Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-09-04
THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
THE WORK ONLY BEGUN.
Tremendous strength ofthe rebel defences


A'NAA .fiilAlftlCt VI TIC " To- hNtNks
MoRRIs ISLAND, Aug. 81.
The fierce Commandment Of the uast week
more especially that Of Friday and Saturday
completed the denoishment Of Sumter
That the fort itself has not been occupied b.
our forces does not lessen the victory. Suci
post to us would be as useless now for of
Tense or defense as 10 the enemy themselves
1t is the intention to assume at least tempo
rary possession in order that the original hag
lowered by Major Anderson may hc hoistc,
anew over the scene of the first triumph d
the rebellion and Of the beginning Of its last
and greatest defeat. This viii be done, |
am informed, either to-day Or tomorrow.
TlIE FRosrEcr BEFORE Is.
First. as To the progress Of the navy. Fort
MOultrie Is not yet taken nor have the mon
ltors directed their energies against that
stronghold. In order 10 get fairly by Sum
ter they must not only pass or reduce Moul-
trie, but they must partially destroy and run
| the gauntlet Of the strong line Of distractions
which reaches directly across the channel
/ from the walls of Sumter 10 the shores OF
l Sullivan Island Here is an immense labor
at the outset. The character of these obstruct-
few nights ago by young Porter. and i,
now IN possession Of Admiral Dahlgren.
What means will be employed for their re-
moval are not yet announced.
Accepting these obstacles as passed, how
ever, others IN the shape Of vast bed Of tor
pedoes Will have TO be hoated over near the
junction Of the South, Folly Island and Hog
Island channels, about half mile from the
Water Battery at the head Of Sulliyan's 5
Island. At this point the monitors will
be subjected 10 a concentrated fire from the
water battery from Fort johnson. from the
mortar battery on james Island, from the fa-
nous iron-clad battery on Middle Ground %"
from the battery al lladlrcll's Point. near
Mount Pleasant, and from two other batter
ics nearer stIll, just below Mount Pleasant.
Unless the monitor, prove actually impreg-
nahle 10 ans fire, this trial will be a sore and
perhaps disastrous one. C0nceding For,
NOu,tric passed and silcnccj together with
the distractions and the line Of t0rped0es,
the route which Admiral Dahlgren has still
% pursue viii ur q most unpleasant one. His
approach therefore w,.l D. cu7i-orcj With
terrific dangers.
There viii be thencriyrFarI iu-t three
routes hv which the iron-clsds can approach
Charleston. The first will De through the
south channel between james Island and the
shoals known as the " Middle Ground" On
the EXTREMIST point Of James Island, Fort
johnson, a sand battery mounting four guns,
is situated, and Just below strong mortar
battery mounting four sea-c0ast mortars. On
the " Middle Ground ~ is the famous Ircn
Battery that, it will be remembered, was a
laughing-stock previous 70 the former (rebeD
siege of Fort Sumter. Its impregnability
was soon demonstrated, and the service It
rendered in the reduction Of Sumter obtained
it such favor in the opinion Of the Confeder-
ate authorities that 1t has since been great
IL strengthened and furnished with heavier
artillery.
The fleet. then, passing through this south
channel will come within one mile Of the
guns Of / or johnson, witLinthe SIN distance
Of the Iron Fort named and within two miles
Of Fort Pickens, on Shute's Folly Island, 4
mile and a half northeast of the shoals.
Suppose the fleet 10 attempt a passage BY
the Folly Island channel In this case. 1t
will still encounter the fire Of the iron bat
terv and Castle Pinckney. at a range Of only
one mile. The passage by the Hog Island
channeI would he difficult if not impossible
hy reason of the shallowness of the strait,
and. perhaps. shoal water In every case
aside from the awful fire to which the moni-
tors would he subjected from the rebel forts
named. they would have to encounter
strong battery oflO-inch columbiais in the
harhor front Of the city. the FIRE Of at least
three iron-clad rams, mounting six guns
each, and that of the smaller vessels which
the rebels could bring against them. The
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