Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-28


,Rebeis-T The vessels sunk Cutting Away
the masts, etc. v ~ 10 .a..t. -.1r.
Special Correspondence Of the View York SUM-
on BoARD THE STEAMER CAHAwBA,(
.-..f orr CHARLESTON HAKBoR Dec. 20, 1861.
On the 18th inst sixteen of the stone feet
took their departure for Port Royal, accom-
panied by the steamers CahawbG flag ship,)
Ericsson and Philadelphia, and the gun-boats
Otto1od PocahontaS and Mohicdn, as convoy.
The squadron was under command of Gao
tain Davis, who was to superintend the
burial of three vessels loaded with stones in
the main ship channel of Charleston Harbor.
These vessels were all towed over the bar,
at the entrance to Port Royal, on the l7th
inst, and on the morning of the 18th lust.
the squadton moved slowly on its way to
Charleston HarbOr. The steamer CdhGw6a
having two vessels in tow, arrived off the
harber at o'clock in the afternoon-she
was followed by the steamer PHILADELPHIA,
also towing two of the stone fleet. The
Philadelphia after reporting. 10 Captain Da-
Wis, proceeded on to New York. Soon after
came the Ericsson, bringing in three ves-
sells and casting them loose, she proceeded to
New York without reporting to any body.
After taking soundings and ascertaining
the exact locality of the main ship channel,
| the squadron lay to until morning, when the
rest of the vessels under canvas were ex-'
,pected to arrive. During the night the reb-
6lS JOOh OCCASION 10 DOW up Tue llguL- mousse,
| approaching productive Of no serious injury
to any body but themselves. Next morning
| proved fine aud propitious and the white
sails of the "Rat-bole Squadron" were seen
| looming upin the distance, comingin slowly
| with a moderate breeze, and presenting in
| the distance a handsome and imposing ap-
pesrsnce, dispelled by nearer view of their
| old hulls. AS the feet comes in, the CdhGs0bd
steams among them, here and there, hailing
each vessel, and instructing them where to
anchor, and ordering them to unbend their
sails and prepare to be sunk, an apparently
cool order, but perfectly correct. Lieutenant
Bradbury, of the United States steamer Sus
quehGnnq, who ably assists Captain Davis 10
his operations, having marked the locality,
and selecting one of the lightest draught, di-
TectS it to be sunk on the right of the chan
mel She is towed in by the Ottd,0G aud
/ being put in her proper position, is anchored,
and every thing of value transferred to the
I whaleboats, her plug withdrawn, and she
slowly settles down in the water with list
to leeward. During the operation we specu-
late great deal on the probabilities Of an
interchange of shots with a rebel steamer
discernible in the distance but no attempt
is made to molest us or interfere in the pro-
ceedings. .,...
IS 20 Before sinking any more vessels we wait
for night and high water. The moon being
very clear and bright, operations are carried
on quite as well at night as during the day
At ten o'clock four more vessels are to be
sunk, and then the tide changing, operation;
will cease until morning. EARLY In the
morning operations will commence again
and be carried on vigorously until all the
sixteen vessels are sunk, and the navigation
of the channel thoroughly obstructed. .g
The vessels all sunk, soon comes the mos
interesting part of these novel proceedings
the cutting away of the masts. 1t is grand
sight to see the long, tapering masts, trem
bling and shiveriDg under the repeated blow
of the ak, the shrouds and supports all gone
gradually tipping over. go thunderlng ant
crashing over the bulWarks, sending vi
clouds Of spray and foam as they strike thl
4, water. They gradually disappear one at {
71I time, two at a time, and sometimes three a
Il atime, until nothing is to be seen but the olC
hulks, just above the water, except one who's
tall mssts and slender spsrs still remain, re
served for grand pyrOtechDic display a
night. AT night her masts and rigging will
be firedpand we watch her as she slowl.
burns to the waters edge. At one oclocl
tonight the CdhdDLa will return to Por
Royal, leaving the United States steamer
Poeakontas and AohieGH here on the block
ade, to relieve the AagIstG and Florida.
The work of the expedition is complet
) success. IF II seemed sometimes q sad on
even to US, with what feelings must the peo
pie OF Oharleston nave looked on Its progress
All the operations Of the feet were in full
sight of Moultrie, Merris and Sullivan ISLAM
and Sumter, but not man could lift iuge
to imperil or arrest them. The fire whicI
swept the streets of half the city was trivia
misfortune compared with this final disaster
It's distant results 1t IL Impossible to foretei
!. with certainty, for it is NECESSARILY an exper
iment. An effort to blockade tidal harbo
q IKE this presented a wholly new problem
3 which was worked out by Captain Davi
/, with great ingenuity and scientific skill AM
for its present success it is enough to khoy
that all access by the main ship channel /
effeetually closed. The bar is paved wit
granite, and the harbor is thing of the pas
: ndy ----.--.lu- '..