Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, December 1, 1860
The harbor of Charleston, S. C., is a noble expanse of water, affording ample depth and scope for all the purposes of commerce on the grandest scale. It has, however, one great drawback, namely, the sandbar, which forbids the entrance of ships of large burthen. Measures are about being taken by the authorities of Charleston to dredge the channel, and thus open the way for the admission of every class of vessels. Scientific men consider that the proposed dredging is perfectly feasible, and will prove completely effective.
Fort Sumter, which commands the channel, is a very strong fortress, mounting a double tier of guns of heavy calibre. It is situated on a mole at the end of the sand-bar, and would prove a formidable objection to a hostile force approaching too near.
Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan’s Island, is a low but strong fortification, and is of great historic interest to all Americans, it being if the scene of one of the first and best fought battles of the Revolution, when a few hundred native riflemen, who had never fired a cannon before, beat off and nearly destroyed a formidable. British fleet, making such slaughter among them as, in proportion to the numbers engaged, was not even reached by that of Trafalgar and the Nile.”
Castle Pinckney, also a very strong fortress, stands at the very portals of the city, covering an ancient mud reef. There were other forts in the olden time; one at Haddrill’s, Mount Pleasant Village, in 1776, and another on James’s Island, which was wrested from the British by a small body of citizen soldiers previous to the battle of Fort Moultrie.
The Harbor of Charleston, S.C. – From Sketches by our Special Artist – Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan’s Island
Fort Pinckney – Charleston, S.C.
Fort Sumter, Charleston, S.C.