The sun., 1861-12-26
From the stone FIcet-Thc Stone Fleet OF
ChnIlestOn-LiRht House Blown up by
the Rcbels-Thc Vessels Sunk-CuttIna
Away the AInsis, etc.

| Away the AInsis, etc.
Special Correspondence Of The Sun.
On Board the Steamer Cahawba
Oh CHARLEsToS HARroR, Dec. 20, 1SGl.5
On the l7th inst, sixteen of the stone fleet
took their departure for Port ROYAL, accompan.
led by the steamers Cahawbl Qlag. ship Erics-
son and Philadelphia, and the gunboats Ottawa,
Pocahontas and Mohican, as a convoy. The
squadron was under command Of Capt. Davis,
who was to superb tend the burial of three vcs-
sells loaded with stones in the main ship Chan
mel tf Charleston Harbor.
These vessels were all towed over the bar,
at the entrance TO Port Royal, on the 18th
II ST., aud on the morning Of the 18th inst, the
squadron moved slowly on its way to Charles
ton llarbor Tho steamer CIhawba having two
yessels in tow, arrived off the Hlrbor at o.
clock in the atternoon-sh was followed by
the steamer Philadolph also towing two of the
store feet. The Philadel hia after reporting to
Capt. Davis, proceeded on to New York. Soon
after came the Ericsson, bringing in three ves-
stls ard casting them loose she proceeded 10
New York without reporting to anybody.
Alter taking soundings ami ascer,aning the
exact locality of the main ship channel, tho
fquadron lay 10 until morning, when the rest
of the vessels under canvas weio expected to
arrive, During the night, the rebels took o.
ca'ion TO blow up the light house--a proceed
ing productive VI no serious injury to any
body but themselves. Next morning proved
fine and propitious, ard the white sails of tho
Rat h squadron were seen looming up ia the
dlstaIcc, coming in slowly wi h a mod srLe
| breeze, ard prese enting in the distance han l.
| some and imposing appearance, dispcllcd by a
nearer view of their old hulls. AS the ieet
| com's in, the Cahawba stcam7 among them,
here al there, hailing each vessel ,nnd instruct
| lng them whore TO anchor and ordering ia m
| to unccId thoir sails and pre- pare TO b. sunk,
an apparently cool Crdor, but perfectly CORE, =.
lisutcLaut Bradbury, Of the l.. S. steamer
| Sulquehanna, who ably assists Captain D4vi.
| IN hh operations, having marked tho locality
and selecting ore Of the lightest draught, III,
| i,cts II ia be sunk on the right OF the ch mnel.
\ She /, towcd in by The O,tawn, and bsing put
IN her proper position, is anchored and every,
| thing Ot value transferred 30 the whalebOats
| her plug Wi'hlIawn, ard shs slowly settle,
down IN the water with a list 10 leeward
Dullug the operation, We specUlIto a grea, dea
Oh the probabilities Of az Interchange of shot
| with reNcl steamer discurnahlo In the distance
but no attempt is made to mJlest Us, or Inter
| ioI' in 'he proceedings.
| HioTe sinking any more vessels we wait 70
night and high water, The moon being yer,
clear and bright, operations are carried ON quit
az well at night as dudng the day. Al tel
| o'clock four more vessels are 10 be sunk, an
| uhen the tide changing, operations will cas-
until morning. EaIly In tho morning operation
will commence again, ard he carried ON yigor
ously un,il all the sixteen We ssels ara sunk an,
he navigation Of the channel thoroughly Oh
| s'IuCtCu.
Tho vessels all sunk, soon comes the mos, in
terestirR pmt of theso novel procecdings-.th
cutting away Of tho mas.s, II Is grand 81 sh
to seo the long, taporing masts, trcmhllug an,
| shiyeIing under the repeated blows Of tho axe
the Shfouds aud supports all gone, gradually tip
| ping over, 80 laundering and crashing over ia,
Oul lsaIks, sending up clouds Of spray and foIn
as they strike the water. They gradually dis
| appear one at a time, two at time, an
sometimes three at time, until nothing
II TO be fetn but the old hulks, Just aboy
the wa'er except one whose tall ingsts an
slender spais sull remain, reserved for a gram
| yyro,ocbhic display az night. Al night he
mas and rigging viii be fired, and We watcl
her as She slowly burns 10 the wa, ers edge. A
one o'clock tonight the Cihlwba will return t,
Port Royal, leaving the U. S, steamers PoCa
hoDtas ard Mohiein here on the blockade, t
relieve the Augusta and Florida.