteen feet. .4.. ,s n ..,rt.l. iaa
After reaching the vicinity of Fort Sumter,
the depth Of the channel from there to the city
is very great, ranging from twenty to fifty feet.
THE REBEL CROSS FIRE.
1t will be easily seen by careful reading Of
the foregoing statement of localities and dis.
tances that passing either Mafit's Channel, or
the Ship Channel, ouniron olads will be under
the fire of the sand batteries for three miles be-
fore they reach Fort Sumter, The Swash Chan.
mel, however, Is too tortuous and uncertain, so
that the entrance will doubtless be made by
the Ship Channel, which runs along the range
OF the batteries on Morris Island. This Chap
mel is better known, less changeable, and easier
navigated than either Of the others.
Thus on entering, the feet after running the
gauntlet of all these shore batteries will ulti-
mately come In range OF Fort Sumter. On ap.
proaching Fort Sumter, there will be con-
cenlration OF fire upon them such as has never
before occurred In naval history. The guns of
Sumter, Moulirie aud Cummings's Point will be
able TO concentrate their fire on them at one
and the tame moment, throwing weight of
metal that would probably sink all the wooden
vessels in the navy II they should approach
vvithin atrikin1 diakanca. .t |-t