Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-07
CHRISTMAS AT CHARLESTON.


CHRISTMAS AT CHARLESTON.
The United States steamship Arago, arrived at New
York brings from Charleston to the Both ultimo.
On Christmas morning our forces shelsd the city and
is supposed, did considerable damage in quarter.
where an extensive conhagrstion broke out letter
from Mr. Oscar G. Sawyer to the New York Herald fur
nishes the annexed details
COMMANDMENT ON CHRISTMAS MORNING
At about o'clock in the morning rifles on Cum
mings Point opened the city of Charleston rudey dis
turbng the sumbers of its viruous citizens and doubt
giving the belief that brave old Santa Claus had
paid them midnight VISIT with battalion of aids, bear
ing all sorts Of suspicious gifts which he distributed
pidy but not noiseessy in private residences, among
warehouses; and about the silent and deserted Streets
kicking such has not before been witnessed
in that beeaguered town.
The firing quite rapid, and as it soon Proved ex-
ceedngly effective Scarcely had half dozen shots been
fred before the rebel batteries began to open from James
Island and s0On after another joined in the fray
every rebel gun James and Suivans Islands was in
full play and the night beng clear and comparatively STILL
the of the cannonade shook the islands about and
awoke every by it's terrific thunders. Our fire,
spite of the rebels activity kept up steadily and at
about three o'clock discovered fire knded in Charles
ton. The flames first apparent in block OF build
ngs to the south Of ST. Michaes spireprobaby in Bell
Elliott sreetand speedily increased throwing light
the harbor and bringing out in bold relief the spires
of the churches and the wooded front of the battery As
the conagration spread FIRE became sharp and
active and rifle shells dropped in and about the fire
accurately and regularly that the fremen OF the city
must have batted with the element with less holiness
than they ordinarily do While guns employed,
any working of re-engines near the scene of conagra
ton cut of the question: and the fire gained Roadway
To add to the dcomorts and terror of the few remaining
inhabitants other fires started in other parts Of
the city, but gradually went out without destroying other
buildings than those in which the shells first communicated
the fire
The rebels when they discovered the state Of affairs
seemed to redoube their efforts to senca hattaras
and maintained tremendous bombardment upon them
1t Of avail Our guns were throwing shells into
the ctv and into the rebel works cooly they would
have fired at target in peace times Until daylight the
artillery duel exceedingly sharp and noisy but OF no
damage TO us What the rebels suffered, other than 10
the destruction of entire block of buildings and two
independent and detached must be learned through
their own papers.
The effect of our Smelling said to be quite apparent in
the city spite of all denas the part of the to the
contrary Bell and Elliott streets perfectly
not single person living in either, nor single building
ary and the effect that the city has not been damaged
its business affected by bombardment are pleasant
little cons invented for the Southern ear and toeraby
well calculated to fool il we did not have the means OF
knowing much better to the contrary.
AN ATTACK BY THE REBELS
While we were delivering our Christmas salutations to
Charleston the enemy returned the compliment from
Johnsons Island the Stone river and showed us how
the rebels observed the day
Working most ndustriousIy through the night in build
ing corduroy roads marsh Legarevlle and
hauling lumber, entrenching tools and siege guns, the
rebels enabled to plant before daylight two siege
guns within easy range of Legarevie and the gunbost
Narblehead, which laid off the town picket The first
notice small force in the village bad OF the enemys
presence and designs was sudden and spirited attack IN
force on pcke before which they speedily fell back
and audacious artillery fire upon the Marblehead r m
the two siege guns IN the march.
The attack was somewhat unex pected bat Lieut. Com
mande Meade had hs at quarters and his guns
in play The time consumed in weighing anchor getting
Roadway the ship and turning her around against an ebb
tide gave the enemy decided advantage and they did not
lose it, They repeatedly huled the Marblehead while she
was turning shot away her main opmast and exploded
two of their shells her. and finally put two or three
shots clear through her hull killing two and wound
ing five others Her guns were served as rapidly and
effectively possible under the circumstances but they
could not be well directed while she was turning.
Meanwhile the Pawnee, Commander Balch, Immediately
after the rebels opened fire. dropped from her position off
the town to point where she got an effective range and
opened with her heavy battery upon the rebel guns and
upon large supporting force Of infantry drawn up on the
main road from Legarevie The Marblebead soon got In
the proper position let 90 her anchor and got fire
with the Pawnee upon the enemys position. The rebels
stood by their guns long possible, but after heavy
loss we're compelled leave the guns 10 the marsh
and retreat, bat succeeded in maintaining for some time
longer fire from another heavy battery in the woods to
the right Of the marsh The Pawnees heavy battery
6sded both the enemys works, and aided by the Mar
behead and schooner G. z. Williams, closed the
days entertainment against the rebels The gallant
| ner in which the commander of the Williams beat up
against head wind and joined in the action received the
highest praise from Commander Bach and the once OF
the navy
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL BATTERY
Later in the day Gen. Gordon went with detachment
of men, under o the guns Of the Pawnee, aud
amined the location of the marsh battery he found two
eghtnch howitzers mounted heavy siege
riages, timber box, filled with ammunition, and large
number Of shoves The shoves and ntrenchng tools
brought off, the guns dsmounted and spiked and the
carriages disabled. At that time it found impossible
to carry off the guns One dead rebel and five dead horses
lying about the guns atesed the accuracy Of fire. and
a number Of knspsacks canteens and cartridge boxes
SHOWED that the enemy reiterated hastily and 10 disorder
On Monday the 2Sh, Commander Balch landed a force
and succeeded in bringing of the guns which evidently
OF late manufacture, but old style. The guns
| the Pawnee trophies
1t quite apparent that the rebels endeavorng to
erect batteries Johns Island which may control Stone
Inlet and interrupt communications II they cannot
efecuay close Stone with such batteries they greatly
annoy us and may do great Injury OF they will
not be- allowed to carry their work uninterrupted by
They will be attended to in due time.
GEN. GILLMoRE's soiREE DANsANTE.
| On Thursday evening, the OATH Gen Gilmore gave an
entertainment at headquarters building, Hilton Head, to
! large number Of invited guests The ball room was q
temporary structure ninety by forty feet astefuy deco
rated with bunting and flags The supper room was large
and nicely arranged and the tables well supplied
with the creature comforts of this part Of the world both
solid aud liquid Two bands supplied the music.