Sunday, 22d–Dress parade was dispensed with today on account of the smallpox scare. One case of smallpox was discovered in Company K. Instead of the regular inspection, the doctor vaccinated all who could not show a scar less than a year old.

Sunday Feb 22^nd 1863.

Another severe Snow Storm. All day long has it fell and tonight it is deeper than it has been before this winter and it is cold and freezing. Bitter weather for the poor soldiers in the field, as well as for the poor horses in the service. I have not been to church nor hardly out of the house today, have been reading and writing most of the day. Cap^t Thornett has spent an hour or so in my room, he has given me a little of his history. He is a man near forty and has been a long time in the British Army. Served in India and through the Crimean War. His Father was a Naval officer, his Mother is still living in “Kent,” spends half the year in France with a daughter. At the age of 16 she was in Brussels during the Battle of Waterloo and was at the Celebrated Ball described by Byron, “There was a sound of revelry at night.” I obtained the Sunday morning Chronicle but there is no news. We are waiting, waiting. We must have Victories. I shall be much disappointed and pained if we do not. It seems now as tho a defeat would be ruin to us. Vicksburg, Savannah, Charleston & Wilmington are all invested by our troops. Rosecrans has 100,000 men in Tenn. and Hooker must have near that number near Fredericksburgh V.A. O for pleasant dry weather, and good roads.

FEBRUARY 22d.—This is the anniversary of the birth of Washington, and of the inauguration of President Davis, upon the installation of the permanent government of the Confederate States. It is the ugliest day I ever saw. Snow fell all night, and was falling fast all day, with a northwest wind howling furiously. The snow is now nearly a foot deep, and the weather very cold.

My communication to the President, proposing an appeal to the people to furnish the army with meat and clothing (voluntary contributions), was transmitted to the Secretary of War yesterday, without remark, other than the simple reference. The plan will not be adopted, in all probability, for the Secretary will consult the Commissary and Quartermaster-General, and they will oppose any interference with the business of their departments. Red tape will win the day, even if our cause be lost. Our soldiers must be fed and clothed according to the “rules and regulations,” or suffer and perish for the want of food and clothing!

I have some curiosity to learn what the President has indorsed, or may indorse, on the paper sent him by Mr. Lyons, signed by half the members of Congress. Will he simply refer it to the Secretary? Then what will the Secretary do? My friends in Congress will likewise be curious to learn the result.

February 22, 1863, The New York Herald

The defence which General McDowell read before the court of inquiry at Washington is a paper too voluminous for our columns. Yet it contains points of great interest, to which we desire to advert.

As far as the charges against General McDowell are concerned, we think he has been completely successful in refuting them. He was accused of […..], disloyalty and treason.” As to the first charge, he has shown that he has never drank anything stronger than water; and as to the alleged disloyalty and treason, there was not a shadow of proof produced to substantiate those cruel charges so flippantly made by the abolitionists. The outcry raised against him in the Senate by Mr. Wade and in the republican journals, about protecting rebel property while he was in command of the Army of the Rappahannock, is demonstrated to be without any foundation to rest upon. The charges of Sigel, too, about his permitting Longstreet to pass through Thoroughfare Gap, and about his failure to play his proper part in the second battle of Bull run – charges reiterated in all the radical journals – have fallen to the ground, and recoiled upon the heads of their authors, the same men who, by their to “To Richmond” clamor, caused him to lose the first battle of Bull run, by goading the administration to order him to make the attack before his raw troops were sufficiently drilled and disciplined for offensive operations.

But the weightiest charge made against him was that he obtained the separation of his corps from the army of McClellan, and willfully defeated the peninsular campaign by refusing to cooperate with that general in the advance upon Richmond. The testimony proves exactly the contrary: that he never sought to have an independent command, and that he did his utmost to effect a junction with McClellan, but was prevented by positive written orders from the War Department, which he produced before the court. General McClellan and General Hitchcock, of the War Department, both equally acquit McDowell of any responsibility in failing to join the Army of the Potomac. On the 24th of April he received at Falmouth a despatch from the War Department, dated April 30, telling him that […..] can occupy Fredericksburg with such force as in his judgment may be necessary to hold it for defensive purposes, but not with a view to make a forward movement.”

Meantime, McDowell, with the aid of his troops and the trees cut down by them, rebuilt the railroad bridge over the [continue reading…]

February 22, 1863, The New York Herald

There is no news today from the Army of the Potomac. From the South we have an interesting commentary upon the diplomatic correspondence of M. Orouyn de Lhuys and Mr. Seward in the Richmond papers. The plans of the French Minister for mediation and peace are pretty roughly handled; in fact, they are rather uncivilly declined, the Emperor himself is somewhat snubbed, and Mr. Seward’s letter to the French Minister is described as the sublimity of insolence. The Southern confederacy, we are told, needs no commissioners to settle the difficulty, either of French or any other suggestions; the commissioners already exist in the persons of Generals Lee, Beauregard, Longstreet, Jackson and Joe Johnston.

The Richmond Enquirer says that the Union forces of General Jeff. C. Davis were encountered and dispersed by the rebel General Forrest at Franklin on the 17th inst.

Captain Hutchinson, of schooner Olive Hayward, arrived yesterday morning from Curacoa, reports that on the 10th instant, when in latitude 26, longitude 64 41, he saw the rebel privateer Retribution, which chased his vessel for three hours, but being to windward of the Retribution he escaped by outsailing her.

A letter from an officer of schooner Miranda, of New Haven, after giving an account of the recent depredations of the Alabama, states that the Alabama arrived in St. Domingo on the 28th ultimo, at six P.M., and left the following morning, steering for the Mona Passage. The Miranda sailed the following morning for Mayaguez, and arrived safely in Porto Rico, after being in the Passage two days.

A special meeting of the Chamber of commerce was held yesterday. There was a large attendance. The depredations of the Alabama were the principal subject of discussion. Memorials were adopted calling on Congress to pass the bill empowering the President to issue letters of marque and reprisal, on the issuance of which authority the Chamber has before it the propriety of fitting out volunteer vessels to capture the Alabama and other rebel cruisers. Resolutions were also adopted calling on the government to occupy, by an armed force, the Texan borders contiguous to Mexico, through which latter country an important contraband trade is carried on for the relief of the rebels. Also resolutions in favor of the construction by the government of an oceanic and coastline of telegraph from Galveston to Fortress Monroe and Washington. A full report of the proceedings will be found in another column.

21st. In the morning we issued rations for eight days. Then cleaned out and chopped wood. Thede came bringing a line from home. Seemed to have had a good time. Glad to see him again. He will be a great deal of company for me. Fannie Turner came.

Saturday, 21st–Yesterday was clear and warm, but today it rained all day. We have had full rations ever since leaving Memphis. Today we received eight days’ rations with an extra ration of desiccated potatoes. Orders came to clean up for inspection.

Washington Saturday Feb. 21^st 1863.

It was a mild pleasant morning but is quite cold tonight with indications of more snow. In the office all day as usual. Not much to do, read the news papers and old “Pepy^s Diary” about half the day, left him in the midst of the “great Plague in London” summer of 1664, more than a thousand per day dying of it. When it first broke out in a house, the House was closed and a red cross was Marked upon the door, and “The Lord have Mercy on us” written under it. He was an Educated man but like every body else at that time was realy ignorant and believed in charms. He was silly enough to carry a hares foot in his pocket to protect himself from the cholic to which complaint he was subject. I have been this evening to hear Mrs Swishelm Lecture upon the Indian Murders in Minnesota last summer. She is a small delicate looking woman. She has been a very beautiful woman and may still be called beautiful for a lady over 40 or 45 yrs. She had a crowded House and her lecture was fine and quite characteristic of the woman. It had many very fine hits in it at rebels of the South and sympathisers at the North as well as at the “Noble Indian” “as the puling sentimentalists of East call him.” She was frequently applauded and sometimes most vociferously. I took a walk on the Av^e after leaving the office before dinner. The Av^e seemed to be more crowded than ever. The “Currency Bill” pass the “house” last night, good so far.

FEBRUARY 21st.—Major-Gen. Hood’s division passed through the city today, and crossed over the river. I hope an attack will be made at Suffolk. It is too menacing a position to allow the invader to occupy it longer.

No attack on Charleston yet, and there is a rumor that the command of the expedition is disputed by Foster and Hunter. If it hangs fire, it will be sure to miss the mark.

February 21, 1863, The New York Herald

Our news from the Southwest indicates the approach of stirring events. The Union troops are now in view of the city of Vicksburg, and the mortar boats were towed down and ready for action yesterday. A barge containing seven thousand bushels of coal followed the example of the ram Queen of the West, and run the blockade at Vicksburg on Saturday night, passing harmlessly through in the dark. The gunboat Conestoga destroyed Bolivar Landing, a scattered village fifty miles above Memphis. The river is rapidly overflowing its banks on the Louisiana side to such an extent that the little town of DeSoto, opposite Vicksburg, is now nearly under water, and it is thought that the whole peninsula will ere long be submerged. The Queen of the West has gone up Red river on the hunt for rebel boats supposed to be lying there.

There is no news from the Army on the Rappahannock today. Everything remains quiet in that direction. Our intelligence from New Orleans, by the steamers General McClellan and George Cromwell, which arrived yesterday, is very interesting. Great fears are expressed of a crevasse, which would inundate the Crescent City and destroy a great amount of lives and property. The Delta newspaper had been suppressed by General Banks, but it was to be issued again by new editors, under the name of the Era. Our correspondence, with the General Orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Department, will be found full of interest. The news from Havana and Mexico, brought by the steamship Eagle, which arrived here yesterday, does not represent any improvement in the condition of the French army in Mexico. On the contrary, it seems that the invaders are suffering severely from disease and the continual vigilance of the irregular soldiers of that republic. Our Havana correspondent gives a very impartial review of the facts; but from all that can be gathered, it seems that until General Forey receives strong reinforcements he will not be able to storm the Mexican intrenched works at Puebla. On the occasion of the great fight at Tampico, already reported in our columns, several vessels and rifled cannon fell into the hands of the Mexicans. Almonte had issued a new proclamation. The news from Havana is full of interest, containing, as it does, some Spanish comments on Southern independence.

Our correspondent in the Bahamas, dating at Nassau, N.P., on the 16th of February, informs us that the law officer of the British Crown had prosecuted some local pilots for taking Unites States gunboats over the banks of the Bahamas, and that the parties were convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. The report of the loss of the Oreto had [continue reading…]

February 21, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The recent daring adventure of the scout, J.J. MAGEE, and his comrades R.F. GELSTON, BARTON WELLS and R.O. REYNOLDS, deserves more detailed mention than our brief notice of last Saturday morning, and we have been at some pains to gather the particulars. The party, in a small canoe, made a landing on Hilton Head Island on Wednesday night, about 9 oclock – WELLS and REYNOLDS remaining with the boat in a safe retreat, while MAGEE and GELSTON secreted themselves in a thicket to await daylight for the accomplishment of their purpose, which was no less than to capture a Yankee, with the view of eliciting information of the recent movements of the enemy’s forces. Daybreak revealed to them their situation, which appeared to be a very exposed one – the wood scarcely affording sufficient protection to conceal them in a crouching position. They found, too, that they were within a hundred yards of the picket station. Making up their minds that they would have to keep close to avoid detection, they lay on the ground, with the prospect of having to remain in this posture until evening. At 8 o’clock a.m., when the guard was relieved, the Yankees passed to and fro almost within reaching distance. Their conversation, however, was not of interest. During the morning as many as forty persons passed and repassed. About 3 o’clock p.m. a soldier turned into the thicket, and approached quite near them. MAGEE felt that his danger was imminent. Drawing his revolver, he levelled it at the fellow, and, putting his finger to his lip to enjoin silence, he called, in a low voice, ‘Come here, sir.’ The Yankee turned pale with fright, and in a hurried voice exclaimed, ‘Don’t shoot!’ Upon being assured that no harm would come to him if he would lie down and keep quiet, the prisoner stretched himself on the ground between the two bold rebels, and a pair of navy revolvers ready for instant use. For six long hours the three kept mute company, MAGEE forcing the prisoner even to suppress his cough, which was very troublesome. At tattoo, the time agreed upon for leaving the island, the three started noiselessly for the rendezvous previously agreed upon, the Yankee wondering how they were to get off the island. He was soon relieved by the appearance, in a safe place, of a canoe, into which he was requested to take a seat. He was at this time very anxious that his rebel friends should get in first, so as not to wet their feet; but GELSTON was very solicitous about his cough, and fearing that wet feet would increase it, insisted upon his getting a good seat, and himself offering to push the boat off and then jump in. A five minutes’ row brought them well off from the shore; they were halted, but being out of reach of the sentinel musket, they did not heed him.

The prisoner is a middle aged man, a native of Maine. He reports, in substance, that thirty new regiments recently [continue reading…]

February 21, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The hand of the destroyer has again been stretched forth in the work of desolation – unpitying, inscrutable – to strike down the prominent amongst us. The Honorable EDMUND RHETT is dead. EDMUND RHETT, senior, was born in the town of Beaufort, South Carolina, March 15yh, 1808, of one of the oldest Carolina families, and departed this life at Spartanburg on the 15th inst., after a brief illness, in the 55th year of his age – cut off in the midst if an active and vigorous manhood. His remains are deposited in the TAYLOR Burial Ground at Columbia, near those of his lamented brother, ALBERT RHETT, to whom he was devotedly attached. In life, they were closely united and are not separated in the grave.

After studying with an elder brother on the rice plantation of his father, EDMUND RHETT was sent for two years to school at Andover, Massachusetts, and thence to Yale College. Being equally proficient in Mathematics and the Ancient Languages, he had but a single competitor. This was one of the WINTHROP family, of Boston, with whom the Faculty proposed that he should divide the first honor of the class. After consultation with his friends, he declined the proposal. The course of the Faculty being deemed to be governed by sectional partialities and prejudices, he retired before the commencement exercise; but his diploma was sent after him to South Carolina. He studied law in the office, and became copartner, of the Hon. R. BARNWELL RHETT, residing in Charleston, while the latter was Attorney General of the State. His brother soon after went to Congress as a Representative of the Seventh District. Mr. EDMUND RHETT established himself at Beaufort, practising his profession, at first in copartnership with his brother ALBERT, then living at Grahamville, and meeting with decided success. He served formerly as a member of the House of Representatives from St. Helena Parish in the State Legislature. For many years he added to his profesional labors the burdens of Intendancy of Beaufort. In 1858 he was elected to the State Senate, and in the fall of […..] was re-elected for four years – still serving as Intendant of Beaufort. He was Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Education, and Trustee of the South Carolina College. After the fall of Beuafort, from the disaster at Broad River, he served as a private at Port Royal Ferry. Under an Act of the Legislature, which soon sat, he was appointed one of a Commission for the registry of property [continue reading…]

February 21, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

A correspondent of the Missouri Democrat, writing from Helena, Ark., under date of February 3, says:

On the 2d of February, by order of General Grant, Gen. Gorman, with about five hundred men, bearing arms, and also pickaxes and shovels, accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Wilson, on General Grant’s Staff as Chief of the Engineer Corps, moved down to the Yazoo Pass, which is about six miles below Helena, and near Delta, on the Mississippi side, and after removing some drift and large trees, succeeded in landing their boats at the levee. The levee is built across the Bayou or Pass leading from the Mississippi River into the Coldwater, about fifteen miles above its mouth. The water south of the levee is about ten feet below water level of the Mississippi at its present stage, consequently the destruction of the levee at this point will at once result in the overthrow of the country for fifty miles in every direction, and open a navigable channel for ordinary boats to the Coldwater, thence to the Tallahatchie and to the Yazoo.

The troops were busily employed in cutting the levee all day yesterday, under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Wilson, and the water will be let in tomorrow. A navigable channel will thus be opened to the rear of Vicksburg, in a direction which is not fortified by the rebels, and I can see nothing to prevent our musquito fleet from moving immediately in the Yazoo and of taking possession of the rebel steamers that lie in the river. Moreover the formidable army threatening the rebels at Vicksburg from this direction must strike terror to their hearts, and result in their final discomfiture and overthrow. General Grant, in the meanwhile, is not idle. In the midst of obstacles apparently insurmountable, he is laboring on, controlling circumstances, and will, in my opinion, finally overcome all opposition and take possession of Vicksburg. The musquito gunboat Forest Rose, the ram Lancaster and two transports of troops are now at the Pass.

Friday, 20th.—”Queen of the West” reported captured by our little fleet from the mouth of Red River.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Washington Friday Feb. 20^th 1863.

Rather a dull day in the office there being but little to do on the Examining Board. I have spent most of the day reading old Sam^l Pepy^s Diary written two hundred years ago during Charles 2^nds reign. It gives a not very flattering picture of English society at that time. In looking at that age and then at the present, any one must acknowledge that great progress has been made in the morals of refined Society. One is surprised at the conduct which was tolerated in that day, especialy in and around the Court. Pepy^s himself occupied a responsible position under the Crown, something nearly equivalent to the Sec’y of our Navy. The old Villin was constantly accepting bribes for he notes down all He did and all his thoughts from day to day. He casts up his accounts at the end of every month and piously blesses God that he is getting on in the world so well, the hypocrite, full of pride and vanity and an ardent admirer of the Ladies. I am not through with him yet. There is no news today worthy of note. The French have invaded Mexico and from all accounts are getting roughly handled there. It is thought by many that we will be at War with France soon. Most assuredly we shall if she intervenes in our war with the south or acknowledges its Independance. I have spent most of the evening over to Charleys (or the Doctors) as he is called. Played a game of chess with him, in my room at 10.

20th. Brought up the rations from town. Got another volume of Irving. Met Capt. when coming back. Expecting Sarah Jewell. Oberlin boys came back over their furloughs one day. In the evening read till late.

Friday, 20th–There is some talk of our having to move our camp again. News came that our gunboats were throwing shells into Vicksburg, one every fifteen minutes, driving the rebels back, and that our mortar boats were damaging some of their water batteries.

20th.—A letter this morning from Sister M., who has returned to her home on the Potomac. She gives me an account of many “excitements” to which they are exposed from the landing of Yankees, and the pleasure they take in receiving and entertaining Marylanders coming over to join us, and others who go to their house to “bide their time” for running the blockade to Maryland. “Among others,” she says, “we have lately been honoured by two sprigs of English nobility, the Marquis of Hastings and Colonel Leslie of the British army. The Marquis is the future Duke of Devonshire. They only spent the evening, as they hoped to cross the river last night. They are gentlemanly men, having no airs about them; but ‘my lord’ is excessively awkward. They don’t compare at all in ease or elegance of manner or appearance with our educated men of the South. They wore travelling suits of very coarse cloth—a kind of pea-jacket, such as sailors wear. As it was raining, the boots of the Colonel were worn over his pantaloons. They were extremely tall, and might have passed very well at first sight for Western wagoners! We have also had the Rev. Dr. Joseph Wilmer with us for some days. He is going to Europe, and came down with a party, the Englishmen included, to cross the river. The Doctor is too High Church for my views, but exceedingly agreeable, and an elegant gentleman. They crossed safely last night, and are now en route for New York, where they hope to take the steamer on Wednesday next.” She does not finish her letter until the 17th, and gives an account of a pillaging raid through her neighbourhood. She writes on the 14th: “There had been rumours of Yankees for some days, and this morning they came in good earnest. They took our carriage horses, and two others, in spite of our remonstrances; demanded the key of the meat-house, and took as many of our sugar-cured hams as they wanted; to-night they broke open our barn, and fed their horses, and are even now prowling around the servants’ houses in search of eggs, poultry, etc. They have taken many prisoners, and all the horses they could find in the neighbourhood. We have a rumour that an infantry force is coming up from Heathsville, where they landed yesterday. We now see many camp-fires, and what we suppose to be a picket-fire, between this and the Rectory. My daughters, children and myself are here alone; not a man in the house. Our trust is in God. We pray not only that we may be delivered from our enemies, but from the fear of them. It requires much firmness to face the creatures, and to talk with them. The Eighth New York is the regiment with which we are cursed. The officers are polite enough, but are determined to steal every thing they fancy.” On the 15th she says: “This morning our enemies took their departure, promising to return in a few days. They visited our stable again, and took our little mare ‘Virginia.’ The servants behaved remarkably well, though they were told again and again that they were free.” Again, on the 17th, she writes: “I saw many of the neighbours yesterday, and compared losses. We are all pretty severely pillaged. The infantry regiment from Heathsville took their departure on Sunday morning, in the ‘Alice Price,’ stopped at Bushfield, and about twelve took breakfast there. Mr. B. says the vessel was loaded with [continue reading…]

Feby 20

       Went over to see Mrs Irwin her husband used to keep the Mansion house in Greenville we met there. Mrs Lockwood the Miliner of the Village & Mrs Irwin sees every one in her bed chamber. Mrs Lockwood is a good looking woman and talked very sensibly of her business which just now consists in altering old straw hats into a fashionable shape, sewing them all over. She offered me some turnip greens out of her garden, which was quite civil, it seems Mrs Irwin very often sends to her for the turnip tops, and Mrs L. said the maid who came for them cut them off with a large piece of turnip, the heart she said, and when spoken to informed them Mr Irwin only eat them in that way and seemed quite indifferent to the wasteful procedure. Mrs Irwin laughed very much, and said she would attend to it, and they talked of sick soldiers &c, very pleasantly. Mrs L’s husband came for her, walking in the chamber with out knocking. He is a Tailor, so we found ourselves in rather unusual company. In a Village there is no distinction all meet[?] on an equality, and consequently the manners of these people are more refined;—or rather more alike than is usually found.

FEBRUARY 20th.—We have exciting news from the West. The iron-shod gunboat, Queen of the West, which run past Pemberton’s batteries some time since, captured, it appears, one of our steamers in Red River, and then compelled our pilot to steer the Queen of the West farther up the river. The heroic pilot ran the boat under our masked batteries, and then succeeded in escaping by swimming. The Queen of the West was forced to surrender. This adventure has an exhilarating effect upon our spirits.

Hon. James Lyons sent to the President to-day a petition, signed by a majority of the members of Congress, to have me appointed major in the conscription service.

February 20, 1863, The New York Herald

The theory of storms has of late years attracted the attention of many persons throughout the civilized world, and constant experiments have been made by those who have given the matter special study to test the practicability of foreseeing the approach of heavy gales in time to give warning at distant points along a coast, thereby preventing an immense amount of maritime disasters. The force and direction of gales of wind have become a study of no small amount, and if any feasible plan can be adopted for determining their approach, in order that time may be given to guard against their effects, it will be one of the greatest blessings that can be conferred upon mankind. No people in the world have been greater sufferers from this cause than those of the United States, and it is hoped that before many years have passed some system will be had that will serve in a great measure to lessen the number of losses at sea that we are daily called upon to chronicle.

In another column we give an interesting sketch, accompanied with illustrations, of the plan of Admiral Fitzroy, of the English navy, for signalizing to those points not reached by the magnetic telegraph the approach of storms. Admiral Fitzroy has given this matter much attention, and he is satisfied of his ability, from a long series of experiments and observations of different characters, to determine the approach of a gale in time to give the necessary warning to mariners on all points of the English and Irish coast. It was some time before he was able to obtain the assistance of the English government in carrying out his plans, he having for over two years made all the experiments at his own expense; but now the necessary orders have been issued causing his signals to be used at all the stations of the coast guard and other points of the coast. He foretold with great accuracy the approach of the heavy gale of last January, which lasted from the 17th to the 19th of the month, and was no doubt thereby the means of saving much life and valuable property.

If the plan of Admiral Fitzroy turns out to be all that he claims it is, its adoption in this country for our extended line of seacoast will become an immediate necessity. Already have we almost instantaneous communication by means of the magnetic telegraph between Fortress Monroe and St. Johns, Newfoundland, and if a submarine cable were laid from the former point to Key West, and from thence to the mouth of the Mississippi and the Rio Grande, the approach or existence of gales of wind would be known every hour, and their direction indicated in time to anticipate their fury. The HERALD has for many years constantly advocated the adoption of a similar system, which could be sustained by the underwriters and merchants of the country; and if the plan had been adopted then the probabilities are that millions of property would have been saved that is now at the bottom of the ocean, to say nothing of the thousands of lives. It is very evident that the telegraph is to be the principal medium in the carrying out of Admiral Fitzroy’s project, aided by his signals. Consequently we should be ready for its adoption by having our submarine lines completed at the earliest moment.

February 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

PORT HUDSON, February 17.—Captain CANNON, from Red River, brings information of the capture of the Yankee ram steamer Queen of the West at GORDON’S Landing, Fort Taylor, on Red River. It appears that the Queen of the West had captured the Confederate transport Era No. 5, and forced her pilot, JOHN BURKE, to take the gunboat to our batteries. BURKE at first feigned fear, but finally took the wheel under a Yankee guard. Upon nearing our batteries, he told the Yankees that they were still 15 miles below them. He then put the boat close in to the batteries, when she received a shot which broke her steampipe, thus disabling the boat. The Yankees at the time were quite unprepared for a fight, and suspected no danger. BURKE jumped overboard and swam ashore. The Queen of the West then drifted to the opposite bank, when her crew, with the exception of 18, who fell into our hands, ran off. The crew subsequently got on board the Yankee steamer DeSoto, and with 200 stolen negros, effected their escape. The Queen of the West is now in the possession of the Confederates and will be towed to a place of safety for repairs. It is reported that the Yankee gunboat Indianola has gone up Red River to recapture her. The conduct of BURKE elicits the highest encomiums.

Later intelligence states that the C. S. steamer Webb had closely pursued and captured the Era. The Era is disabled in one wheel. The Queen of the West is but slightly damaged, and will soon be fighting trim under Confederate colors. We have positive information that the transport DeSoto was burned to prevent her falling into the hands of the Confederates.

The Latest.

PORT HUDSON, February 18.

The Alexandra (La.) Democrat, extra, received here, contains the official report of the capture of the Queen of the West by Capt. J. KELSO, commanding the fortifications on Red River. He says: ‘Two gunboats made their appearance in front of this position at 5 o’clock last evening. After a brief cannonade, the leading gunboat, Queen of the West, struck her colors. I immediately ordered Capt. UTTON, of the Crescent Artillery, and Lieut. DE LA HUNTY, to go aboard and demand a surrender. These officers report that but 13 of the officers and crew remained on board, the others having escaped under cover of the night. The visible results of the capture consists of one 32 pounder rifle parrott gun, one 24 pounder, three 12 pounders and one 12 pounder, slightly damaged, besides a large supply of ordnance stores, a large amount of quinine, five cases of amputating instruments and one case of dental instruments, clothing, flour, bacon, pork, hard bread and other stores in proportion.’ The Democrat says ‘The victory was complete, grand and decided, and we are ready to capture all such crafts as Vicksburg allows to pass.’

February 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The correspondent of the Jackson Appeal, writing from Vicksburg on the 12th inst., says:

From present appearances one is led to infer that the enemy near this city is about perfecting his arrangements for an offensive move, and that the shock of battle cannot be much longer delayed. For several days past his movements have been of a character indicating some attempt at throwing a force across the peninsula to a point below, with a view of crossing the river, to approach the city from below. These movements have not yet been sufficiently developed to apprise us of their real purpose, and the programme may yet be changed, so that he will turn up in quite a different quarter from what is at present expected.

By deserters from the Yankee camp, who arrived here day before yesterday, we are informed that it was in contemplation by the enemy on Monday night last to run two or more of the gunboats by the batteries to get below town. The affair was pretty generally known among the troops, several of whom managed to escape from the camp and crossed the river on a log. When they arrived here they imparted this information to the proper authorities, upon which full and perfect arrangements were made on the part of our batteries to frustrate the success of such an attempt, if it should be made. It is believed that the fear of the batteries having knowledge of the affair and that they had well prepared for it, kept them from undertaking the voyage.

Nothing definite could be made out of the work the enemy had been engaged at since Saturday up to Tuesday evening. By some it is argued that they are building a levee to keep from being washed out, while others insist that batteries are being erected by them with the view of shelling the town. It appears almost certain now that a battery is being planted in the timber at a point a little below the city, so as to be within good range of our lower batteries. A work of this kind of course would be intended more for the purpose of annoyance than assistance in an assault upon the city, while it might operate as an auxiliary to the fleet.

Several gunboats were in sight yesterday, and the whole fleet appeared to be remarkably quiet all day. No new move [continue reading…]

February 20, 1863, The New York Herald

Our White Oak Church Correspondence.

NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, Va., Feb. 16, 1863.

Great excitement was created here during the last day or two, owing to a rumored movement in advance of our pontoon trains. On inquiry I learn that the movement was nothing more than the returning of condemned pontoons to Belle Plain, and the arrival here of the new ones which are their substitutes.

The enemy in front of us have been ascertained to be very weak in numbers. The balloon makes its usual early morning ascensions. If this aeronaut ever sees anything of interest he has a very profound way of keeping it to himself.

If this army could only be shut off from communication with Washington for one month I am sure we could wipe out the remnants of the rebel force on those fatal heights with little effort; but nothing can be done with the army while we are so near the capital by rail and steamer. Our generals are unfortunate in being near enough to the Secretary of War to have all their orders countermanded and their best plans thwarted, not to mention the fireside plans of campaign which the telegraph constantly pours into their ears.

Yesterday it rained hard, and the roads were soon cut up; but today we have it clear and cold, and transportation has become comparatively easy.

On the train which arrived at Falmouth last evening from Aquia creek there were twenty-three ladies, mostly the wives of colonels, who were bent on making their husbands a visit. They were not to be envied, however; for, owing to the want of proper conveyances, they were obliged to tramp through the mud in all their finery, and in the midst of a chilling drizzle of rain.

A paroled rebel surgeon, who was captured by our forces during one of Stuart’s recent raids, came on the train, en route to the rebel side of the river. I am told that this officer, who is a man of great intelligence and deep observation, was [continue reading…]