The National tribune., 1898-05-19

| June 13.-Col. Rice, Aid de Camp to Gen.
| Beauregard, rode with me to Secession
vile" this morning. l was mounted on the
| horse which the General rode at Manassas
| and Shiloh. We reached James Island by
| crossing the long wooden bridge which
! spans the River Ashley.
The land OF James Island is low and
marshy, and ia both by repute and in ap-
pearance most unhealthy. Three years
ago no white men would have dreamed OF
| occupying it at this time OF year; put now
| that the necessity has arisen. the troops,
curiously enough do not appear to Sufer:
Secess:onville. the most advanced and
most important of the James Island forti-
fications is distant by road eight miles
from Charleston bridge, with which 1t Is
come cted by chain OF forts. 1t was sur
prised by the enemy Just year ago June,
1882 and was the scene OF desperate
conflict which resulted in the repulSe OF
the FederaIs with loss of nearly $40
men, The ConfederateS lost 100 men on
this occasion, which as yet has been
the only serious loss of life at Charles
ton during the war. Col. Lamar, who COM
manded the garrison with great gallantry,
was one of the few victims TO yeiio" ieVef
last year.
The Yankees attacked the fort three
times with much bravery and deterriina-
ton. and actually reached the superior
slope OF the parapet before they were
being successful. and although they de-
served great credit for their behavior on
that occasion. yet it is understood that the
officer who organized the attack has either
been dismissed the service or otherwise
punished.
Lieut.-Col. Brown. the commandant,
who showed me over the fort and bomb
proofs is cutie young, full OF zeal, ana
most anxious to be attacked; ne mas
artillerymen to man this and the neigh
boring works, and two regiments Oh IN
fantry are also encamped within snort
distance.
At the time of the attack on Charleston
last April there were 30 900 men to defend
it: since that time 20,OO0 had been sent
into Mississippi to reinforce johnston
imagine that, as the Notifications are so
very extensive, the Charleston lie don garrison
ought to consist of at least 80 600 men.
June III went to church at ot-
MichaeIs. which is one of the Oldest
churches in America, and IS supposed 10
have been built $50 years ago. Inc
CharlestOnians are very proud OF IL, anu l
saw several monuments of the time OF
the British dominion.
I had a long conversation with Gen.
Beauregard, who said he considered the
question of ironclads versus forts as set
tied, especially when the fire from the
latter is plunging. If the other monitors
had approached as close as the heOkuh'
He thought that both ffat-headed rlhed
seven-inch bolts and solid 10-inch balls
penetrated the irOncladS when WITHIN ], ZOo
yards. He agreed with Gen. Ripley that
the 15-inch gun is rather a failure; It Is SO
unwieldy that it can only be nred very
slowly. and the velocity OF the ball is so
small that it is very difficult to strke d
moving object.
He told me that Fort Sumter was to
be covered by degrees with the long
moss which in this country hangs GOWN
from the trees; he thinks that when TINS IS
pressed it will deaden the effect OF the shot
without being intammable; ana ne also
said that, even if the walls OF Fort Sumter
were battered down, the barbet battery
would still remain, supported on the piers
The Federal frigate IronsldeS took up hes
position, during the attack, over three
thousand pounds OF powder, which ~aa
prevented from exploding owing to some
misfortune connected with the communlca-
ting wire Gen. Beauregard and capt.
Tucker both seemed to expect great Things
from a newIy-invented and extra dlapoiicai
torpedO-ram.
June 81 called on Gen. Beauregard to
saw eood-by. Before parting, he told me
that his official orders. both from the Gov
eminent and from the Town Council, were
that he was to allow Charleston to be iald
in ashes sooner than surrender III; tne
ConfederateS being unanimous IN theii
determination that, whatever happened,
the CAPITAL Of South Carolina should never
have to submit to the fate of New Orleans.
But Gen. Beauregard did not at all antlcI-
pate that such an alternative was lmml-
nent In answer to my thanks LOT ms
kindness and courtesy, he said that the
more Europeans that came TO the Souul,
the more the Southerners were pleased, as
seeing was the only way 10 iSHioNo Aie'ii5
prejudiceS.
June 16.-Arrived at Wilmington at
q. M. and crossed the river there IN a
steamer This river was quite luIl OF
blockade runners. | counted elght large
steamers all handsome leaden-colored yes
sells, which ply their trade with the great
est regularity. Half these ships were en-
caCed in carving goods on Government
account; and was told that the Guantlty
of boots clothing, Saltpeter, lead ana TN
which they bring into the country IS very
great. | cannot suppose that IN ORDINARY
times there would be anything ike such a
trade as this at little place like Winning
| ION which shows the abSurdity OF calling
| the blockade an efficient one.
This blockade running is an extraordl-
! nary instance of British energy ana enter
| prise. When was at Charleston, asked
| MIR Robertson whether any French vessels
| had run the blockade. In reply he told me
il was a very peculiar fact that 'one OF the
! mariners of Fraser & Co. being French
| man. was extremely anxious to engage
| French vessel in the trade. Expense was
no object; the ship and the cargo were
| forthcoming; nothing was wanted but a
| French Captain and French crew (to
| make the ship legally French); but al
| though any amount of money was ohered
as an inducement, they were not 10 De
| found. and this obstacle was lnsurmount-
able" Not the slightest difficulty is ex-
perienced at Liverpool in differing and
manning any number of ships ior this
purpose.
Mai. Norris went to call upon Mr.. Nallan-
dicham whom he had escorted to Winning
ton as a sort of mi-prisoner some days
AFRO. Mr. Nallandigham was in bed. He
| told Mai Norris that he intended to run
| The blockade this evening for Bermuda,
| from whence he should find his way to the
| clifton Hotel Canada, where he intended
| to publish a newspaper, and agitate Ohio,
| across the frontier. Maj. Norris found him
| much elated by the news OF his having
been nominated for the Governorshlp OF
! Ohio: and he declared, if he was duly
| elected. his State could dictate peace.
I'm travelling through the country to Viii
| minpton, these two used to converse much
| on politics; and Maj. Norris once said to
him: Now, from what you have seen and
| heard in your Journey through the South,
| Won must know that a reconstruction OF
| the old Union, under any circumstances.
is utterly impossible.
Vallandigham replied: Well, all l
can say is, l hope, and at all events l
| know. that my scheme OF a suspension of
hostilities is the only one which has any
L