February 12, 1863, The New York Herald
A reconnoitering party from Stafford Court House, under Col. Percy Wyndham, which started on the 9th instant and proceeded to Warrenton Junction, cut the telegraph wires at that point leading to the Rappahannock. At Elk Run they fell in with the enemy’s pickets, and captured two of them. The result of the reconnoissance is that no rebel forces are on this side of the Rappahannock, and that all the streams are flooded and the roads in such a condition that the enemy cannot move no more than ourselves.
The absurd story concerning the destruction of the United States sloop-of-war Brooklyn, by the rebel vessels Alabama, Florida and Harriet Lane, which was in circulation yesterday, has no foundation in fact. It is manifestly untrue, as the Alabama could not have been in the locality laid down as the scene of the alleged disaster.
The bark Springbok, which sailed from London for Nassau with a general cargo, part of which proved to be of a suspicious character, was brought into this port yesterday, having been captured by the United States steamer Sonoma, off the Bahamas, on the 3d inst. She was put in charge of Acting Master Willis and a prize crew, who brought her safely to New York. The cargo was composed of leather, salt and boots and shoes. The Sonoma came across the rebel vessel Florida, when off the Bahamas, on the 1st instant; but the latter avoided her, and cleared off, though the Sonoma chased her for thirty-six hours.
The intelligence which we give today relative to the splendid run of the Union ram Queen of the West down the Mississippi will be read with great interest. The bold dash which this vessel made past the batteries of the enemy shows what valor and pluck can accomplish, as manifested by Colonel Ellett. She destroyed three steamers loaded with provisions for the rebels at Vicksburg, and took fifty-six prisoners. She ran under the batteries at Port Hudson, and drew their fire without being damaged. She attacked the rebel gunboat City of Vicksburg with splendid daring, and was only compelled to withdraw when she was discovered to be on fire from turpentine balls thrown by the enemy. The official report of Colonel Ellet is given in our columns today, and details the particulars of this truly gallant enterprise. Out of one hundred and twenty shots the Queen was only struck twelve times, and was not seriously injured after all.
The French Yellow Book, in later extracts from its contents, shows that during the period of General Butler’s rule in New Orleans the relations of the United States with the government of France and other countries were at times in danger of a serious rupture. Indeed, the portion of the Yellow Book which refers to American affairs dates first from the time when General Butler assumed the command in that city. The French Minister in Washington, we are told, [illegible] against his conduct, and to Mr. Seward the acts of General Butler as calculated to compromise in the gravest manner international relations, and perhaps to provoke serious conflicts. After the issue of the General’s proclamation of the 24th of September, Admiral Reynard, of the Imperial Navy, was ordered from the North to New Orleans to act the authority of his rank and the firmness and tact habitual to him.
The Madrid Epoca, and other Spanish newspapers, approve of the purport and spirit of Napoleon’s letter to General Forey respecting his plans for Mexico. The Epoca says it confirms all its editor has said, the propriety of a common action between Spain and France in the republic.