The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-27

Sinking of the Vessels in Charleston Harbor.

Sinking OF the vessels IN Cnarlest0n aarD0r.
The telegraph has already announced the ac-
complishment of the work of effectually stopping
the main channel into Charleston harbor,-a
blockade which some way has said, it will not
be 20 easy for Great Britain to raise. The cor
respondent of the New York Times gives the
following account Of the way the work was ac-
complished
The. wrecks are not ranged in straight line
across the channel. That arrangement might
prove an effective blockade for time but not
permanently. The theory Of Capt, Davis was
that the inland waters about Charleston must
have channel to the sea, and ii the usual one
were arttcially closed another would naturally
form. The hulks are placed in three lines
chcckerwise. This arrangement not only does
prevent the passage Of the water, but forms a
series of shoals, around which the tide will
whirl and eddy, making an intricate labyrinth
which no vessel conld navigate.
Tim vessels were not ut all scuttled until
Friday morning, as 1T was necessary to work
at full tide. They looked desolate enough,
as they lay upon their bilges, masts and rig
ging still standing, some listed to port and
others to starboard, all presenting confused ap.
pearance, comparable to nothing but y feet at
anchor and left aground by the tide. The Po-
in drawing the vessels to their positions. They
are rs manageable as the pigmicst tug a very
brilliant man@uvre was performed Mith the for
the Archer. remained, and to place her ia the
gap Mr.. Bradbury found it necessary to run the
Pocahontas into the tortuous passages between
tho hul Io in a1 ms tS nd
jlbbooms looked forbidting. 1t was successful
ly done, though d moments hesitation or the
slightest error in judgment wonld have resulted
in a collision. The fleet was filled with admir-
atlo at d feat which very few men and fewer
vessels could have performed All Of these
wrecks were prepared for quick scuttling be-
fore leaving the North. Nothing was required
but to drive out plug and the water rushed
in with force enough to till them in an hour.
The Churlestonians must have felt themselves
cha grined beyond measure at the mischief
which had been done them. The wrecks were
sunk about two miles and II halt fiom shore, IN
plain sight from the batteries on Morris Island,
Forts Sumter and Moultrie, from the t1agstans
of which the rebel colors were visible. a small
steamer also made several "Reminiscences from
behind Fort Sumter, where she would quickly
retreat when cur men ol-war moved as il to
chase her. Realizing her hel rlcssness, She did
not give us shot, though it has been usual Tor
her to fire toward the blockading vessels at a
much further distance than she yentured at now.
At low water ca Friday the ships crews re.
turned to them and cut away their masts and
rigging, in order that j. might drift to sea Tor
1t was 10 part OF our plan thatany OF this prop
erty should fall into the hands OF the rebels. 1t
was Il singular sight TO see the big spals topple
over with crash and a creak as soon as the
rigging was severed by Il few blows Of the
axe. |; would have driven u New York junk
man mad to have seen the quantity Of valuable
ropes sails, blocks and iron work which were
ruthlessly destroyed, The whale bots and some
of the best sails were all that could be saved
The Robin Hood was Tie last ycssc. sunk. She
had been used as a s!9l2hcuso Cor the valuableS
which were taken FROM the Others. This ship
hailed from New London, CT. Her owner must
have been waggish fellow In utter violation
OF ouphony, he had absurdly curtaled the fair
proportions OF this old !orcster's name to r.
Hood which stared in big carved letters, painted
to initiated gold, from each quarter of the vessel
Onc of these | secured, and shall probably send
it to Banum to serve the double purpose of
memento Of the blockade and specimen Of quiet
war.
1t is not often that persons are permitted to
destroy valuable property, and feel at the same
time that they arc doing right On his occa-
sion, however, such u sentiment could be prop
erly entertained, and from the en- rgv " hitch the
jack tars displayed in using their axes, am in
clined to think that they considered thc pryj
lcgc one to be thoroughly enjoyed, Smashing
things was u luxury, and the inclination to in
dulge in it was gratiticd without stint. After
everything that could be saved was taken from
the Robin Hood, her rigging was cut and " frap-
PED, or secured to the mass in order to make
en- Inflammation and pyrotechnic display worthy
of the successful issue of the expedition. She
was fred early in the evening, and her burning
afforded novel and beautiful sight to mos, Of
those wto witnessed it. The b!5ckadine sauad-
ron was especially entertained. Their lives arc
such dull and tedious round Of mono,ony that
far less magnificent spectacle would have af.
forded them topic OF conversation for month.
The weather during tho whole time consumed
by the expedition was most favorable. Had it
not been So the work could net be pevE3r1.Gi -
The undertaking was accomplished without an
accident, and the entire arrangement reflects
alike The greatest praise upon Capt. Davis for
the prudence and N;sdom of his plans and Upon
his able assistants for the mastery manner in
which they were executed.
RETURNED TO HIS SHoP.--By recent adyices