The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-01-10
The Stone Fleet.
DETAILS OF THE SEALING UP OF
..u CHARLESTON HARBOR, So.

A Novel Scene in Charleston Bay, and
in view of the Forts Moultrie
and Sumter.
In addition to other details published of
the sinking Of the stone feet, we have the
following interesting sketch. from the New
York Heralds special correspondent, writ
ing from on board the gun boat Ottawa:
TUESDAY, Dec. 19,1so1.
We looked in vain this morning for the
Charleston light house, tall, white struc-
ture on Morris Island, which was stand.
ing last night. The rebels have evidently
destroyed it during the night, as they very
properly feared its use by us as mark
to guide us into the channel. We can
barely make out with our glasses the ruin,
ofths building, and that serves our purpose
quite we'll. ra .sa .r
At noon w stood in, at Capt. Davis
request, and anchored inside the bar, to
protect the boats and drive off the rebels,
if they should attempt to come down. The
day is little hszy; but we can, with a
glass, discern the dim outlines of Fort
Sumter, and occasionally get a glance at
the rebel flag flying ever it.
Morris Island is within two miles and a
half of our anchorage, and we can detect
two rebel batteries upon it, near Light
house Inlet, and second of immense size
upon Cummings Point. A little steamer,
probably the Enma Davis, Haunting the
rebel flag, occasionally ran out during the
day from behind Fort Sumter, took has :
ty glance at our whole fleet, now all here
and then iucontine ntly retrsated to its
safe position under the guns of Moultrie
and Sumter. Its does not venture with
in 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 being nearly full, we recrossed the
bar, and ran a hawser to the bark Theo-
dosia, Of New London, which was to be
the first victim, and towed her across the
bar the upper boat, on the left hand side
of the channel. When We had her IN
good position, Capt. Stevens, through a
speaking trumpet, ordered the captain to
least off the hawser."
"Aye. aye, SIR came back the reply;
and the hawser was let 60 and reused in
again on our deck in the twinkling Of an
eye. The trembling old bark, being un
der some headway, moved on the exact
spot we wished her, and then struck the
bottom; and her anchor dropped for the
last time in the water, the chain rat,ling
out as carefully as an. chain might which
had made its last run, and the old bark
settled down into her own grave. The
plug had been knocked out as the an
chor dropped, and the water rushed mad
ly and wildly in. In moment the whale
boats were lowered and alongside, and
the dunnage Of the officers and crew rap
Idly 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 out as the sun went down.
Each had fnis he'd its course at the same
one to rise on the morrow as
bright and glorious as ever, the other to
waste away and go to pieces under the
combined action Of the elements which it
had braved SO long and so well. Alas
that vessel, worn out in the service Of
its owner, should be sold and come to
such an ignoble end.
The Rebecca Simms towed in and an
chored at the other side of the channel,
and the water aosn filled her hold, and
she sank slowly and in dignifed man
ner, rocking uneasiiv, to be sure, as the
water poured in, but going down with ev,
cry rope and spar In Its place, a. a brave
man falls in battle, with his harness on.
We had now got the position fthe bar
clearly marked cut, and The Flsrida's
boats were relieved from their UNPLEASANT
position as buoys, and they returned to
their ship. Oir work was reported to
Captain Davis, and he requested the Pocs
hontas and the Ottawa to tow in and sink
all the ships ,hej could, after the moon
had risen high enough to afford us light
to see.
At o'clock We wsre again at work
We towed in sa.l sunk four more before
the low wstsr msds il impossible for the
loaded ships 10 Be- placed in position and
then We ran out again and anchored out
side the bar. sr .ss...-
The Pocnhontas towed in two during