Our Harbor Defences -- Fort
Sumter
For Sumter is built upon an artificial island, at the
entrance of our harbor. The foundation being of stone, it must be of
the strongest nature. That portion of the fort above the water-line
is of brick and concrete of the most solid character. Its plan is a
truncated pentagon, with one side parallel to the adjoining shore,
thus presenting an angle to the channel. Of the truncated angles the
eastern, western and northern are simply formed into
Pan-coupeês
[a piece of wall
that forms a cutoff corner of a building], whilst the other two are
formed into two small faces, making an angle of about fifteen degrees
with the sides of the pentagon. At each intersection of the small
faces is a sally-port. The height of the parapet above the waterline
is sixty feet. On the eastern and western sides are the barracks for
the privates, mess hall, kitchen, &c. On the southern side are
the officers quarters, which are finished in very handsome
style.
It is mounted with the heaviest guns of the United States
service, arranged in three tiers, the two lower being Casemates and
the upper Barbette guns. The Casemate guns are those which are fired
from an embrasure in the Scarp Walls, and are protected from the
enemy's
shells
by an arched
bomb-proof covering overhead; the Barbette, those which fire over the
parapet, which exposes the cannoniers to the fire of the enemy,
although, in this instance, the height of the ramparts is so great
that there is comparatively no danger from the shot of an enemy's
fleet. The armament consists of 140 pieces, placed in the following
order: The heaviest guns, such as the 32 and 63 pounders, on the
first tier; 24 and 32 pounders on the second tier; Columbiads (8 and
10 inch) and heavy sea coast mortars on the top of the
ramparts.
The heaviest pieces are turned toward the harbor, the
lighter toward the land, side; which side is further protected by
musketry, for which loop-holes are cut in the Scarp Wall. The number
of each kind of gun
is about
thirty
64-pounders; the same number of 32-pounders; forty 24-pounders; ten
of each calibre of Columbiad; ten 13-inch and ten 10-inch mortars,
capable of throwing about four thousand (4000) pounds of shot and
four thousand three hundred (4300) pound of shall at each
discharge.
On the terra-parade plain are situated two furnaces for
heating shot. The magazines are situated on the inner sides of the
sally ports, and contain, pat present, 40,000 lbs. of powder, and a
proportionate quantity of shot and shell. The landing to the Fort is
on the southern, or land side, and is formed by a wharf projecting
towards the shore, and also extending the length of that face.
This Fort would be nearly impregnable if finished and
properly manned. It is at present so far completed that with a little
temporary work, it could be made so strong as to defy any attack by a
fleet of large vessels. Its weakest point is on the south side, of
which the masonry is not only weaker that than [sic] of the other
sides, but it is not protected by any flank fire, which would sweep
the wharf. Once landed, an entrance may, at the present state of the
construction, be easily made, for the blinds of the lower embrasures,
though six inches in thickness, may yet be easily blown away, and
even if this was impossible, scaling ladders can reach those of the
second tier which are not protected in this manner.
This concludes the brief sketch of a fort, which is a most
perfect specimen of civil and military engineering. The whole work
has been conducted in a manner that reflects the highest credit upon
the engineers, and is worthy to occupy the prominent position that it
holds. In conclusion, we take occasion to allude to one point of
especial beauty - the construction of the arches - of which there are
nearly every variety - the "Full Centre," the "Segment," the
"Groined," the "Askew," and the "Rampant" - and to add that the walls
at their base are 12 feet thick, and at the top 8 1/2 feet
thick.
Fort Johnson
The position of this old fort, which is of the utmost
importance as a connecting point in the defense of the Harbor, has
been considered by the highest military authority, as the key to all
the defensive works in the Harbor. Against the attack of forces by
land, or a boat attack by the Stono River, it must be considered an
essential element of defense. So soon, then, as the State of South
Carolina assumes the control of the Harbor fortifications, no time
should be lost before a permanent fortification is commenced here, if
time does not admit of a substantial work being built, a field-work
of earth and timber to mount sixty guns, could be created in a very
short time, which would offer a respectable defense against any
probable land-attack, and furnish at the same time a heavy battery
against shipping.
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