The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-01
Confessions of a Charleston Letter. Writer.

Inc L ulidueIpuId N"q~"d PuollshCe ICIISI re-
ceived by gentleman in that city, by way of Will
mington and Nassau, from a friend in Charles
ton. The writer says, under date of the Sd
August
Our poor afflicted city is al present the cen
ire OF attraction of he whole Confederdcy. The
great struggle mas come t last, and | fear the
most disastrous resul $ will follow. Yet our peo-
pie have determined Ia a vigorous resistance, and
will fight to the last. Most OF the guns of Fort
Sumter are removing to James Island and the
other works in course of construction, to harass
the federal operations. The fort is strengthening
in all conceivable ways, by sand bags, cotton
bsles, &c, aud every precautlon has been taken
to en- able tito show fight, yet | fear that it will
be compelled to succumb to the monster guns of
Gilmore.
Fort Moultrie, you we'll know, cannot hold cut
for any length of time, and good old Pinckney
would crumble as an egg shell at the first attack.
Our main dependence will be on our earthworks,
which have b.en clearly demonstrated to be the
only works capable of efectually resisting heavy
ordnance, Notwithstanding . Bombastic Beaure-
CARDS skiltul engineering.
The people are very much incensed at Beaure-
gard. The Mercury is particularly severe on him.
He has shamefully deceived US with his %everlast-
ing Drag adocio, which, a.as, will cost us dearly.
| would that the authorities at Richmond had
sent US a leader with more brains and less talk.
The reduction of our city is, in my opinion, a
mere question of time though should even Sum.
tar tall the enemy will have heavy work yet before
them to each the city.
Still the federals have obtained a foothold on
Morris Island (thanks to Beauregard's engineering
skilD, from which doubt his ability to disIodge
them.
The general impression prevailing here is, that
with the reduction of forts Sumter and Moultrie,
the distractions will be removed, and the New
Orleans game played upon US. Should such be
the case, l fear the rash counsel of the hot-headed
men in our midst will prevail, and our beautiful
city fall a victim to the torch.
Dahlgren Is not thought much of here. He
has by no means the ability of Dupont, but is
simply working out the structure of which Du-
pont laid the foundation yet he will no doubt
take all the honors which of right belongs to an
II provokes me to see your north 9En pa
pers giving him 30 much credit for that which he
does not deserve.
Dupont was much admired and feared here
and 1t was a relief to US to learn of his removal.
lie had great genius Notwithstanding his reckless
attack with his iron-cladsl and that is more than
can be said of his successor,
The loss OF Vicksburg and Port Hudson was
indeed a fearful blow to our hopes, as it cuts Ms
off entirely from the country west Of the Missis-
'ippi. Already we are beginning to feel its Of
Feots in the general rise of the necessaries of life,
or through Texas We obtained enormous sup
plies.
Should Charleston fall, Mobile and Whining
.on will b. our only rsmaining ports OF entry,
Ind they, you may be sure, will not be left US
long.
Our race i nearly run. Itremhle at the COM
ng Of the winter the suffering will be terrible.
Business 10 and has been at a stand still for some
%, indeed, a doomed city. Would to God We
of war.
The people are rapidly leaving the city. Our
loft last week; Nh will follow to-
None remain but those to poor to get
away.
$50 Provisions are very scarce and high,
yet we continue to get from - ell the luxu-
/; said Injuries being no more than what the
Of your northern men have daily, yet our
richest families can get no better.
" Bragg is an imbecie ; he will be super
seeded by Johnston, who, by the way, has not too
many friends on account of his not showing 6ght
at vicksburg. The Southwest is lost to us be-
yond redemption. Lee and Davis are 1t logger
heads undoubtedly, neither wishes to shoulder the
Gettysburg failure. We are neck deep in mirs,
and l fear our end is not far of. The heat
with US is intense, and without ice we all but
~suffocate ; water does not seem to quench our
thirst but were that our only suffering We would
indeed have YeasOn To thank God.