, 1861-12-30
THE STONE FLEET LANDED. y
Sealing up q Southern Port.
OPERATIONS N CHARLESTON HARBoR.

OPERATIONS III CHARLESTON HARBoR.
Correspondence NeT York Herald, 2d1
DEcEABEE 18-1t Is proposed to scuttle the
entire feet Of whalers, which will be here to-
MORROW, in the main ship channel-the great
channel that runs parallel to Morris Island By
Cummings Point, and thence in u northwest
course to Charleston, passing under the guns
OF forts Sumter and MouItrie and Castle
Pi1ekney-a1 well known works.
Yesterday morning We got under way from
Fort Royal at ten O'Clock, and stood out for
the bar, at which time all the w11alers had
weighed anchor, and were slowly moving ont
under full sails, which were scarcely filed by
the Light westerly breeze that prevailed. The
day ~as delightful, and every indication
promised good weather for some days to come.
The wind Was SO Light that at an early hour
it became evident that the old whalers must
be toRed out over the bar, if they are to be
out at al; 80 we hitehed on to the bark For
time, OF New London, an ancient hulk, that
ness before the Revolution for aught know,
as she looked rusty enough and venerable
enough to have c1aimed century a. her age,
and had the claim allowed. Her sails we're
yellow, and her rigging innocent Of q late
coating Of tar. At her quarters hung the
glaceiul and heet Whale boats, looking as fresh
aud new as from the builders hands. These
we're evidently considered the guns Of the
ship, though below she had many valuable
srones-ior their purpose. Still, with all her
Hans OF beauty and the freshness Of youth. It
seemed sad to think that she WIS to lie put 10
81 3 lg1omln1ous q use, after long career Of
usefulness; but she is to 60.
Towing her along ut an easy pace, We SOON
passed the bar, aud Dame Fortune came to
anchor Just outside. to wait the hour of final
departure. '
anchor. @'e1110 w.
!, The day vas nearly consumed in getting
These TWO vessels out, and it was dark when
We got the William Lee, fine old ship, safely
osef fa me ' har' when nc, too, came to anchor
During the day the Cahawb ba, on which WIS
captain e. T. Davis, Fleet Captain Of the
SOUTH Atlantic Block2ding Squadron. who had
been detailed to the command Of the exuctii-
lion, vas engaged IN towing ont vessels, as
we're the Ericsson, Philadelphia, Petit {rnr},
ana the -hohlcan and Pocahontas (men of war;
AT nlne O'Clock sixteen Of the pebble tleets'
were over the bar, besides two which had come
III from sea belonging to the second stone feet
for Charleston.
During the evening Lieutenant White. of
the Ottawa, visited several Of the ships, one
q which proved to be the Marearet Scott, Of
New Bedford, belonging to the new stone
feet. She had been seized short time since since
on charge Of fitting out as SLAYER and con
dcmned, tue Government buying her and an
plying her to this purpose. As She is in good
order and well fitted out, she will doubtless
6e used in Fort Royal Harbor rs coal ship.
She will not accompany Us to Charleston, but
fag officer.
The night passed quietly enough. At an
carly hour this morning the feet got under
weigh, nearly all standing north, Under eail.
The wind was very light, and there was little
prospect Of any OF them reaching Charleston
par par IN time to begin operations today and
here We are, lying at anchor, at midnight,
with only six or seven Of the fleet here, tue
baianc1 being somewhere between this and
Fort Royal, with light breeze to push them
The cahawba, Capt. Davis (aagship}, towed
tWo up; the Philadelphia two others, and the
Ericsson three. We hope to see them al here
by daylight tomorrow morning,
Ihe Moh1can, Pocahontas and the Ottawa,
together with the Eloridl, Augusta, and bark
Gem OF the Seas, constituting the block,diur
squadron of this port, form the naval force to
cooperate in the work Of scuttling the ships
and protecting those immediately cugarcd
from any attack from the rebels.
Two boats were sent this evening from the
Caha~ba, By Captain Davis, with Nj Godfrey,
the pilot, to find the channel aud bar. and also
TO discover the bax on which VIC were to sink
the ships The 0ttawa's first cutter, properly
armed, in charge Of Mr. McDougal, Masters
hG4, Ma,e, vas sent IN to protect the C.hawba's
boats from boat attack, if one should be at
tempted. The boats returned after two or
three hours absence, after having made some
progress in their work. We are to finish the
soundings in the morning, and hope to begiu
our work Of sinking the ships by noon TO-
morrow.
We passed and exchanged signals with the
James Adger when Aboat five miles from Port
Royal bar, this morning, aud afterwards spoke
lAe gunboat Hyaudotte, bound to Port ROYAL.
" hen of North Edisto we sisnllized the Gun-
boat Penguin, bloekading that river.
Inc weather ~ continues most propitious for
OUT work The nights, after the moon rises.
arc sufficiently Light to enable us to work q
nights when necessary; the wind is light and
on shore, aud there is scarcely ripple upon
tue sea. No better time could be selected for
the successfully carrying out of our object,
ana Il the hne weather will but continue TWEEN
Jour hours longer, one channel will be closed.
Cur guns are cast loose and ready for action
tonight, and the watch is armed for any emer-
gency. ~N~o-
Dec. 19Tn--We looked in vain this morn
ing for the Charleston light house. tall. white
slrneturc on Morris Island, which WAS stand
my last night. The rebels hare evidently de-
st5oyed it during the night, Us they very prop
crlE feared its use by us rs q mark to guide is
into the channel. We eau barely make ont
with our glasses the ruins of the building, and
that serves our purpose quite as well.
Mr. Godfrey, the pilot, took in two Of the
Florida's cutters this morning, and one on
either side Of the channel on tic bar, where
We are to sink the hnlks.
At noon we stood in, at Captain Dayis's re-
quest, and anchored inside the bur, to protect
the boats and drive of the rebels If they should
attempt to come down. The day Is little
hazy; but we can, with glass, discern the
dim outlines Of Fort Sumter, and occasionally
get glance at the rebel flag flying over it.
Morris Island is within two miles and Il half
OF our anchorage, and We can detect two rebel
batteries upon 1t, near Lighthouse Inlet, and
q second Of immense size upon Cummings
Polnt 4 little steamer, probably the Emma
ran out during the day from behind Fort Sum
Ter, 1ook llasty glance ut our whale fleet now
all here, and then incontinenly retreatel to its
safe position under the guns Of Moultrie and
Sumter. It does not venture within two miles
OF our range, and seems to be we'll satisfied in
Witnessing our movements at a safe distance.
at half past four this afternoon, the tide be-
mg nearly full, re rccrossed the bar and ran
2 ha!Tser to the the bark Theodosia Of New
London, which WAS to be the first victim, and
to#ed her across the bart the upper boat, on
the left hand side Of the channel. When we
had her in good position, Capt. Stevens,
through speaking trumpet, ordered tie cap-
tain to 'east off tie hawscr.''
AYE, aye, sir," came back the reply; and
the hawser WAS let go and rouscd in again on
our deck in the twinkliug Of IN eye The
trembling old bark, being under Some head
way moved SLOWLY on to the exact snot we
7 ''sss1ed her, and then struck tie bottom and
her anchor dropped for the last time in the
water, tue chain rattlin5 cut rs cheerfully rs
f@f, f,,1t L., Is u.
and the old bark settled down iuto its own
grave The plug had been knocked out as the
anchor dropped, and the water rushed madIy
and wildly in. In moment the whaleboats
we're lowered and alongside, and the dunnlge
Of the officers and crew rapidly passed over
the bulwarks and into them.
We did not wait for them. but hurried out,
to tow in another before dark. The FIRST ship
touched bottom and the plug was drawn IS
the sun went down Each had finished it's
course at the same moment; one to rise on
t he morrow us bright and glorious as eyer,
tne other to waste away and go to pieces
under the combined action of tue elements
which it had brayed so long and so well.
Alas! that vessel, worn out in the service Of
its owner, should be sold and come to such IN
ignoble end.
The Rebecca Simms was towed in and au-
cbercd at the other side Of the channel, and
the Tater filled her hold, and she sank slowly
and in diSnlhed manner, rocking uQcasilY,
TO be sure, IS the water poured in, but going
down with every rope and spar in place, as
Il brave man falls in battle, with his harness
on.
We had now got the position of the bar
clearly marked out, and the F1orida's boats
were relieved from their unpleasant position
as buoys, and they returned to their slip.
Our work was reported to Capt. Davis, and
he requested the Pocahontas and the Ottawa
to tow in and sink all the ships they could,
after the moon had risen high enough to af-