--
One Hundred and Seventy-Nine-Day.--The year closed in
Charleston harbor with one of those acts of courtesy on the port of the
Yankees of which they are coldess guilty.
Just about sunset of the 31st, they fired two shots over
Sumter, and of the report of the
Fort's evening gun they dipped their flag in respect.
On the morning of January 1st it was discovered that the
Wabash had rifted a quarter of a salle to the northward and eastward of Lighthouse Inc. She had probably drugged her anchor during the gale which had been blowing all night.
On Saturday the enemy was busy both at
Gross and
Wagner.
At
Wagner among other things, he rained a new flag staff, while at
Gregg an embracive was out bearing on the city.
Two gunboats, one having three bags in filled with men, and a with two in
also filled with men, were observed on Saturday morning coming from the northward, apparently from a reconnaissance of
Long Island.
It is reported that these barges had entered Dewee's inlet.
On the same day there was a brief artillery duel between Battery
Tatum and
Black Island.
Everything was quiet on Sunday, until between the hours of 3 and 4 o'clock, when the enemy opened upon the city, throwing 12 shells, most of which failed to explode.
The fleet were reported, on the 3d inst, as follows: The Ironsides, four monitors, two mortar boats, four wooden gunboats (one of these not observed before,) three tugs, and fourteen sailing vessels inside the bar, eleven crafts of nations kinds in
Lighthouse Inlet, three blockaders in front, (one a three-masted vessel,) one fug and two schooners to the northeast, and one huge transport and a schooner in the offing.
It was suspected that the two schooners to the northeast were engaged in surveying in that direction.--
Charleston Mercury. 
