New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-26

uiihE IT.
The first news on Thursday morning was that the
Rebels had blown up the ~ hhouse during the night.
II is eviden. they supposed the feet to be men'of-
war, aud an attack intended. Thoy could have no
other object than TO oLstfuct lis entrance, for The
destruction OF the lighthouse was IN advantage TO
the real purpoe Of the expedition, and had been con-
iempated as part Of irs work. Lees agreeable in
formation followed tnat the Ericsson had gone North
without waiting for orders, or any way commune
eating with the ang-stp-an unn,anly deserton
which inter.eres with the plan OF operations, and
comp,s the crews of the sunken vessels TO eium to
Port Il val, instes. Of going direct 10 New-York.
Rebel steamer comes half way the larbor about
10 O'Clock TO take a look AT our feet, hut KEGS well
cut of range The work Of the day goes rapidly Oh.
All the whilers which have not arrived Ia sght,
and coming up well. Ne. Godfrey il sounding TO de-
mine the points at which the oueije vessels are to
be sunk, willie he Cahsv ba IL busiy moving about,
bringing some Of tie eli ls fartbe1 in. and laing
each one that IL passes. The Robin Hood, wlo,e
name appears economically on her gulTter ~ the X.
Hood has been rather flvoTte, and is chosen for
the longest lie and the most tragic fate Of all the
feet Each ship is ordered 10 unbend ler sails. Mr..
Bradbury lails tue Il. H.: "Robin Hood, alloy
We shall .end all the rails aboard you for the pres
ent. When sou have item all, wc tbsll take them
on he ,haw ba, and you win thea sink your chip -
A remark which has a Starting empiass, one would
think, on board Tie Robin Hood.
Cuns are now heard from ino TO time during the
day. Mouliris Is said 10 be school q practice.
Sumter IL hidden from sight. Tie weather, which
has favored hiter'o is still everything that could
ie wished and tic hare on tho land s'o' noe
dfopped vail between us and Charleston, - that
they are lefi wholly TO conjecture oar movements.
few teoplc can he seen At M0ris leland, GONE Of
them Legroes, at the waiers edge, Gnt even waling
in Us il trying to come & - the s.iis. Tie Susque-
harus ltr. Bradbury tells "a. has nioe who escaPed
before the Eight while she was blecsadng oil
Charleston. SIX Of them gie taiofs snd fishermen,
werth g. 600 apiece, end canning So month Tor
their mafierS. They readily went 10 work wts tic
Iest Of the crew, were stationed at different euns
during the bomb4ldment at Port Royal and fought
throughout tbe Geion with perfect sieadinesa and
un1inolng couuge.
Capt. Go!dstorou.s,o f tho Florida, o'o of the
boclaiiug squadron came aboard ring the nom
ieg with The pews Of the great fire IN Charleston Of
which some rumors bad reached us ut Pod Royal.
lie wa at anchor close in shore and had the bear
ugs Of the city. TIE fire commenced the night Of
the 18th and burned ali night, tie next day, AM u.
night following twas ca the further ride Of The
city not near the water, TIE church r,eeples being
plainly teep a-ainst the light. The wind was blow
ing fresh from tie north eas, aud tie le tcemed 70
sread frou the northeast tO the southwest side OF
tie city, snd Was awful IN appearance and extent.
Capt. Godtborough alec gave accounted Swcde, !
escsped from the Nashville III Bermuda, who de-
rc'ibed the condition OF the city Of great
sternation and destitaiion. The people were con-
,tsbhy expecting attack, were oEi OF many kinds
Of provisions, ana greatly dispnited. A rumor, cur
rent at Port Royal, says that meeting was held ia
CharIesioD not long ,ince at which the question OF
abandoning the Confedency was discussed, and SOW
eral votes given in favor OF that policy, among them
that Of the Mayor of the city.
Most Of the day was spent In preparation. The
Ottawa went in and anchored half mile beyond
the bay. while the Mohican took position about q
mile east of the channel and commanding its sp.
proacbes from the city. Neither vessel is 10 reach
Of guns from the shore, uness possibly shot from
Morris Island might find them III rauge. But there
are no guns on that island ut present. Many are
know 10 have been carried from tie forte and bat
teries commanding the channel to defend the city on
tie land side. Three heavy batteries siIl remain
Sullivan Island, though the bocksding vessels have
seen some Of the guns removed even from Sumter.
In the course Of the afternoon oil tie whaers ar
rived and were towed up toward the bar IN a convo-
nient position 10 be taken over. About five o'clock
the Ottawa came out, and towed first the Tcnedos
and then tho Leonidas to their positions on the
extreme right and left Of the line. In a few
minutes after ancboriug, the crew of the
Tenedos left her eide in two boats and We
knew the ship was sinking. Tho pNcess
was much slower than had been expected. When
the plug was removed, the water rushed in stream
from one side Of the vessel TO the Other but there
was only single hole, aud when that WAS reached
inside il entered from the outside with greatly dmin
ished force The Tencdos presently heeled over a
little, and being on the bottom, lay there for tue
night. II was low water and the sides still visible.
The Leonidas not swinging into the night position,
her Plug was not drawn till next morning. After the
moon and tide had risen, six war-vessels towed
in, four by the Ottawa and two by tho Pocahonia,.
By halipas, eleven the tide had fallen too far to
rroceed with the work. These old ships draw from
thirteen to seventeen feet, and Gun only get OH the
bar near the top Of the tide
The sinking of the fleet was Entrusted to Capt. |
Charles II. Davis, formerly from 1872 TO 1919, chief
Of photographic party on the Coat sarvey. and
ever since more or less intimately connected with Il.
IL is remarkable that when in 1851, an appropriation
was made BY the Federal Government for tho I'M
proyement of Charleston Harbor and, attte request
VI South Carolina, commission Of Navy and Army |
officers was appointcd to snperinend hework, Capt.
No. "a ,r.s ON. NJ ths comuission and for tiree or