The Charleston Fortifications

Charleston, S C, Deo. 11. The fortifioatious ia this harbor are three in nutnber, namely: Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumpter, and Castlc Pinekney. - The first is on Sullivan's Ialand, whioh is principally within the carporate limits ot the city of Charleston. This islandis separated froni the maiu land by a narrow cUannel, which sometinies at low tide may be forded, though it would be a very UQpiilitary thing tor au attacking expedition to rely on this method of approach. Fort Moultrie is on the seaward side of the islarid, ncarly a ini'.G distant frora this chanuel, so that its passngo would be ineasurably ''in the face of au enemy," aad directly so should the conimaading officer ereet batteries at the paiut of landing. Sullivau's Esland is (juite thiokly built up, generally with wooden tenementq, and a horse railroad traverses the whole distanoe. The lort itself is ati extensive work, well provided with every thing but men. lts guns are many of thein, of the largest and best descriptiou, and nearly all the recent improvements in explosivos have been introduoed, in the use of whieh the men are well drilled. Indeed, I may state with oonfidence that the offioers and men at Moultrie very uiuch excel in this particular. Eecentiy - within the last ten days - a trench has been dug around the entire fort, and, without going into minute detail, it will be énough to say that everything is being done necessary to placa the work in tho best possible oonditiau of dafense. She bas recently received six months provisions. What is wanting in men will be in a measure niade up by discipline and completeuess of death-dealing appaintmenls. The distauce between Fort Moultrie and city is about three miles. Castle Pinekney stands in the harhor, wholly surrounded by water, which oannot be bridged roadily, between Moultrie and the city, and can be operated only by heavy guus. It mouiits a large number of heavy guns, and has recently been very much strengthened. lu 18-J, Gen. Scott did much to streugtheu this position, and most of the works then added now reuiain. An engineering fqrco qf a liniited aumber of men lias, for the last two weeks, been engaged in renderiug the fortification one of a really formidable a character, Like Fort Moultrie, it only wants men. Fort Sumpter risea out qf the water further dowu the harbor, about oj miles froin the city, nearly abreast of and not over one mile from Moultrie. It not only commands both the other forts, but. it is believed, the city could be effectually shelled from it. It ia thoroughly appqinted with all the large descripfion of guns. Qutwardly it resembles the round, rellow fort on Governor's Islaud, thougli arger. It is thoroughly boomb-proof, iny believed to be impregruible to any,hing likely to be brought to bear against t. Thougli out at sea, it has a fine well of fresh water. For sometimc past upwards of 1000 men, most of thein niechanios, havo been actively engaged in jlacing the guns ia order. The elïectg of Japtain Forbe'a efforts are plainly visible even to tl;e uuprofessioual eye. ïhere iave heretofore been no more soldiers than was necessary to act as keepers. Moderately well garisoned,Suuapterwculd proe an ugly customer to Charleston and surrouudingSj should it ever come to that. Oue would suppose that it would not be difficult for men wheü driven out of Moultrie, if supplied with boats, to pull over to Sumpter, and in a brief spaco of time niake it hot work for the captors iu fort Moultrie. The United States Arsenal is at the west sido of the city of Charleston. In it are stored upwards of 700, ÜÜO stand of arins and a corrcspoudmg amount of ammuuition aud other appointmunts of war, excepting large guns. It is now guardad, noiciuaüy, by a military corps of Charleston, whose services the governmeat accepted to protect it from the mob. From the Charleston Jiercury, Ceo. 12. Hundreds of men are at work upon Fourt Moultrie, amons; thom some f ree negroos. A mote, ten feet wide, aud probaly as deep, is bcing dug around the eutire rampart, aud filiad with wuter. New bastions have been hastily erected at projeotiug angles of the fort armed with caiinou, and loop-holes for luuskotry to sweep tiio ditches with bullcts and grapc-s!iot. One of the bastious has beeu hurriedly fiuished with wood, armed at the suiumit with irou spikes. On the ocean side af the fort, beyond the mote a brep.st-wQrk of sand, fifteen feet high, has bsen erected, whieli gradually slopes towards the beach to the widtli of oue hundred and sevonty feat. On the l;u;J side, a high rampart of wood prevents outsiders from what is going on iu the interior, bijt signa of great activity are there ovident alao. The barracka inaid the fortj whgra they riso abovothu ran).1 parta, ha ve had loop-holes for inusketry ! eut around them, The heaviest ordnance is mounted, most of it poiating down upqa the eity, while the rest ranges with the guns of Fort Sumpter opposite, so : their joint fire eau preveat the entrauee of aay vessels. I At tho same timo, active preparatioas ura froing on at Fort Sumpter. Two men, nniy'a cluy or two back, were killed jy the lalling of a heavy oannon whieh they wure mounting. íhere is no gat; rison, but one huiidred and fifty men ave at work. Tlie armament oí Fort Sutnpter consists of 1-10 gans, rnany ot hem being the formidable ten-inch Jolumbiads, which throw either shot or shell, and which have a fearful range. O.nly a few of thesjo are yet in .losftion, atïd the work of rnounting jieces ot this calibro in the casemates is ue.cessarily s alow one There is also a large amcunt of artillery storen, consisting oí about 40,00.0. lbs. of pöwdr, and a proportionate quuntity of shot and shell. The vvorkmen engagod here sleep in thoforl overy night, o.ving to the want oí regular cornmunication with the city. The wharf or landing is on the south eidu, and is of course exposed to a crosg,-öïe. frc.ui all tbeopenings on that side. Oastle Pinckney, within point blank qhot oi the city, which for years was in a dilapidated condition, is now in thorough repair,and armod complotoly with heavy ordnance.