February 4, 1863, The New York Herald
Our news today is of more than usual importance. Telegrams from Charleston to the Richmond papers give accounts of a disaster to the blockading gunboats in Charleston harbor on Saturday, which is said to have resulted in the loss of two vessels sunk and four set on fire. The Mercedita was sunk in five fathoms of water. The rebel authorities, General Beauregard and Captain Ingraham (the latter being in command of the enemy’s squadron), have declared the blockade of Charleston raised in a proclamation stating that they hereby formally declare the blockade by the United States of the said city of Charleston, S.C., to be raised by a superior force of the Confederate States from and after the 31st day of January, A.D., 1863.
The loss to our men is claimed to be heavy, while the enemy boast that they did not lose a man. The foreign Consuls gave it as their opinion that the blockade was fairly raised by the dispersion of our fleet. We give a map of the locality today.
Charleston despatches also repeat the report of the capture of the J.P. Smith in Stono river.
The Richmond Dispatch says that another attack was made on Fort McAllister, on the Ogeechee, on Monday, and that our boats were again driven away.
There is little of importance from the Army of the Potomac. The roads are improving under the change of weather. General Hooker has decided to give a limited number of furloughs to the men, to enable them to visit their homes. Colonel Percy Wyndham has just returned from an expedition to Warrenton. He surprised the town on Monday night, and while there sent strong patrols to the Rappahannock, at Sulphur Springs and Waterloo, who found no enemy at either place. He captured in Warrenton eighty stand of arms, which he was obligated to destroy, having no facilities for bringing them away.
We learn from Tennessee that General Wheeler’s cavalry attacked a fleet of twenty-five federal transports on the Cumberland river, and destroyed five on last Friday. The fleet was accompanied by two gunboats. On coming down from Nashville on Saturday General Wheeler’s cavalry destroyed a locomotive and five cars at Lavergne, and captured the guard of fifty-two men.
The report from Paducah, Ky., is that Fort Donelson was attacked early yesterday morning, and that the fight was still going on at four o’clock P.M. Reinforcements were arriving. The gunboat New Era was attacked on Sunday night near Island No. 10 by 3,000 rebel guerillas from a battery of three guns. The firing continues till daylight, when the rebels retired.
The opening of the canal near Vicksburg is progressing; but the enemy have planted a battery opposite its lower end, which commands it. General Grant has arrived there. The rebel Longstreet is said to have gone to Tennessee with thirteen brigades.