Affairs in Charleston.
The Charleston Courier of Monday gives the following items about affairs in that city:‘ The enemy remained quiet during Saturday night up to three o'clock in the morning, when they re-opened with mortars on Fort Sumter, firing nine shells. A few shots were fired at the fort on Sunday.
’ All occupants and owners of premises that may tempt prowling visitors should be well prepared with dogs and weapons. A case or two of example and prevention, and detection in the act, will go further than arrests after the offence.
For some time past assaults and robberies on our streets during the night have been so frequent that citizens compelled to be out on business found it necessary to go armed. Many of these assaults and robberies have been traced to gangs of lawless and disorderly soldiers forming themselves into bands of bogus provost guards.
Our citizens will be glad to learn that an effectual check has been put to these lawless proceedings. Captain Gazer, provost-marshal-general, has instituted a special provost guard to act in connection with the police and arrest all persons found on the streets after hours without the proper papers or vouchers.
Every law and order-loving citizen will approve this arrangement, securing as it does his safety when out at night. Our citizens can materially assist the guard by carrying and producing a proper pass, signed by the provost-marshal or other proper authority.
On Monday night a lieutenant of the police undertook to arrest three or four disorderly soldiers. A fight ensued.--The citizens gathered to assist the lieutenant. They were deterred, however, by the arrival of a gang of soldiers — comrades of the disorderly ones — who raised a "rallying cry" and rescued the first party from the hands of the officers of the law.
A difficulty, which came near proving serious, occurred Sunday evening. A well-known citizen being stopped by the guard, and believing it to be a bogus party, fired, but fortunately missed. An explanation ensued, and the affair was amicably settled.
At a court-martial recently held on Sullivan's island five men were found guilty of desertion and condemned to be shot with musketry. Among them are three brothers, the only remaining male members of a respectable family. We have not learned at what time the execution is to take place.
