The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-03
bEWSFROM CHARLESTON HkRB0R
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Arrival OF the United States
Steamship AragO.
How the Union Army Spent
Christmas.
.nr..c>>>ooo-..oo>or~.~
THE EFFECT UPON CHARLESTON.
Destructive Confagration in
the City.
THE FIGHT IN ST0N0 INLET.
J~,>SS,..o~-.>~rr.S.-~~>
CAPTURE OF the REBEL ARSHBAT1ERy
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
.i.,~g- a
General GiIlm0re's Christmas
Eve Festivities,
Ae., &C., DC.
THE FIGHT IN sToNo INLET.
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL MARsHBA71ERy


The United States steam transport Arago. Captain. aes
Gen. arrived at this port yesterday, with Charleston
Dor dates TO Dec. 60, 1868.
We indebted 10 Pureer srsutgeaa FOR kindly taking
charge Of our dispatches.
Mr.. Oscar G. sawyer's Despatch.
ToILY ISLAND, s. O., Dec 30, 1sss.
cERrsTxAs ENTERTAINMENTS.
We celebrated Christmas In very modest manner Oh
The sea Islands about Charleston There depora.
Die scarcity OF poultry OF oil kinds and beef
abundant the hungry seekers Of festa pleasures could
aseire There were abou. twenty-five superativey hap
py individuals according to the close calculations Of OBJ
servers the islands that day, and they dined, OF
course, turkey. Several Others who fortunate
enough procure chickens, olerably happy and
few hundreds who less lucky, found only beef 70 dino
upon comparatively joyous but the great majority
sked miserable apology for grand Christmas din.
nsr from salt beef and pork with trie Of cabbage TO
support IL, ana undoubtedly miserable know the
feelings Of the ntter from personal experience, and
testify 70 the fact. Hence Christmas with the comm and
wa. sdacouay speaking, by the merry holiday
that Is considered North In a military point OF view
Il did not lack interest to US alb,
now ENTERTAINED THE cHAsLEs1esIASs
AZ about O'Clock in the morning rides on Cum.
nneG Point opened the city Of Charleston rndsly
loubtess giving rise 10 the belief mat brave old Santa
Claus bad paid them midnight visit. with battalion Of
aids bearing all sorts Of suspicious gifts which hs dis
Sbuted rapidly but not nossessly IN private rssd
among warehouses ana about the silent and deserted
Streets kicking up such runpus has not bsors bes,
witnessed in thai belsasusred town. The firing quite
rapid, and, ~ II soon proved, exceedingly elective.
Scarcely had half dozen shots been fred before ths
rebel batteries began to open from James Island aud
Tn DkA
gun Jamss and sullivan's isnds full play, and
~ night being CLEAR and comparatively s the OF
Ne cannouade shook the islands about and awoke every
- By lie terrific thunders. Our IRE, In spite OF the
ssbes activity, kept up sesdy and At about three
O'Clock We discovered
FEE xrHDlxD IN CHARLESTON
4he flames were Arst apparent In block Of buildings
- The south or So. Mchaes sprc-probably In Bell
Elliott street--and speedily increased throwing light
the harbor and bringing in bold resf the spires
- ths churches and the wooded front Of the battery As
che connsgrasion spread became more sharp
aotive end rife shells dropped In and about the ire
- accurately and regularly that the Aremen OF the city
ust have battled with the element with less bodness
sAan they ordinarily do. While guns employed
any working Of the Of connagra.ion
ous Of the question, and the fire gained headway
10 add 70 the dscomorts and terror Of the ew remaining
inhabitants other nres started In other parts OF
ng other buildings than those in which the
shells FIRST communicated the FIRE. The rebels,
vhsn they discovered the state OF affairs seemed
double their Efforts 10 silence batteries and main.
tanned tremendous bombardmens upon them. II was
OF svail Our guns were throwing shells nto the city
and into the rebel works a. cooy as they would haTe
ared at target In peace times Until daylight the ar
isry duel exceedingly sharp and noisy, bet Of no
damage What the rebels suffered, other than in
the destruction Of entire block OF buildings, and
independent and detached houses, must be learned
through their papers, We satisfied that the city
sufferer from Gre, and that Christmas
tsrtalnment will induce the Few surviving DEMONS OF tho
Sow remove to tho rural DISTRICTS where they may
Tor while DO free all danger Of such vsitatons
have recently been snowersd upon them.
The eject Of our Smelling said to DO quite apparent In
shs city, In spite Of all denials the part Of tho
10 the contrary Bell and Elliott streets perfectly
assertcc--not single person living in either,
nor . single building occupied for business pur.
poses. All reports 10 tho contrary, and TO the
eject that the city hes not been damaged its business
s6eced by our bombardment are pleasant little Actions
Invented Tor the Southern ear and tceraby well cacl.
lated 20 fool us did not have the means Of knowing
much better 10 the contrary While delivering
eur Christmas sslutatous TO Charleston the enemy
eurnsd the compliment from johnson Island the soro
river, and showed us
NOW Ans REBELS snskRyrD THE DAT.
working indns,rously through the nigh. buid
lsg corduroy reads across msrsh Ieaarevle and
hauling lumber, in,renching tools and siege guns, the
rebels enabled 70 plant before daylight siege
guns within easy range Of Iegarevo and the gunboat
Narblehead which laid OF the town picket. The nrsi
aoslse small force the village had OF she enemy
presence and designs sudden add spirited attack
Do force pickcts. before which hey speedily re-,
Back and an auseous artillery are upon the s~c'chess
from The swo siege guns In tne marsh
N.fRIraEap sIrArggp
ros attack somewhat anssyected, bu, Lieutenant
Commanaer Meade soon hsd as msa quarters ana hi
guns In play lne time c,asamei 10 wsghlug anchor.
getting Roadway m tie ship and tn ARG her around
against 600 ids gave the sdsy sdsciaeG advantage
sad ,hsy did 30, lose II. rhey repeatedly hied tho
KArbchead Wills snc ,urnlhs, shot away her mau
sopmsst and exploded two u theT slps her, sat
aasly put three shots csag tnroagh her halt kill
ing tao men and wounfiag I've others. Hec yros
served RAPIDLY and effectively possible unIsr To-
sircumstancls but they could not Be wsll directed wh
sns turalng. Meanwhile ias rsvace, Comrnsnde
Bach, Immediately after the rebels opsnsd dfs droppe
from her position OF tue town TO poat vhers she 70
IN elective range. opened with her hsavy baiierl
ap'n the rebel AMI upon large supporting forcs
aufsntry,s dfswn ~ on the main road froa
Lsslrsvhis rhs Mstblsasla soon got IL tn
proper position, lei 20 bee aochor, aud :,
(. cross hrs witn th, Pavncs upon the enemy
position The rebels stood b thar guns az long a posi-
he, but after heavy toss were compelled 70 csvc IN
two gans Ia the marsh and retreat but succceded II
naintahns Tor some time longer Are from ,no,nc
heavy sAasy the woods 10 tho right II the marsh
me pswpsss heavy bsttsry spaladsd both tho enemy
sorts md sidsd by the hirslehssA tnd mcrs scsooas