Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-29
Terms.
A Rebel View of Fort Sumter.


No point connected with the defence of Charles
ton is Of more interest, rot only TO our own
State, but Of the entire confederacy, than Fort
Sumter Associated as it has been in the past
with pleasant memories, and in the present with
heroic deeds, il has become, as it were, an heir
loom OF our whole people and from the hour
when II fell into our hands, as the first victorious
offering Of Sonth Carolina to the eonfederacy, un-
til the present moment, it has been defended and
protected as A" the apple Of our eye. AT last it
has been laid in runs--its fair proportions, its
noble walls, its threatening tiers OF guns, all de-
moIished by the ruthless demon Of war. Yet
there the stately old pile still stands, proud and
defiant as in her pamest days-crushed but not
conquered wrecked but not reduced-every foot
of her massive aides written all over with the
tributes of the foe to patriotism, skill and courage
Of those who have been her defenders.
1t is not our purpose to enter into descriptive
detail Of the present condition of the fort since it
would be msnfesty imprudent to state what is
not known to the enemy, but there are a few hcts
which may be interesting and proper to mention.
There is nothing in the entire range Of facts or
fancy to which the ruins Of Sumter can be lken-
ed, that would convey an idea Of their external
appearance. On the sea face scarcely brick ia
10 be seen Bushel by bushel, eart-load by cart
load, the wall has been Clipped OFT, until nothing
is left but gray, ragged mass OF mortar, from
which project the outlines Of former casemates,
heavy beams and iron bars. The BERNIE or base
is literally covered with the debris, amid which, at
every step as you climb over the great fragments
Of stone and brick that have fallen from the para
pet you tread on broken prolectiles of the enemy,
scattered in pieces whose weight varies from an
ounce TO hundred pounds. The Sulivan's ls-
land lace is less shattered, but even bere the pits
are deep, and huge piles Of material torn from the
edge Of the parapet by the over.shot balls have
fallen on the rocks below. On the Morris Island
face the spectacle battles all description. For
distance, roughly guessed, 4 thirty yards, the
wall Is little less than steep bill that descends
from the parapet to the waters edge. This, too,
is gha,ty pile Of the once magnificent shape,
from which stand out, in almost sickenng aspect,
fragments of guns, gun-caniages, masses OF ma.
chinery, balls, bolts rammers, sponges, all bound
and mixed together with the iron, brick and NOR
tar 10 Jumps and in dust, that have been wrenched
from their long time-honored places. Here, too
lie the myriad fragments OF projectlles.
On the parapet as you glance around The pleas
ant walk that has been the scene of so many so
cia episodes, eagerly remembered by our fair
ones, you observe that the demon oil destruction
has likewise laid his heavy hand. One solitary gun,
looming high above all else keeps its lonely watch,
and this has been partially covered by the dirt
dashed over it in the passage OF shot. Other
guns broken in every conceivable manner lie
around, their carriages in splinters, and every ves-
tage Of their former use destroyed.