New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-10
Charleston Earber-Its Fovts nma
...;..UaeaIities and Distances

teries-LseaIities and Disthse
From The Corre.spdeut Of The Baltimore Arnef, s
am indebted TO Capt Platt oil tns We Ts..isston
steamship Bib for mammoth enar' % - n All ths
Harbor end It's surroundings, having op AZ a.,
aistsucss IRON poin. 10 point NOT ong ~ S.U,h
.n8 aronnd the CITY but out 10 sea, WIN tnG uoy'h
Of wetsr accurately noted al al POM a,so
siyes the location Of all the batteries iu
- NV Che Rhsls ou the islands approaching the har-
90 W sus ~; rs; compile the following inter
oot. rIo'n enr statenents OF the surroundings
Of Charleston: ,,o, po, "a a o.nt,s aIovo
ton of the bottom, exte9ois aT'vas .no "avis ,vn'
nj tho barhor a long and broad ndge oil ssnd, rem
1ne ser TOO shallow for the passage of large
e'iiS ant through three channels, which were
ssI,iv hnoysd and marked out by the Govern.
va, - tbe Rebellion, but these buoys nave been
- - Inv the Rebels They have also cat down
take, up o 0S ,be Islands which were used by pilots
"a ,snoss for the cbanpels, and have thrown ali OBJ
&C. ip their power in the way of our entrance.
,L the aid Of the Coast Survey charts aud the still
mere valuable personal services Of Capt. Boutelle
md Lieut.. Plat, aud the other officers of tie steamer
fibb, but little difficulty is apprehended In finding
thee channels.
There are three channels through the bar to Charles
ton ore called the Ship Channel, running In front
Of Morris leland the south side Of the bari the
second the Swash Channel, IN the center; ana tie
third Sulhvan's OF Msfitts Channel, running along
In front OF Sulivans Island on the north side OF the
bar The distance from either of these channels from
outside the bar 10 Fort Samter 10 four TO hve iesi
that by the Swaeh Channel, bang more aree., -. 70
lees than four miles. Morris Island Is on me so9u
aide O! the bar and il three miles long from iAght-
house Inlet to Cummings Point, which IS IN tne
rear OF Fort Sumter Al different points along It's
three miles of front it has four heavy SAND oSstees
completely commissioning the whole ieng'n oi sne
Snip Channel . A. has.ery is located which
vas 20 ellsctually used up By the hseeis In their
attack OF Fort Sumter 49,, 3,
Snliyau's Island forms the coast on tie north side
of line bar and three miles long from Beseh Inlet
a. Fort Moulire. There is very heavy battery on
shis island a. Beach Inlet and several others along
the shore. commanding the whole OF Slihvans OF
Eafu's Channel.
Fort Moultric thus commands tho entrance TO the
harLor Of the city, nj The end Of Sulvan's Island,
on the north eide while Cummings's Point Battery,
"A the eud Of Morris Island the south side, acc
directly opposite, holds q similar position, the two
points being il direct line, Just one mile and han
arnt.t All three Of the channels converge into QUE
Ia front of Fort Sumter, which stands precisely ned
xyav betyyeen Moultrie and the Cummingss Point
Butry. Fort Sumter Is not, however, III direct
line Lstween the two, but ia located about bali
mile nearer to the city than either OF them, conse-
\ nile rom the shore on either side.
,fbe harbor Of Charleston, inside Of Sumter, s
three mics long from Sumter 10 the city front, and
has an average width Of nearly two miles Fort
Fnspey n on ShuIers Folly Island, Immediately
The Guy, ana AZ TIE Oh ilNtt
III il small stone structure, OF no account, and
could be shattered to pieces by l5-incb she'll.
There afe, however, numerous tand batteries SAID
to he heated along the shore within TIE harbor,
Commanding the approaches 10 the city. There s
ala said 20 be powerful fort located the middle
GROUND which is in TIE ceuter OF she harbor mile
aud a-Aelf from Slmfer and from the city. Tie
City Battery, public promenade, similar 70 the
EewYork Battery, but mach larger, Ii also said to
be mounted with heavy ordnaace. -
f1la otis ~ NhuN AT ~
very much like thai OF New.York, the Cooper River
representing the East River, ana the Ashley River
TIE North River. It's width. from river TO river, Is
not half 50 great as New York, consequently when
once taken ii can be easily held by gan5oats, STA
sicued gu there two rivers, sgdins, any band forces
thai might be brought against IT. It thus be cut
of from all communication with the maitland, Ike
an island, for all military purposes.
What is termed Charleston Bar ia not generally
understood by those not fsu Thar with Daucsl m8t
ters. The entrance 70 Charleston across this bar
from the sea may be likeled TO a funnel, the small
loriion Of the funnel commencing At Fort Sumter
and extending TO the city. The sdes ef the large
portion Of the funnel are formed by Sullfvan's
Island on the north side and Morris Island on the
south side. The Charleston Bar eommebces four
miles to the seaward Of Sumter, ons extends along
She whole large end of the imaginary funnel from
6ulvan's Island 10 Morris lslsod, a distance OF
fully eight mics. The width OF this bar and shoals
k fully four miles from the outer Ecits 10 SaIntes,
and eight milee long. The distance from tee en-
trance of Mafitts Channel 10 the entrance OF the
Svash Channel is over Two mIlss, aud from Swash
Channel TO Ship Channel nearly hye Diies- These
outer distances are bounded by the deep waters OF
the Atlantic The greatest depth Of water that can
be carried through these three channels at hlg3
water 10 bat sixteen feet.
Alter reaching the vicinity Of Fort Shmter the
depth of tie channel from there 10 the city s very
great ranging from 20 10 50 feet.
THE REBEL CROSS-PIRE.
II will be EASILY seen by careful reading Of the
foregoing statement Of localities aid distances that
passing up either Ma6it Channel OF the Ship Chan
ns our irop-clads viii be under tie fire OF the sand
batteries for three miles before they reach Fort Sum-
Ter. BY entering the Swash Channel, which passes
through The center OF the bar, they would avoid al
tbe batteries until they get 10 range OF sumter The
6wash Channel however, 10 too tortuous end uncef-
tain that the entrance will doubtless be made by
Che Ship Channel, which runs along the range Of
iLe batteries on Morris Island. This chaurei is
better known less changeabe, aud easier nsvigsted
than either OF the others. .sf
Thus on entering, the feet, after running the
gauntlet Of all these shore batteries, will ultimately
come in range Of Fort Sumter. On approaching
Fort Sumter there will be a concentration of fire
upon them such has never before occurred IN naval
histOry. The guns Of Sumter, Moultrie, and Cum
hinges Point will be able to concentrate their fire
% the al one and the came moment, throwing q
weight Of metal that would probably sink ell the
wooden vessels in the navy If they should approach
within striking distaoce. -.
Within the hsrbor, beyond Fort Sumter, there will
doubtless also be concentrated fire OF great power
but then the city will be under the guns of our hon
sors. Whether it will stand Ere, or surrender, time
will disclose.
There are also distractions In the harbor, which
together with numerous torpedoee, will render the
work of reaching the city front of great hazard
Whether this will be accomplished or not, short
stmo Will decide. 1t will be trial Of Monitor yes
sells in which all the power OF modern artillery and
engineering skill will be arrayed for their destrue
lion. They will have TO undergo test rs to their
vnloera6ivy that will, IL they should succeed, be