The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-22
FROM CHARLESTON.
Three Rebel IRON. .Clads--.The Har-
bOr Obstruction.

Correspondence of the N. Y. Tribune.
MORRIS ISLAND, January Z.
In Charleston Harbor, Just out of reach
of the Morris Island batteries are visible
three new rebel iron-clad ships, in a for
ward state of construction, so closely imi-
tated from the New Ironsides and the Dun
berg as to leave no doubt that the rebels
have reduced to practice the celebrated
military maxim of the Romans, which ad-
vises belligerents to learn even from their
enemies.
One of these iron ships-of-war was an.
nounced lately as having been in view. It
is evidently intended, like the New Iron
sides, for broadside ship, and is con-
structed to carry four guns of immense
power and caliber on each side. Another
monster is announced by our lOOkouts as
being built on the model of the "ram;"
and the general contour of the work, as
it proceeds, assim;lates to the shape of the
Dunderberg, as that ship has been drawn
and described by the daily and illustrated
papers of New York city.
Three powerful iron-clad ships are known
to lurk in the waters of Charleston harbor,
hiding behind the forts, to strike US at the
most critical time, and in the most vulner-
able place. The forward condition of their
two comp lnion ships would seem to prom
Use for our delectation lively time, not
long to be deferred
In the Qnartermaster's possession on this
island are great masses of the "Obstruc-
tions =" with which the beach has for some
time past been lined, to the great impedi-
ment of locomotion and transportation. In
addition to the huge RATS and linked rail-
road bars previously described, there are
immense beams, squared ON four sides, to
fit into clamps of wrought iron. The in
tention seemed to be that these clamps
should fit loosely around the beams, so as
to allow them "play." The bar iron of
which they are wrought is one and half
inches wide and half an inch thick, and is
of excel'en quality. TO the clamp is at
tached an iron ring bolt, strong and mas
sive, intended to bear the weight and
strength OF the railroad buoys. Thus it
| appeared that each alternate bar was affixed
to clamp and ring-bolt The intermedi-
ate bar was linked or hinged to the ex-
tremity of the next. The squared timbers
We're evidently intended to support the bars
suspended in the water beneath them.
Thus, RATS made of four square timbers,
fifty feet long and at least fifteen inches in
diameter, either way, were lashed trans
vecscly to four pine Sticks or perfect
trees These formidable RATS were se-
cured by strong lashings and chains to each
9th r, stretched across tae north channel
OF Charleston harbor.. They only gave
way to the constant swaying and surgng
of the tempestuOus waves; but, once
| loose, the great currents and high tides
brought them to us, and cast them like
driftwood at our feet. .
The beams now lying in the yard of The
Qnartermasteris store on Morris Island,
are worm eaten through and through. The
far-famed worms of the Euxine are no
more destructive to vessels than are the
wriyglers of these waters. Wherever
Ii tie copper sheathing becomes displaced
from the bottom OF the timber ship, the
worms get in and work through after
them the wafer insinuates itself Leaks
! and founde,ings are the next consequent
ces in strictly natural series. .s.,+
In one mass of distractions hauled away
from the beach Of NJ iris Island, are six
teen bars of T-iron rails, each twenty-two
feet in length. So great was the weight
OF the mass, that the bars to which the
hawser was attached, were bent to a curve
of twenty five degrees. The hawser,
new one of seventeen inches circumference
was str-tched cot to only four inches
Fif y men were occupied four days in haul
ing cut of the tide-water the mass / have
described. Before the other obstructiona
can be removed, the drifting sands viii
bury them, and taey will be lost forever.