The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-12-19
LETTER FROM MORRIS ISLAND.
ondence of The NEW SOUTH.

NORRIS ISLAND, S. c., Dec 18th, 1868.
| The dearth Of news Oh this island was broken
on Sunday last by the appalling disaster to the
Monitor Heehankea, which went down in the ter
rible N0rther of that day; at about three o'clock,
| P. II. How the accident occurred, what caused
her to founder, is even at this late date unknown
to u.s. The Signal Officers here attempted to COM
municate with the flagship, in order to ascertain
the particulars; but with the exception of learning
that thirty sols three officers and t,centy-seren men
went down with the ill-fated shir-"never more to
rise until the sea shall give up her dead'-all is
mere conjecture and suppositiop.
The Ueehaarken was commanded by CAPT. CAL
HouN; she was of the first turretedships built,
and had performed some of the most daring feats
and valuable services of the squadron. Itwas the
Ueekq,rkeu that led the ironclad feet in the first
attack on SUMTER on the seventh of April last; re-
ceiving the concentrated fire of that fort also the
broadsides of Wagner Moultrie, and Gregg as
well as the fire from the various batteries on James
Island She was the first in that glorious attack,
and the last of our feet to retire-sending the last
shot into the enemys works. She was then COM
manded by CAPT RoDGERs, now on the Dictator"
The melancholy fate of the HeeharSen, and of
the brave, proud hearts that shared her honors
and final destiny, suggests many sad thoughts,
and wish that she might have "gone down." Gf
at all,) in contest with the enemy lead
ing the squadron as she did in April last-hrav;ng
the hurricane Of shot and shell, and going down
with the old flag waving defiance to the foe.
MASONIC LODGE ON FOLLY ISLAND.
A few days since, being On flying visit to
Headquarters, visited the Masonic Lodge build
ing, recently completed. 1t is beautiful affair
the structure being fifty feet long, and some twen-
ty-fve wide; covered with canvass and tarpaulin
The interior is thatched, (east and west walls)
with palmetto-leaves the rafters and posts with
eyergreens, interspersed with red berries of the
holly or holm tree making pleasing and cheer
ing contrast to the eye. AS the Lodge is used o.
Sundays for religious worship, it has q beautiful
Doric Altar, festooned with Palmetto, Holly and
and brothely fraternity, that wilderness island
called up visions of magic and dreams of enchant-
ment Who built it where did it come from p
under whose mastery genius was it created, en-
bellished and made ga thing of beauty, and a
Joy forever?" Somebody said LIEUT.. DC. BROWN,
now Quartor-AIaster to the Engineer Corps, was
the artist, architect and builder. But can't say.
NEW FLAGSTAFF AT HEADQUARTERS.
Saturday last was gala-day on Folly, in dedi-
eating lis that right?) the new and splendid flag
staff fronting the Generals Head Quarters hear
that Col. Alvords band furnished the music; de-
from the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania,
and the Engineer Corps, were the guard, and that
JACK HAM1ToNs celebrated battery, fired the sa-
lutte. GENERAL G1LIMoEE run up the flag; Asst.
Adjt General .DrEeIE "did' The prolimiraries,