Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-01-17
SINKING OF THE STONE FLEET IN
CHARLESTON HARBOR.

channel OF Charleston Harbor. The
whole account is too long for our columns ::
the following extracts will suffice to show
how the work was done, and how the old
ships met their fate" The sunken vessels
were sixteen in number, and left Port Royal
on their voyage Northward to Charleston
on Wednesday morning, Dec. 18th, and
arrived off Charleston the same evening.
During the night the rebels blew up the
fine lighthouse which stood on Morris
Island, so that it might not serve as a
landmark and guide to the feet. But its
ruined remains sufficed for this purpose,
and thus they injured only themselves.
On the morning of the 10th Dec. the work
began, and is thus described by the Her.
aids correspondent:
Mr.. Godfrey the pilot, took in two of
the Florida cutters this morning, and at
noon had anchored one on either side of
the channel on the bar, where We are to
sink the hulks.
At noon we stood in, at Captain 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 hazy; but we can with
glass discern the dim outlines of Fort
Sumpter, and occasionally get a glance at
the rebel flag flying over it.
?. At haif-past four this afternoon, the
tide being nearly full we recrossed the
bar and ran hawser to the bark Theodo-
STA, of New London, which was to be the
first victim, and towed her across the
channel When we had her in q good
position, Captain Stevens, through speak
ing trumpet, ordered the captain to " cast
of the hawser."
"Ayc aye, sill" came back the reply;
and the hawser was let 60 and reused in
again on our deck in the twiukling of an
eye. The trembling old bark. being un
der some Roadway, moved slowly on to
the exact spot we wished her, and then
stru:k the bottom; and her anchor drop
ped for the last time in the water, the
chain rafting ont as chcerfully as any
chain might which had made its last run.
and the old bark settled down into its own
grave The plug had been knocked out
as the anchor dropped, and the water
rushed madly and wildly in. In a mo-
ment tue whale boats were lowered and
alongside, and the dunnage of the off.
GERS and crew rapidly passed over the bull
warks and into them.
We did not wait for them, but hurried
out, to low in another before dark. The
first ship touched bottom aud the plug was
drawn as the sun went down. Each had
finished its course at the same moment
one to rise on the morrow as bright and
glorious as ever, the other to waste away
and 60 to pieces under the combined &C
ton Of the elements which it had braved
so long and 50 we'll. Alas that vessel,
worn out in the service of its owner,
should be sold and come to such roble
end.
The Rebecca Simms was towed in and
and anchored at the other side of the Oh n
mel, and the water soon fillel her hol |.
and she sank slowly and in digniied
manner, rocking uneasiiy, to be sure, as
the water poured in. but going down with
every rope and spar in place, as a brave
man falls ia battle, with his harness on.
We had now got the position of the bar
clearly marked out, and the Florida's
boats were relieved from their unpleasant
position as buoys, and they returned to
their ship. Our work was reported to
Captain Davis. and he requested the Poca-
hontas and the Ottawa, 10 tow in and
siuk all the ships they could, after the
moon had risen high enough to afford us
light to see. s.
At eight o'clock we we're again at work.
We towed in and sunk four more before
the low water made it impossible for the
loaded ships to be placed in position, and
thsn we ran out again and anchored out
side the bar. The Pocahontas towed in
two during the evening.
The channel began to appear quite well
blocked up, and with the eight ships We
are to sink to morrow, we'll placed, it will