The New York herald., 1861-12-17
THE CHARLESTON FIRE.



FoRrREss MeNRos, Va, Dec. IA, 1851.
III Burning Of ne City Of Choreson-How he Neus Was
Receired at Old Point Con.Jort--Speculaton as 10 Us
O,isinCnnf frm0tion of the Report ia the Norfolk Dag
Book Of DE t3M a-A,rirat Of the U,,itcd States Seam
Transport iiiiaois from Port Royal--Th Cwyfogyotiea
Witnessed from Her Decks chile Passing Charlcson-Or
Troops Occupy all ne Islands Adjac,m 10 Port Royal--
Cotton Goerei By OR gycors-Lesrs and Money 20 or
Prisoners at Richmond, de-, &c.
Tho intelligence Of the burning of Charleston received
here last evening by flag Of truce which Drought copy
Of the Norfolk Day Book, fell upon like thunder bolt
We have not had any intelligence from the ncet except
ing that published in the New York papers, and il was
expected that forward movement Charleston would
be made sooner or later. Had the been brought
that this hohed Of secession had been bombarded,
would not have struck MS anything than daring
move on the part Of our gallant navy bnt that thunder
bolt Or tho inceadiarys torch would the Pal
meito City, IN imitation OF Sodom aud Gomograh,
prepared learn and the intense excite
mcnt occasioned by the report.
Thot the despatch, Published in yesterdays Day Book
and which telcgraphed 10 you verbatim, is truc
have not the slightest doubt The precise localities are
given where tho relentless flames ravaged and would
be but poor invention Of the telegraph operators
ward sensation despatch Of cruel and orrd nature
The statement that upwards Of thousand families
hudded houseess and unshclered in the streets"
bears its face thc horrible truth and notwithstanding
most Of our loyal and Union loving citizens would have
glored in tho reduction of that nest of traitors and agta
tors by tho sword s the realization Of the fact that
many true Union sufferers by that fire gives q
somewhat melancholy aspect TO the state of aihirs.
Many the theories advanced the origin OF the
fire. Some suppose that negroes the bottom Of
IT, while others imagine that tho irish citizens outraged
at the crne treatment Of Colonel Michael Corcoran
Ali fhofc lar nou
Clan in pcrpctrating the ndgnes the valiant Colonel
OF the New York Sixty ninth.
As flag Of went Norfolk to-day, and up to
the time Of my writing this none has down, have
been unable to learn any further particulars.
4P. M.--Thc steam transport Illinois has just come
into the harbor aud reports that on passing Charleston
on Wednesday night terrible connagraton was raging
II appeared TO the captain il the whole city
flames. Thus the report published in the Norfolk Day
Book is literally true.
FsRTREss MONROE, Dec "a, 1861.
Gesr.rat Woo, aid stag Witnessing Heieao Of Acting
Brigadicr General Mar Weber's Dirsoa--vacat Nat
ersQaery az 10 Prize Money Of Captured Rtet Vessels
The Weather, Ge.
Tue flag OF truce which left yesterday morning for Nor
folk, took Mr.. John Fndey, British sabcct who pro
cecds to North Carolina.
The follow ing money letters sent Forward
levy Emery prisoner Of at Richmond. IS 90
j
Wm uakn, prisoner oi war at Richmond. ...... 80
John NJ Burus, prisoner OF war at Richmond ... 5 90
Col q. B Wilcox, prisoner Of war at Charleston. 10 90
g. u. Gomleg, prisoner Of war at Richmond. 90
Geo w. Iinston prisoner of war at Rsh inond. 90
Major General Wool and staff, consisting Of Captain
VIM ~ whippe Assistant Adutant General and thiof OF
the SlaG Breyct Major Elias q. Carpg, Third Artillery
Major ycgesack and Major Won Herman rodo yesterday
TO Camp Hamilton to witness brigade dr BY Acting
Rrgalicr General Max wcbor's command. Nunserous
datf with =
close tho General expressed himself highly pleased with
the efficiency Of the troops The Twentieth regiment New
York Volunteers, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Francis Weiss, acted skirmishers. Tho Sixteenth
Mass achHsctfs Colonel Wyman, the right Of the line
moved with the precision Of regulars while the First
Delaware colonel j. W. Andrews; the Union Guard
Colonel b. W. Wardrop, aud the Twentieth Indiana
colonel Brown, acquitted themselves very credi-
tabiy Captain H. " B,riegh, Provost Marshal
OF rCanp Hamilton aciea Brigade Major, and assisted
General Weber materially in the command Of the bri
gadc Several ladies and gontlcmcn friends Of General
Wool who had arrived in the morning from Baltimore,
present. and Witnessed the review with a great
deal o satstacon siEee the popular Commander tAct
ing Bgigadcr General Wbcr) took his present conuanl,
brigade drills have been had every afternoon and the
Enforcement III the mlnouvres Of the regiments is mani
icst by the precision OF every movement.
IN the naval world there is nothing of startling impor
tancc TO record Tho Jytod States gunboat Mystic
rived last evening from lhadelphia and went into
morning, and viii probably take the place Of the s. IL
Spauding, PM aao trips to Hatteras whio the latter
Is away at Port Royal.
BY the way, at The breaking ont Of the large
nGnber OF vessels were captured by The Cumberland
now lying Of Newport News | remember Of these
vessels the schooner Creushaw laden with obacco be-
pnging to Curry * CO.. Of Richmond; the English bark
itwalha and The Trai,c Wind some OF tie vessels
have been condemned in New York, and nothing has
been heard Of the prize money, which, by this SALE
legally duo 60 the gallant tars who concerned in the
capture. "a is before us IL becomes the
duty Of the authorities to pay the share Of tlc prize
throw ont this hint that may b. taken nltice of in tho
proper qnartcr.
The weather is remarkably fne. II looks more like
Indian summer than eleScu days before Christmas.