The New York Herald Newspaper, April 7, 1863, Page 2

2 tified beyond all other places on this continent, and it is dolioved tw be the Sebastovol of America. In addicicn ty tome details we also refer to Charleston te the dy so the Revolution, when it was placed under by aduiral Sir Peter Parker, and to the bombard. in Aprit, 1861, ty are drawn from the best infor- d of, and may be relied upon inthe ntie CHARLESTON IABBOR, sume ides of the entianees to Charles- ng directives that were Fort Moultrie mounts fiNy guns, a fow of which are im bombprools, while others are protected with sandbag ramparts, A new bowbproof retreat has beeu built on the parade ground for the soldiers to retreat to when hard pressed by the shells o! the enemy. With this exception there has been mo important al teration made in this work. Notwithstanding this, Mlad trie will be able to make a most determined andthe best fight. Kearns said that if he were in an iron-clad, about to enter the harbor ins hostile manner, he should care for nothing of he could muceessfully pass through the fire from Fort Mouliric. Araya cl Mae de © following 8 tou, we Cura formerly used — ary Sie CANNeY CASTLE PINCKNEY, This work is situated on the southern, extremity of the Charleston bor Shute’s Folly Island. It is nota fortification of much lw wproaet to wut sai suyp channel the vessel was kept in sic t : er until up nd the ught- | Seat, except tn regard to its position, which enables t bone scntiwens harl ston five de | 1#t@ Command ail the eastern wharves. It is, infact, an outwork of the city rather than @ defence to the har- bor; but im the event of an invading fleet passing the lower works it would somewhat annoy them. Ita plan presevis to the south a gemicircular face; the eastern and western faces are formed by the line of rampart fol- lowing the direction of the tangent to the circular arc at ite extremity, and for @ distance of twenty yards the northern side is plain, At both the northeastern and northwestern angles are semicircular bastions, the outer extremities of the urcs being tangent respectively to the easternand wostern sides of the fort, There are two tiers of guns, tho lower one being in bombproof case mates, the embrasures of which are about seven feet above low water mark, the upper ten being en bdarbelte. ‘The length of the rampart is twenty feet, and tho width thirty-two feet. The width of the outer wall and parapet. is six feet. The entrance to the work is on thé northern side, on either side of which are the officers’ quarters, measrooms, &c. Its armament is about twenty-five pieces, twenty-tour and. thirty-two pounders,« Cow sea coast mortars and six ten-inch columbiads. “FORT RIPLEY, ‘The work on the middie ground promises to give our vessels more trouble'than any work in the harbor; Fort, Sumter notexcepted. The very best of engineering talent bas produced an iron-clad casemated work, with sloping sides, which will shed shot as well as, Perhaps, our own iron-clads, No time, expense or skill has been. spared upon the work, and it is believed tobealmost imprognable. Our inform. ants do not give us the details of its coustruction, but all claim for it the greatest merits. Our own officers ac- knowledge its commanding position and the probability of its doing us much harm, ite guns sweep down’ the ‘Swash channel, giving an approaching vessel the full bo- nett of a terrible raking fire. It crosses the fireof Sum- ter and Moultrie, making it perhaps the hottest place ever tried by any class of vessels; for where the vessel meets the obstructions she also encounters the fire of Sumter a half mile distant, Moultrie half a mile distant, andthe middie ground work, distant about two miles, with the Fort Johnson and Cummings’ Point batteries play- ing away in full vigor. When Kearns left the harbor this work was ready to receive six guns, which were said to ‘ ton light, following this the port olde of three bar buoys, Having or turther ob: cl bea. n about its width to the oy nour chaunel beacon, then the until the two channel beacons were in the chanuel ov a course of north three- i, keeping Headdrell’s beacon a Hutle open f the rangi Sumter bore west one-eighth north and cht was opening midway between the two Iskend ous, then the course was northwest by and a balf mile to Rebellion Roads, If West Bowd up to the city by the Folly island channel, when St hillp s spire opened to the northward of Castle Pinck eof St. Michael's was open about the dist the southward, the course was west one- qunetor north, giviug the wharf at Castle Pinckney a berih of about two hundred and forty yards. ‘Yes Noxwt CHaynet.—This is a shoal channel, and was ‘aso only by light draught vessels, Matrit’s oR SULtivay’s Istanp Cmaxeet.——This channel is «tite harrow, Quad trends along the shore of Sullivan's TsLund, with eleven feet of water at low tide on the bulk- dowd south rom Moultrie. Swat Cnannei.—-1bis channel is @ branch which on ters the main channel, It bas now the deepest water, aud will probably be used by a portion of our fleet in the attack, OveRvit. CHANSE:.—Vormerly the course of this channel was a straight one, with the Morris Island béacons in rauge. A uumber of shoal spots have becn made in the chanel, aud its use is now abandoned, Saxvonp Cuan, has seven feet of water, and is only uscd by small coasting vessels. The shifting character of the sunds which compose Charleston bar prevents any- ‘thing Like permanence in the channels, which are subject to frequent and very considerable changes in depth and location, particularly after a southeasterly gale. Cuarixston Licntaouss,—Latitude, 32 degrees, 41 min- seconds; longitude, 79 degrees minutes, 29 ‘The Nghthouse is situated on the south end of Morris Island, and formerly displayed a revolving light ‘The lantern is oue hundred and twenty-five feet above the i of tho sea, and in clear weather it could be seen be awaiting the completion of the fort. 1¢ was alsostated seventeen miles. ‘Tho rebels have destroyed the lighting | ‘B&t it was expected that two powerful Armstrong guns apparatus, and consequently the lighthouse. The | Would arrive from Nassau, and would he mounted on this work. Thoy had not arrived when he left the harbor, a light boat ‘ormeriy there was stationed one and a half mile month since. from the southwest end of Rattiesnake Shoal, which served 4s % guide for passing clear of the shore. It was removed curly im the reboilion. ‘Tipes.--The mean rise and fall of tides in Charleston. harbor is about five feet three inches. The velocity be (woeu Furts Sumter and Moultrie is as follows :— Liood ‘tid .—¥irst quarter, 1 knot; second quarter, 2 kuois; third quarter, 18-10 knot; fourth quarter, 8-10 kpot. Eu Tide.—Firet quarter, 1 knot; second quarter, 2 2-10 kuots; third quarter, 2 70 kuots; fourth quarter, 7-10 kuos. At this point the flood sets north and the ebb sets south, We give these tidal data to show the amount of cur- reut our vessels will be favored with or have to over- come, and at a point where it is to be supposed we shall meet with the most resistauce from the artillery of the euemy. FORT JOHNSON. Fort Johnson was simply a huge sand battery, erected on the site of old Fort Johnson of Revolutionary meinory. It is situated one mile and a quarter from Fort Sumter, and mounted four heavy guns, The position of this work is highly necessary to the defence of the harbor, giving a connecting line of fire, and has always been censidered by high military officers as the key to the defensive works of the harbor, Against @ land attack, or by gunboats by Stono river, it is considered an egsential element of defence. There isa mortar battery in connection with the work of four seacoast mortars. CUMMINGS’ POINT IRON-CLAD BATTERY. ‘The nearest point of land to Fort Sumter is Cummings’ Poiut, distant 1,150 yards. On this point is the celebrated railroad iron battery. It consisted in structure of a heavy framework of yellow pine logs, with a reofing of the same material, over which was dovetailed I’ railruad iron, bolted down in the most secure manner. Its front presents an angle of about thirty degrees. It was piorced for three portholes, which were covered, when the gun was being loaded, by iron shutters. When open there was just space enough to allow the heavy columbiad te be rum out, These guns bore on the south wall of Sum- ter. This work 4s now said to be torn down; but it is not unlikely they have put it up again. THR IRON-CLAD FLOATING BATTERY. At the time this vessel of defence was considered quite @ novel aflair, and it performed an important part in the bombardment of Sumter. It was constructed of pal- metto logs, armored with boiler iron. Is was embrasured and mounted four heavy guns. The gun face of the bat- tery was covered with six plates of iron, two of them be ing railroad iron, The wood backing was four feet thick. It bad@ peculiarly formed bombproof roof, which pro- tected a fleating hospital which was attached. Jt now lies agreund, ana will be used as a battery to cross fre with Fort Ripley. The iren plating has been removed tor use on the new iron-ciads, THE BATTERY AT CHARLESTON. On the Battery at Charleston had been mounted eight guns, four of which were rifled pieces of eight inch ca- libre, and the remaiving four ten-inch columbiads, These guns were expected to be used to prevent the troops on the transport vessels from effecting a lauding at thie part of the city, should they succeed in passing the forts, and are looked upon as a kind of last resort. THE WORKS ON THE ISLANDS. On James laland the old batteries about Secessionville have been renewed; but no new ones have been creed. On the northern side of Wappoo creek, where it emp- ties into the Ashley river, a battery has beeu erected commanding both sireams. On Sullivan's Island @ six gun battery has been erected near the Moultrie House, and another—a four gun battery—at about a milefrom that spot. On Morris Island there is one six gun battery, be- sides the ove at Cummings’ Point, and po other as far as Kearns knew. Since our informant left Charieston every available ne- gro has been impressed, and batteries have grown up with mushroom ceiecity. Guns have been brought from all over Rebeldom, and the defences of Charleston in creased at least one-third. THE CITY AND WORKS CONNECTED BY TELEGRAPH. To enable the forces in the city and works to co-operate, and also to be able to warn the city of the approach of a hostile fleet, the city and works are connected by a tele gtaphic wire. ‘The wire passes from Charleston across to James Island, thence along the shore to Fort Jobnson, nearly opposite Ripley, and thence to Fort Sumter. It next connects with Morris Island at Cummings’ Point, and then stretehes to the headquarters in the centre of the island. ‘Thus a vessel passing the channel in front of Morris Island is a8 promptly known in Charleston as one passing Sandy Hook would be known in this city. Consequently a com- plete co-operation of the whole of the works could be ob- tained, and a surprise of them become ajmost a matter of impossibility. LOCATION AND ARMAMENT OF THE WORKS, Another informant says:—The cannon foundries at Rich- mond have cast over two hundred guns for Charleston alone, ia addition to those that were already there; aud among these were cighteon of those monster guns of which we bave heard from time to time such wonderful reports. ‘There are five large forts defending Charleston on the land side, which we should judge, from the desoription, to be similar in size and construction to the fort on Fede- ral Hill, Baltimore. They cannot have, however, the ad- vantage in position which the latter possesses,as they are not built on #0 elevated 4 position. The armament of these five forts consists altogether of a hundred guns, in- cluding mortars and eleven-inch sbell guns. Besides the one hundred and four guns of Fort Sumter, the fifty guns of Fort Moultrie and the tweaty-five guns of Castle Pinck- ney, there are twenty seven large and strong batteries cotpmending the che nn id approaches from the sea, mounted with guns ag follows: — Battery No. 1, on the east end of Sullivan's Island, 40 guns. SUPPOSED OBSTRUCTION GROUND, ‘The narrowest part of the main ship cbanvel ts about ove mile aud a quarter below Fort Sumter, within sasy runge of its guns, The channel at that point is less than a half mile wide, and the water is only six fathoms in depth. It is fair to presume that there are obatruc- tions, or at leagt torpedces, placed here. The guns of Furt Moultrie also boar upon this spot, while it is in short range of the tron.clad battery at Cummings’ Point, and of mior Dutteries in the immediate vicinity. If the rebels have shown tbe proper skill, it will be one of the hardest places to get by with our vessels, On either site of the chaunel way at this point there are shoals, covered with about seventcen feet of water, whieh aiford facilities ‘or securing the chains which hold the obstructions, awhile at this point Fort Moultrie hes a direct raking fire Along the decks. Sumter and Cummings’ Point converge their fire at a slight angle, and the other batteries bring ‘o bear a direct broadside and cross fire. It will be a warm place for a vessel there. Adding to this the fire {rom the batteries on Sullivan’s Island, parallel but oppo. site to the fire from Morris Island,and you will have an anparalleled line of defence. FORT SUMTER. Fort Sumter is a work of modern construction, and is ‘mown ag a truncated pentagoual fort. It is built upou an ‘artificial island at the mouth of Charleston barbor, three aud three-cighths miles distant from the city of Charles- ton, ‘This island bas for its base a sand and mud bank, with a superstructure formed of the refuse of several Northern stone quarries. The island itself cost a haifa milion of dollars, and was ten years in course of con- struction The fortitication cost another half milliou, and when Major Anderson took possession of is it was so bear completion that a portion of its guns bad been placed in position, The walls are of solid brick and concrete masonry, built close to the water's cdge, without a berme. They are sixty feet high and from eight to twelve feet in thickuess, and are pierced for three tiers of guns on the north, east and west exterior sides. Its weakest point is on the south side, of which the masonry is not only weaker than the other sides, but it is not pro- tected by any flank fire winch would sweep the landing wharf, Ouce landed, a party could’ haye easily effected an entrance ‘The work was designed for an armament of one hun dred and forty guns of various calibres. Two tiers of guns are in casemates, while the upper one is open, or n lavtetie, the lower tier tor forty-two-pounder Paixhan guns, second tier eight and ten-inch columbiads, and the barbette tier for mortars and twenty four-pounder ‘guns. We leara from Thomas Kearns, one of the garrison of Wort Sumter, many interesting particulars in relation to that work, Our informant left there only @ few weeks ago, and is now in this city. He states that in Fort Sumer there are ove hundred and four guns ready for action, about Mfty two (one-half) of which are ten-inch columbiads, the remainder being eight and six inch Dablgrens aud howitzers. There are (our heavy mortars in the fort, one being stationed at each corner. There are about twelve rifled guns iv the works; bat in consequence of the explosion of one of these guns, by which an officer of high rank narrowly 4 losing his life, it bad been determined not to place any more reliance upon such pieces. They had therofore given up the idea of rifling old guns, and had thrown into disuse those already rifled. The fort was in about the same condition as when taken by the rebels, and, being then much injured by the engagement of April 12 and 15, would wot stand one-half the Gring it did ep that occasi It had net been wren plated. In fact they had fot enough iron to complete the plating of their rame and gunboats; therefore could not spareany (o put on the outside of their fort, even if they had had any idea of #0 doing. ‘The only altorations that had been made were in the offcers’ quartere—which, it will be remembered, had been soveral times fired during the fight in 1861—ané in the magazines. With regard to the latter, somo large Gat stones, (hat had been sent from the North to fag the fort, had beew broken up and made into a solid wall out. side for the protection of the twe magazines. With re- gard to the former, the rooik had beeu lowered, and butit flat, with a covering of concrete, so that ifs shell should burst upon them it could not fire them or do any othes kind ef material harm. The appearance of the fort (rom Lue city shows @ periectly evel top, aothing appearing 2, op Sullivan's Island, 18 guns. 3, on Sullivan's Island, 14 gums. 08 Sullivan's Island, 10 guna 5, on Sullivan's tsland, $ guns above the parapet at all. The fort cannot make a very goos | No. 6, on Sullivan's Island, 6 guns. fight against such vessels as thove of the Moni’or pattern, No. 7, om Sullivan's island, 4 guns ‘Thors are about five hundred men in the ort, which forco | No. 8,00 Sollivan’y tsland, 4 guns, two of them 64 Was oxpectod lo be doubled re» pounders 2 eight neh im * FORT MOULTRIF. ] No. 0, of Sullivan's Istand, 6 rifled cannon of the largest Fort e is situated On Sullivan's Islaad, Sumter, but torther up the harbor, aid about one sant battery 4 con matic « wt. Lh is, properly speaking, @ huge water but. | riled can Lory, bering no casoimates, Its arunamMent Originally con. | sisted oi ete ven beavy guns and several mortars, ‘The owior the above guns, (nether with these te Fort trie, and (nner walls are of Brick, ited with earth and capped nad (Be MAM Ship Chem atti ty Conefertae, > with stour, making a solid wail about sixteen inches i pannel and Lneswanh chanve seek thickuess, The work was much strengthened pr x is cose fis aud the | the bombardment ia 1861, vod was in command of |! lopbste we that ace th th wud Gore mor Hipiey, formerly of Whe Voivod States Army, ‘ A ; NEW YORK WeRALD, TUESDAY, , 2 Ah 1, ass. 7 ata r Al i | i 4 hs THE APPROACHES TO CHARLESTON. Scene of Operations on Coles’ or Johns’ Island. * . ae Battery Ne. 11, at the mouth of Wappoo creek, 4 rifled guns, which carry @ ball with acouracy as far as Castle Pinckney. ‘ Battery No. 12, on the Battery, at the south end of Charleston, 4 eleven-inch shel! guns. Batteries No. 13 and No. 14, near the mouth of James Island creek, 3 guns each. An iron-clad battery, three-quarters of a mile south of Castle Pinckney, 8 guns, of which 2 are large columbiads, 2are cleven-inch shell guns, 2 are the largest monster guns, and 2 are rifled cannon of the longest range. AB iron-clad floating battery, usually anchored between Fort Johnson and the last named work, mounting 4 guns, of which 2 carry long steel projectiles, and 2 are 100- pounder “smasbers.”” Fort Johnson, 4 very heavy guns. Battery No. 16, 4 seacoast mortars. The above guns, together with those in Castle Pinck ney, command the entrance to the Ashley river and the Souch channel. Battery No. 16, at the mouth of Shem creek, 4 guns. Batteries Nos. 17 and 18, so theast of Mandrell’s Point, 4 guns each. The above guns command the Hog Island channel, leading to Cooper river. is Ap iron-ciad battery on Cummings’ Peint—S of the monster guos—which command the obstructions in the main ship chaouel. Batteries Nos. 19, 20, 21, 22 aud 23, on Morris Island—3 guns each—commanding the entrance to the main ship channel. ‘There are also at Charleston two iron rams, mounti in all9 guhs. At five different places, too, torpedoes are submerged, so arranged as to explode when a vessel passes over them. The above enumeration shows that Charleston is de- feeded by no less than 376 guns. BREACH INLET BATTERIES, At Breach inlet there is a very heavy work, gontaining with its outworks and auxiliaries about forty guns, many of them being the eighty-pouuder rifle of the Tredegar Works pattern, a very effective gun, but habie to. burst. ‘These batteries command Maffit’s channel north, and range over to the Swash channel, which now carries deeper water than the old maio ebip channel, which, owing to the. sinking, of she old whalesbips and natural causes, has ceased to be @ channel of preference. ‘Thus fortified, the lower end of Sullivan’s island presents a row of heavy orduance sel- dom ever seen placed for the defence of any point. POLLY’ BATTRRY. This battery is situated near the ruins of the old light- house, and mounts five heavy guns. It is maoned by a beavy garrison, kept shere with a view to preventour blockaders from entering the harbor and watching them at work up the harbor, ‘TBE OBSTRUCTIONS. The obstructions consist of wooden cribe filled with stones, placed at convenient distances from cach other, while between cach crib are floating rafts, made of heavy timber, securely lashed together by cable chains, and then bolted tv an upper layer of timber, which not only covers the chain, but adds a bracing strength to the strecture. At @ given point this bar or boom is provided with & moveable gate, which is opened Wo ailow the® own ves- sels to pass in and out. This place of ingress is directly under the guns of Fort Sumter, and 60 close that it seems almost impossible that any vessel can pass them, Fate would seem to decree her certain destruction. Un either side apd at a safe distance from the boom are placed in- ferval machines and torpedoes, which are to be fired either by concussion or by means of a galvanic battery located in either fort—ranges being prepared so (bat when the vessel is directly over them they are tired. But the tide bas washed a number of these obstructions away and rotted nearly all the remaimder,and they are now not very formidable obstacle to encounter and overcome. Achain and & connecting series of obstructions exist be- tween Forts Sumter and Moultrie, but, like the other interruptions to travel, are none the better for nearly two years’ wear. Kearns does not believe there are torpsloct tn the harbor, He looks upon that statement, as he doe that of the plating of Fort Sumter, as a moxt ridiculous hum- bug. If they have anything of that kind—and he be- heves they have not—they must be useless by thistime, having been go long in the water; for he js quite certain they have not been recently laid. The following general order is full of interest, as it gives us aclue as to where either obstructions, or per haps torpedoes, are placed:— GENRRAY, ORDER—NO, 8. Finer Miuitary District, DrvaxrMest Sours CAROLINA, @BORGIA AND FLORUDA, ‘CHARLESTON, Feb. 17, 1803. 1. Vessels navigating the harbor wiil avoid passing through the Hog isiand Chanuel, between Mount Pieasan- and Sullivan's Island, and the channel between the fats ‘east of Castle Piackney and Crab Bank. 2. Hereafter no vessels entering the port at night from abroad will be allowed to pass Fort Moultrie or Sumter until daylight. Their course will be pointed out by tho commanding officer at Fort Sumter, to which post each vessel will be required to send @ boat to report. By command ot BRIGADIER GENERAL RIPLEY. Wa. F, Nance, A. A. G., First Military District, THE REBEL RAMS AND GUNBOATS. Charleston bas in its barbor two iron-clad gunboats or rams—the Palmetto State and Chicora, The Palmetto Btate ts the larger of them, mounting five heavy guns— two in each broadskte and one at the bow. The Chicora is much smaller and only carries three guns—one iv each broadside and one at the bow. These two vessels are the ones which made a raid on our blockading fleet off Charles. ton on the 3ist of January, crippling the Keystone State and Mercedita; but on that occasion neither of them showed any extraordinary powers as aram. They re- semble the Merrimac, which seems to bave been the pattern vessel of the Confederate navy, The armaments of these vesscls are first class and of a heavy calibre; but it is not proposed on the part of the rebel navy Department that they should attack our vossels, but aid im the defence of the harbor. “Their Hight draught will enable them to go over shoal spots and take up advantageous positions so as to annoy our wooden vessels at tho time of our offensive opera tions. It has been said that they are simply huge float- ing barus, covered with @ thin arinor; but we do not dis- credit amy abilities which may be due toa vessel bearing the name of {ron-clad; but we are confident that they are no match for our Ericssou batteries. | OTHER GUNBOATS. tho rebels have in the harbor @ few tuyboats and | river steamers which are to take part in the contest, and it is said that lately @ British steamer ran the blockade successfully and that she will be armed for the occasion. | Their naval powers in the harbor are not of a high order, nod though they may barn some powder it is not at all likely they will do much barm. in addition to, the (ron-clade they have the steamers General Chineh, Bttiwan and Chesterfield; but, as they do | | net angeer on the Youfederate Lary register as mon of war, it is fat? to presume they are commissioned by the State authority. The following is the list of officers of their two iron- olads:— mapenare oars IRON-CLAD PALMETTO STATE. Oficer—D. N. Ingraham, squadron. Lieutenanta—W . H. Parker, Jr., Phillp Porcher, G. 8. bgp ee J. Brown. . T. Chew. nab. M 5; Pavmaser tole S, Banks, : aie ra W. P. Jordan; Assistants, J. J. Darcy, ‘Midshipmen—. ¥. Lovier, W. T. Hamilton, C. Carey. Wilson,” , Guaner—G. M. Thompson. Pilou—G. D. Gladdon, Andrew Johnson. CONFEDERATE STATES IKON-CLAD CHICORA. Oaplain—J. BR. Tucker. Lieutenants—G. H. Bier, W. T. Classelt, W. H. Wall. Maser—A. M, Mason. Acting Master-—John A. Payne. Passed Midshipman—Jos, P. Ulaybrooke, Midshipmen—K. 11, Bacot, P. Saunders, Roger Pinckney. Surgem--Wwn. Mason Turner. Engineers—Viret Assistant, H. Clarke; Second Assistant, J. H. Toombs; Third Ansistants, W. F, Jones, J. J. Lyell. Gunner—E. R. Johnson. Carpenter—J. ¥ . Weav' Acing Paymaster—Kd. Pilots—Thomas Payne, NAVAL OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE S£ATION. The following Confederate naval officers are by their Tegister attached to the Cha) (ston naval station:— Captain D, N. Ingrabam. - Commandant, First Lieutevant N. K. Vi -Station duty. Surgeon W, F. Patton. tation duty. Vaymaster Heory Meyers.... Station duty. Master W. D, Porter .... Station duty. Midshipman W. P. Hamilton, tation duty. Engineer Virginius Freeman. tation duty. First Assistant Pogineer M. P. Station duty. First Assistant Engineer 5 Biation duty. Sailmaker M. P. Station duty. Sailors are gcarce with the rebels, and !xndsmen will figure pretty extensively on board of their naval vessels. RECAPITULATION OF GUNS IN THE HARBOR. Fort Sumter, - 104 guns, 2 Jol 2, Sullivan's | 8, Sullivan’s } Battery No, vattery No. Fattery No. Battery No. Battery No. Pauery Battery Battery No, lo, Bautery No. 11, battery 2, Battery Homamesnacenatowaunald “ Jron-clad gunboats... o.° 376 guns. making a total of. . THE MILITARY PREPARATIONS. General P’. G. T. Beauregard, of the Confederate States Army, 8 thecommanding officer of the Department of ‘South Carelima, and when he was assigned to that de- partment he found jt in a condition illy adapted to with. stand ap attack. But little had beeu dune since the bom bardment of Sumter to put the harbor in a state of de. feuce. at that time the people of Charleston believed their city vo be invulnerable. But General Beauregard, aller making @ minute survey of ali the defences, assured them that, whatever might be the strength of their de- fensive works, they were by no meane impregnable. From that time, therefore, to the preseut, General Beau regard has been incessantly engaged in improving and increasing what bad been so well begun. Me has not confined bis attention to the approaches from the sea, but bas labored also to render Charleston secure from @ land attack, in cave our forces should succeed in effecting a landing, The result of these labors is, that'there is not a single;spot within eight miles of Charleston towards the sea and witbin four miles in laud where afort or battery could possibly be erectea that is not now defended by a strong work. ‘Ihe Confede rate government have zealously seconded these labors of Beauregard, Negroes were called in from every part of the State, and by day and night have they toiled at the shovel until formidable batteries have arisen at every commanding point; and whore six mouths ago stood five dwellings they have been torn down to make room (or batteries and rifle pits. Beauregard has not been idle. Raw troops have been drawn together and instructed in the use of great guns, and the infantry drilled in ali the evolutions of warfare. Everything which Laman jngeouity could invent bas been done to render an attack a sure failure to the foe. How well their calculations will come out remain to be seen. That the rebel authorities expect an early attack upon Charleston will be seen in the following proclamation — Harapquarters, Deragiwkyt oF Sovrm Canora, } Gworcia and Fiona, Feb. 18, 1863. It has become my solemn duty to inform the authori ties and citizens of Charleston and Savannah that the move! ts of the enemy's fleet indicate an carly land and naval attack on one or both cities, and to ui persons unable to take au active part in the strug) retire. It is hoped, however, that the temporary separation of some of you [tom your homes will be made without alarm or undue haste, thus showing that the only feel: which animates you in this bour of supreme trial is tbe right of being al to participate in the defence of your homes, d the graves of your kindred, and Georgians! the hour is at bi to prove your country's cause, Let ail able bodied men, from the seaboard to the mountains, rush to arms. He not too ex- acting in the choice of weapons. Pi and ecythes will do for extermioating your enemies, spades and for protecting your firesides, To arms, fellow citizen Come to share with us our danger, our brilliant success, owr glorious death, G. 1, BEAUREGARD, General Commanding. Oficial—J. M Orimy, Assistant Adjotant General, THE APPEARANCE OF CHARLESTON. Kearns visited Charleston last Christmas, ana states ‘that the appearance of the city is very deplorable. Grass is growing in the principal business streets, and in the whole city there are but three bells of any size or conse. quence, the remainder having all been taken down and melted up for cannon, There is no busivess doing in the place, and the large space destroyed by the fire still re. mains in ruins. A new bridge connects the city with James Island; but it bas been so prepared that it can be almost instantaneously destroyed on the advance of an opposing force. ‘They believe that the ultimate fate of the city is Its entire destruction, and the citizens will not attempt to build or improve their property until the war ts ended HOW THBY BXPRCT TO BR ATTACKED, ‘The Chariestonians expect to be attacked both by land aad goa. They deoead upon (ueir fortg wad bayerion protect their harbor, and upon their land forces to defend the advances from Purt Royal. Thoy have thoir troops in almost every available position along the creeks and on the iglands, with roady means of concentration, If the Union forces should reach the bridge leading to Charles ton, that means of communication wil! bo speodity de atroyed and the further advance of the Union troops for « time prevented. THB REBEL TROOPS. The troops for the defence of Charleston and Savannah (about fifty thousand in number) are divided between the two cities. Eight thousand six hundred troops are quar tered und encamped iv and around Charleston. There are tow thousand encampedion Jamos Island, three thousaud on Sullivan’s Island, two thousand on Morris Island, nine hundred in Fort Sumter, three hundrod in Fort Moultrie ‘and two hundred in Castle Pinckney ‘This gives to each city twenty-five thousaud wen , bul, in the gvent of an attack on Charleston, as many wore can be massed in a few hours by rail from Savannah; 80 that virtually there are Aifty thousand troops ready to de- fond the city and its approaches At the present writing we ure uot able to give the exact proportion of infautry, artillery and cavalry in tho dopartment; but no doubt it is well divided, aud in the best possible rebel spirits. MORALE OF THE RSBEL ARMY. It is said that the foreignors in the service are becoming demoralized, from the fact that they see plainly that the plea of democracy {a mere sham, tavading army would have to advance to attack Charlestes, from the land side. It requires but ove look at this cous. try to make one understand why, curing & war of twenty- ‘one months, the railroad between Charlestom aud Savas ‘Bab, which for miles aud miles is conveyed upon breatie work, haz pover been cut, aud why there is tittle dauger of its being cut in the future. ‘Pity S84 DEFENCES AND © RANG"? In addition to the other iand and #4 defences of Charles ton, great credit ia duo to ite defenders for the energy with which they have built and equipped two large iron * Clad rams, which are wow lying at the wharf, and are likely to be very prominently heard of if ever the long Unreatened assanit shall fall upon the devoted head of this “pestilent nest of sedition.” Three otuor similar iron clad Tams are in au Aavancod stage of progress, THK MLOCKADR AND WLOUKADL HIREAKERS, As regards the ofliciency of the blockade which clutches: the throat of Charlesion harbor, it may be that nothing more efficient could, under the civcom:tances, be inati- tuted by any nation; buc if the ollichney of a Dlockade bo tested by the frequccy of the capture of #cips at tompting ogress and ingress, it is a farce to consider Charleston, Wilmingtoa, Savannah and Mobile effectually Diockaded. Searcely a dark night passes but a vessel goes into or outof one of these ports; aud yet {| would bo difficult, so far as the number of blockaaing vesxels te concerned, for avy nation to institute a more restrictive blockade. The truth appeary to be that, if it was difficult for any nation to wstitute an officieat blockade in the and that the aristocratic natives of the South will acon kick thom over after they have obtained all the service out of them that is possible, Their pay and rations are far from satisfactory, and a3 they have, asa body, but little interest in the soil, having neither laud nor negroes, they of course have as little intorest in the cause for which thoy are fighting. The greator part would gladly come North if thoy could. get the opportunity; but so strict. surveillance is kept upon them, aud so summarily are thoy punished i taken in thoact of deserting, that very few make the attempt. One thing is certain: their hearts are not iu their work, and they will make but poor resistanco against those whom they consider as their de liverors, A contrary feeling animates the native soldior, who, although conscripted, will fight to the last in defence of his property—tho lave. They nave an foterest in the matter which makes them patriotic. ‘The following special orders show that the rebels are straining every nerve to complete their defences aud strengthen their force of defenders :— APECIAL ORDERS—NO. 52. HIKADQUARTERS, . Drrartaenr Soviit Canousa, Guonula axp FLORIDA, me Crariwstox, Feb. 27, 1863. * * * « VI.—Dwelling houses will not be occu; by officers as* quarters or jt the wishes of their owners, hor will dwelling houses be impressed, except in cases of @xtrome public necessity , for hospitals * By command of JNO, M, Orrey, Assit TixaqcaRtens, Drrarrugnt Sovii Canouina, GeorGia any FLoriva, e. Cuarieston, &. C., Feb. 17, 1563. Circumstances have deprived the Comunanding General during the last forty days of the number of negro la- borers necessary for the completion of the works for the defence of Charleston, in default of which J aimnow in. structed to callon the. plapters of south Carolina, who have ever been found alive to the impulses of duty, to send to Charleston, to Major D. B. Harris, chief engineer, with the utmost pon coon at least three thousand able bodied laborers, with spades and shovels. The negroes will be positively roturued, with their tools, in thirty days, it is hoped sooner. THOMAS JORDON, Brigadier General and Chief of Staff. SPECIAL ORDERS—NO. 76. Hapgc arteRs, Finst Miratary Disrricr, DS?PARTMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, GKONGIA AND FLORIDA, Cnarixston, 3. C., Feb. 17, 1863. ~ Tho General Comm: ding ‘this department has’ or red: — “That all furloughs to oilicers, non-commissioned offi jonging to this department, not based 3, are revoked, aud both officers pai te their respec- tive stations, to be ready to meet the enemy. Patriots and true soldiers will not linger by the wayside.” ‘the Brigadior General commanding tho First Military District promulgates the order of the Commanding Gene ral, contidentiy expecting that every member of his com- inand, be his Tank what it may, will res,oud at once to the call, setting aside all persuval consideration, as be- comes men who desire to defend their homes trow the ruthless foe. By command of Brigadier General RIPLEY. Wo, F, Nancs, Arsistant Adjutant General, Frem some cause or other the planters do not appear to send their slaves forward to Ucveral Beauregard as rapid- ly as they might, and the Governor of the State of South Carolina issued the following proclamation on the sub- cel Couvama, S. C., Feb. 23, 1963. Whereas, the General Assembly has provided by sta- tute for furaishing such negro labor as the Confederate authorities may require for coast defence, prescribing the ‘mode of obtaining the same, the success of which plan will much depend upon the Commissioners of Roads and the patriotiem of the people, and which labor it is im portant shail be furnished with all possible despatch: Now, therefore, I, M. L. Bonbam, Governor and Com- munder-in-Caief im and over the State of South Carolina, in pursuance of the requirements of the above mentioned , statutes, do call upon ail good citizens of the State—and, first, those composing the Second labor division—to allow no considerations of private interest to prevent their promptly furnishing the labor whick shail be called for by Colovel William M. Shannon, the State Agent, whoso duty and pleasure it will be (o see that their slaves are properly cared for. 1 also exhort thet important and re- sponsible body, the Com missioners of Roads, who have served the State so faithfully without fee or reward, to discharge firmly and efficiently their many laborious du- ties under the statutes, euforcing strictly all the provi- sions thereof. Given under my band and the seal of the State, at Co- jumbia, this twenty third day of February, A. DP, one thousund eight hundred and sixty-three. M. L. BONHAM. Wx. R. Huyr, Secretary of State. CHARLESTON FKOM AN BNGLISH CORKESPONDENT. Lawley, 4 correspondent of the London Times, thas de- scribes Charleston and its defences:— HOW THE CITY m FORTIFIED, To wasert that Charleston, in {ts present attitude, is im pregnable would obviously be @ fudicrous fallacy; but it is none the legs true (hat it could not be (aken without an enormous force allaching suauitancourly by rea and land, aud that the attack, even in that case, would bave to be conducted with desperate valor before i could be succeny ut. At the cutranve of the harbor Fort Sumter, thoroughly repaired and mounting enormous guns en bartette, frowns at the blockaders, while the neighboring points, on Mor ris Island avd Suilivan’s Island, from which the memor: able attack upon the fort on the 13th of April, 1861, was conducted, are in possession of the Confederates and are not likely to pass out of their hands, Behind Fort sum: ter, a new fort, which takes its name from General Rip- ley, and ix built almost entirely of palmetto wood, en hances the difficully to which ships are exposed im ap- proaching the town. TR WORK OF LER AND MRAUKKGARD, Although for obvious reasons | do not feel myself at hiberty to enter into details with regard to its fortilica. uw , it may be stated that ail that two of the most ac complished engineer officers of the confederacy—Gene rais Lee and Beauregard—could » or devise has been done to strengthen the towa un its land side. Geve: ral Lee, before he was moved to 4 irginis and assumed his present high position, was for some time in command of Charleston, and by him (he first live of iand defences was planned and executed. Thas line has grown and expanded at the inepuration of General Beauregard into & perfect ne'- work of earthworks and yedoubts, reaching frem the Conper river on (he north to the Ashiry river on the eouthe Ib is vob MWkely that so scientific an engineer as General Beauregard would be fully satisfied with bis system of defences anti! he had spent four or five years iv perfecting them. Suffice it to say that in the opinion of competent judges they are Stgong to defy a force ten times stronger than er likely to be Drought agaist them. Jn addition to ® very slight acquaimtance with the country in the ighborhood of Cimrieston satisfies the spectator bow impossible it is for an invading artny to penetrate such lagoons and swamps and foreste as lie between the (re- quent rivers which intersect the surface of South Carola. I had gocasion last week to go to Pocotaligo, about half way between Charleston avd Savannab, to inspect the pattie fleld on which the fedorals recently encountered « very inferior force, and were by them ronted and driven back to their gunboats. Between Pocotaligo and ( baries. ton a dozen low-lying swampy rivers, such as the Ashepoo, Combahee, North and South Edisto, and many more, fad their way to the sea, and along their banks the far famed rice plantations of South Carolina preseut their giiaening, unctuous surface to the sun, and scarcely aitord foothold to anything heavier than @foxhound. On the highest ridge of land between these rivers the sandy soil is co. vored with a growth of pine wood, which is everywhore fringed with a dense undergrowth of evergreen shrubs, Rverywhere the beautiful evergreen water oak, which resembles our English ilex, but grows to a far larger » delights the eye, and is covered on every branch with tong woepers of parasitica! moss, which give to the forest eroes a weird like aspect, as of ginuts with hoary, tog, pagrts, 14 9 Uarough soe a eayptryss ie saat au days of sailing vesse!s—und how difficult it was the British, nation fully learned in thoir Jong war at the beginning of this contury with Frauco—it is almost Aunpossible to do go in. these days of steam, Swift vessels of light dranght, painted iad on scarcely to be visible at s distance of Chirty yards, and consuming coal which emits only « light vapory soke, taugh the blockade to scorn as they noigeleasly omorge from orcreep into their sboltering harbors ats slow, stealth , which ts attended by no sonud from sorew or paddle. hve gre vessels which, during this war, have rien into and out rn harbors wme fifty times, and have acarcety had me shot at 4 world hms learned many truths from'the gigantic struggle which for two yeura his convulsed this continent; bat it is doubtful whether any more pregnant lesson has beon taught them the impossibility, in our times, of instituting a rigorous blockade along an extended and difficult line of coast, be the maritime power of the uation instituting it what it may. ‘The success of one large Chariestow firm in the block- ade runving busiuess ix no secret in eithor North or South, and wus detailed to me.in ite full particulars many months ago in New York. My ar i alluding to this firm at prosent i# in order that ome may be done te the liberality which its sclightinnt mat Dave evinced iu their dealings with the Confede- rate, government. No ship which belongs to Mesaes. Frager and Co.—the firm of which I am speaking—ever reaches Charlestun wharf witht its invoire being submit- ted to General Beaureyard, with the cart of each item fully marked, and with a request that he will select from the cargo at his own price whalever will, in his opinten, be to the Confedera‘e government. It is poxnible that liberality may haye brought its own reward, as it is understood that the Coniederate govermment have pad for what they have selected higher prices than Mosers. Fraser are likel have asked; but when it is mentioned in connection with the fact that there is no charity or public iustitution in the city of Charleston to which managers of the rm of Fraser & Co. are not munificent subscribers, it must be conceded that very high praise te their dee, although they are not apparently of such # make ag to value very highly this pablo mention of thoir good deeds. : KEBEL ANTICIPATIONS AND RESOLVER. A Chariestua correspondent ot the Nassau Guardian, writing from the former place, under the date of Feb ruary 21, says— Still trom all indieations the hour of triat ia a& hand. Beauregard bas issued a stirring mation, ordering non-combatants to ivaye the city, and the pocple to rally for its detence. The entire com- munity are on ‘the alert. Yhe toderals, however, indging (rom Northern statements, are divided in thelr co ineila, and three or four weeks may elapse before they strike the anticipated blow. Thew preparations for at- tack will doubtless be gigantic; but they will encounter here and iu Savannah an energy and skill equal to their own. It is not finprobable that » simullangous attack will be made at two or three places—say Wilmingwoa, Charleston aud Savaurab—with a view to distract our attention aud anticipate any great concentration of truops. But these contingencies have all been provided for, and on land and water the enemy will tind us able te, cope powerfully with them at every pomt. Of one Tost assured—Charleston, Savannah or Wilmington uever be surrendered. The streets may be red with the streams of our blood, our houses may blaze and crack im fragments amid the din and havoc of bombardment and Dattie, but men, women and children are united in ae s Mtinent—No surrender | BLOCKADE RUNNERS IN PORT. (From the Charleston Courier, March 27.) ‘There are four steamers now at tho wharves in Charies- ton that have arrived {rom Nassau since Sunday last with valuable cargoes of merchandise, Notwithstanding the blockade our city is at present enjoying larger direct fe reign trade than she over had before. THE ATTACK BY THB BRITISH IN 1776 AND 1780. In the beginning of June, 1776, the whole of the British fleet under Admiral Sir Peter Parker anchored off Charleston bar, Previous to their arrival the city bad adopted means of defence, and works were erected oa Sallivan’s Island mounting thirty guna, in a very sdvaa- tageous situation for annoying ships in their approach to the town. The militia were commanded by Genoral Lee. On the 28th of June, the Bristol and Experiment, each carrying A{ty guns, supported by several smaller ships, crossed the bar and attacked Yort Moultrie, constructed entirely of palmetto logs. A furious canupnade ensued which lasted till evening, when the ships slipped ther cables and withdrew from the action. The Actieon, of twenty-one guns, ran aground and wap set on freand destroyed. Over two hundred mon were wounded. Captain Morris, of the Bristol, was mortally wounded. Captain Scott, of the Experiment, and Loré Wiliam Campbell, were dangerously wounded. ‘The at- tack was not renewed. In tue spring of 1780 General Sir Henry Clinton attacked Charleston, aud after making some lines of parallels, and thus entting off all communication, General Lincoln, the federal commander, surrendered the city, together with six thousand meu, who became prisoners of war. In the fal! 4 the following year, peace being declared, they were liberated THB ATTACK ON SUMTER, On the morning of the 12th of April, 1961, the State troops attacked Major Robert Anderson, who had taken possession of Fort Susater. He resisted the avsault for thirty-six hours, and then capitulated on bis own terms, which were accepted, and the work evacuated. A civil war was now inaugurated and the portef Charleston was vio kaded. 1961. Dunledevate Troops at Charleston i First regiment artilie:y , Colouel Look... First regiment rifles, Colonel Pettigrew 545 First Dataliion Charleston riemen —. ‘ aaa Seventeenth regiment infantry Colonel Cunuingham. 926 abes. ” ow am CM is cies said wnvarscesnaaperenotaveres +++,8,188 of infantry, ‘arti men near Charleston Reserve corps ‘mounted Total Officers . Bund. Artillerists. Laborers,... MEEQUENT OPERATIONS. An unsuccessful attempt has been made to take Charles. ton by the way of James Island. On the Sist of January of the present year the two rebel ivon-clads made a night attack upon our blockading et, Gamaging two of them, but otherwise doing no harm. Since which time the rebels bave lent all their evergies to perfecting (heir delences. Nothing bas surprised (he Confederate government more thao the failure ou our part bitherte wo senda sireng expedition agnivet (Barlestom. They expected, when the war Grst broke out, that the first object at which the government would aim would be Chariestom, and the second Richmond. They expected that, at all events, before the (ail or winter of 1861, the whole uaval and military force of the Union weuld be buried agains Charleston, aod, after the capture of that place, against Richmond, The fact ie not concealed now by public men at Richmond that, bad the pavel and military forces which were at the disposal of the government im Septem- ver and October, 1861, been seut against Charleston, that city must have fallen, It was in consequence of this fact that General Beaurogard’s large army was kopt at Ma- nassas and Centreville during the whole of that fal! and the following winter (the latter portion of the time under General Joe Johnston), aa if to threaten Washington, and in order that the Colon army, at erst, kept a thai city, should be anable to co-operate with any navel force that ight be sent against Charleston Bot as months and even seaeune relied away without Charleston being even threatened with attack, the pro parations for the defenes of that city, Which bed been commenced when tho war fem broke out, began to ay sume formidable proportions. The forts in tbe harbor had been pot in complete order and greatly sireugineued. Natnerous batteries lad been erected at variogs points commanding the chanme!, and both these and the forw wore mounted with sufficient numbers of guns of heavy Leniirs. sgortary, de. TW* apiigh'r cLsuMy ton nad