April 9, 1861; The New York Herald
Our Charleston Correspondence.
CHARLESTON, April 3, 1861.
The city was astir this evening in consequence of rumors about another vessel, showing the American flag, being fired into from batteries on Morris Island. The reports were very conflicting, and nothing definite will be known until an official report is made to Gov. Pickens–an officer having been despatched to the island to ascertain the particulars.
The rumors are that the vessel was a regular trading schooner from Philadelphia, and attempted to make her way into the harbor without showing proper signals; that she was fired at with blank cartridges, and not paying attention thereto, Col. Lamar gave her a shot in the hull from his columbiad. She then displayed the American ensign, and that not being a satisfactory signal, another shot was fired at her, but it was not known at eleven othis evening whether the second shot took effect or not. Capt. Dozier went down in the government steamer Lady Davis, but did not succeed in ascertaining the whereabouts of the vessel. It is supposed she put to sea.
When the firing was observed by Major Anderson, it is stated, he despatched two of his officers – Captains Seymour and Snyder – to Morris Island, with instructions to seek Colonel De Saussure, commanding artillery on the island, and ascertain the cause of the hostile demonstration against his flag. The reply was that the vessel was endeavoring to pass the batteries without coming to at the first summons. Major Anderson’s officers than proceeded, with the consent of Colonel De Saussare, to the vessel to examine her condition; but their report has not yet reached the city. The affair is considered of some importance by the highest functionaries here, although it may eventually prove to be of little consequence. The official report will be made to Governor Pickens early tomorrow morning.
The Convention having today ratified the constitution of the confederate States, General Beauregard will soon assume the entire control of the military operations in this section, and thus relieve Governor Pickens of that harassing duty. The vote on the constitution will be made nearly unanimous before the injunction of secresy is removed from the proceedings of the body. The unanimity of feeling exhibited by the members of the Convention in relation to this important event causes much satisfaction this evening in every quarter; and reference to it by ex-Senator Wigfall, in his speech from the balcony of the Mills House, was hailed with enthusiastic cheering.
Your correspondent returned from a visit to the fortifications on Sullivan’s Island, in company with the military secretary of the Governor, Colonel Moore, to whose obliging attentions he is much indebted. The works were found in admirable condition for service, the fort itself being strengthened by five new batteries.
No. 1 is a masked battery of two forty two pounders and three thirty twos. It is screened by a large frame building, which will be blown up when the occasion arrives for action.
No. 2 is Captain Halloquist’s battery of two ten inch mortars. Captain H. is a West Point graduate, and was formerly a second lieutenant in the Fourth artillery.
No. 3 is an enfilading battery of five pieces, three forty twos and two mortars. It is commanded by Captain Wm. Butler, nephew of Colonel Pierce Butler, of Mexican war fame.
No. 4 is a five gun battery, commanded by Captain S. Y. Tupper, and manned by the Vigilant Rifles, which is a regular fire company in Charleston in time of peace. The Vigilants are a flank company attached to the First regiment of artillery. In action they serve either as riflemen or artillerists as occasion may require. Captain Tupper has been in action against the Seminoles in Florida. Two of his officers, Lieutenants Thames and Harleston are West Point graduates.
No. 5 is a forty two gun battery, and commands the creek at the east end of the island.
There are eight companies of regulars on the island, Colonel Ripley, an experienced and indefatigable officer, commanding, with Major Dunnovant, also an experienced soldier, second in command. Major H. was in the United States Army in Utah at the time he resigned his commission in that service.
There is also a regiment of rifles, numbering 450 men, under command of Colonel Pettigrew. They are all sharp shooters and can crack the cork of a champaigne bottle at a distance of 300 yards.
A detachment of Washington Light Infantry, numbering 90 men, under command of Captain Simonton, have charge of the battery at the entrance to Bull’s Bay. Their camp is called Camp Washington.
The German Artillery, Company A, Capt. Harris, have charge on one of the five gun batteries.
Martial law prevails on the island. The houses are all deserted by their former inhabitants, and are only here and there occupied as officers’ quarters, barracks for the soldiery, &c. It is truly a deserted village. Both regulars and volunteers are repeatedly drilled, and the former for raw recruits, with only a few weeks drilling, exhibit remarkable proficiency.
A Yankee trick was played upon one of the officers in the Quartermasterdepartment a short time since. He went North, and in Connecticut, I believe, purchased a lot of some five thousand friction tubes for firing heavy ordnance. On examination the material they were composed of was found to be simply paper, with a black coloring, so as to make them resemble hard metal. Another Yankee trick has been made public, and it is a dastardly one. A box was sent to Governor Pickens, and being of a suspicious character was cautiously opened by one of his aids, and found to contain rags and bandages, evidently from a small pox hospital.