Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-01-08

Inc ROXY lSlanu correspondent on the
New York Herald, writing Dec 40, sAys:-
"We celebrated Christmas in very modest
manner on the Sea lslaudp about Charleston.
There was a deplorsblo scarcity Of poultry Of
all kinds. and beef vhs not so abundant as
the hungry seekers Of festel pleasures could
Sevirr. In military point OF view Il did hot
lack intefett TO ds az all.
At about one o'clock in the morning our
rifles on Cummings Point opened on the city
OF Charleston, rudvly disturbing the slumbers
of its virtuous citizens, and doubtless giving
rise to the belief that brave old Senta Claus
had paid them midnight visit, with bat
talioa of aids, bearing all sorts of suspicious
gifts, which he distributed rapidly but not
aoisolessly IN private residences, among ware
houses and about the silent and deserted
streets, Kicking up such a rumpus as has not
before been witnessed in that beleaguored
town. The firing was quite rapid, and, ae, II
soop proved, exceedingly effective, Scarcely
had half dozen shots been fired before the
rebel batteries began to open from James
Island, and soon, as one after another Joined
in the fray, every rebel gun onJames and Sui
ivan's Islands was in full play, and, the night
being clear and comparatively still, the roar
Of the cannonade shook the Islands about and
swoke every one by t,s terrific thunders. Our
fire, in spite OF the rebels activity, was kept
up steadily and at about three o'clock we dis
covered FIRE kinded in Charleston.
The flames were first apparent in block
of buildings to the south OF Sl Michaers
spire-probably in Bell or Elliott strickland
speedily increased. throwing light over the
harbor, and bringing out in bold relief the
spires of the churches and the wooded front
of the battery, As the conhagration spread,
our fire became more sharp and active, and
our rifle shells dropped in and and about the
fire so accurately and regularly that the fire.
men OF the city must have battled with the
element with less boldness than the ordinarily
do. While our guns we're employed, any
working Of fire engines near the scene of de-
struction was out of the question, and the
fire gained Roadway. To add to the disrom-
forts and terror Of the few remaining inhabi.
tants, two other fires were 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
silence our batteries, and mai ntSindd a ire
mendous bombardment upon them. 1t was
of no avail. Our guns were thfo wing shells
into the city and into the rebel works as
coolly as they would have fred at target in
peace times. Until Daylight the artillery
duel was exceedingly sharp and noisy, but of
no damage to us. What the rebels suffered,
other than in the destruction If one entire
block Of buildings, and two independent and
detached houses, must be learned through
their own papers. We are satisfied that the
city was sufferer from our fire, and that our
Christmas entertainment will induce the few
surviving denisens Of the town to remove to
Nha 1fafr fhau fnr
while be free from all danger Of such vista
tons as have recently been showered upon
them.
The effect Of our Smelling is said to be
quite apparent in the city, in spite of all de-
mails on the part Of the press to the contrary
Bell and Elliott streets are perfectly deserted
not single person living in either, nor a
single building occupied for business purpo-
SEES. All reports to the contrary, and to the
effect that the city has not been damaged or
its business affected by our bombardment
are pleasant little fctons invented for the
Southern ear, and tolerably well calculated
to fool us. if we did not haze the means of
knowing much better to the contrary.
The Navy Department has received official
infor nation in relation to the attack upon
the gunboat Marblehead in Stone Inlet on
christmas morning. by which Robert Brown.
Lorenzo Shaw and Joseph Phillips we're kill
ed, and Charles Moon, Alex. Henderson,
John Hschet and Charles Semmes were
wounded.
Commander Barh Of the Pawnee says At
$40 A. M. on the 25'h December, the enc
my opened on the Marblehead, which was re-
piled to vigorously At 625 the Pawnee
opened fire on the enemy's batteries from
,I a. A, -, a.
c. p. Williams on hearing the firing shipped
her cable and came down Folly river and
opened fire. The rapid FIRE from the thee
vessels caused the enemy TO retreat. At 7.30
the rebels had retreated in disorder, leaving
two Of their guns in the batteries.
The Pawnee then proceeded off Legersville.
Soon after this, Gen. Gordon. commanding
the troops on tine south end of Folly Island.
came up, and said il the Pawnee would cover
the advance, he would send an infantry force
TO bring of the guns. The force was ac
cordngly sent. Everything denoted that
the enemy retreated precipitately.
The Marblehead was struck twenty times
and much injured Her officers and men
stood to tbek guns until the rebels retreated.
She had her foremost cut, and twelve shots
are in her hull, and one between wind and
water. One thirty pound shell lodged in the
Storage, but did not explode, which shows
that the rebels had something more than
field pieces. The enemys guns we're brought
away by an expedition from the three vessels.
A correspondent of the Baltimore American
writes as follows off Morris Island, Dec. "a:
As an evidence of the work done by the
Monitors have procured from Ensign II.
Kinppel, who has charge of the shot and
shell division Of the Monitor Pstapsco, a
transcript from his record of the expenditure
of shot, shell and powder by that vessel dur
ing less than year that she has been in nc
tive service here.
Up to November IA, the Patapsco expend-
ed, for her 200-pound rife Al tuns, 6lO
pounds shot; or, altogether, l09, 200 pounds.
Expenditure Of powder for rife gun, 6 tuns,
1886 pounds, or 1870 pounds.
Expenditure for Is inch gun, tuns l.
$50 pounds, 1880 pounds of shot Ex-
pendture for powder, tuns, $50 pounds, or
1905 pounds. In the amount Of powder
expended is included the bursting charges of
the shells.
The total Of this expenditure amounts to