0

February 19, 1863, The New York Herald

Our intelligence today from the Army of the Potomac does not indicate any movements of importance. It appears from reliable statements that the enemy is working most industriously at their breastworks, which they are throwing up on the river flats opposite Falmouth and in front of Fredericksburg, so as to resist the crossing of our troops, should such an attempt be made. The forces of General Jackson are said to be located two miles south of Fredericksburg, behind the first range of hills.

From the Southwest we have information that our iron-clads are making daring runs past the rebel fortifications at Vicksburg. It is but a few days since the Queen of the West ran safely through and back again; and now we learn that the gunboat Indianola, built on the Monitor plan, ran the gauntlet at Vicksburg on Friday night last, in spite of all the efforts of the rebel batteries to sink her. Rebel despatches from Vicksburg to Richmond confirm this fact.

Our intelligence from the South today is interesting and varied, though not very important. In the Confederate Congress Mr. Foote, of Tennessee, offered a resolution to the effect that President Davis shall, on or before May 1 next, withdraw the present diplomatic agents from every foreign capital the government of which shall not have at that time agreed to recognize the independence of the confederacy; and that after that date no foreign consul shall be longer allowed to exercise consular power, except upon an exequatur asked for at the hands of the government of the Confederate States, and granted by the same. The resolutions further declare that the conduct of the Emperor of France in proposing, as he has recently done, to the several European Powers that they should unite with him in an act of peaceful intervention in the contest now in progress between the governments of the United states and that of the confederate States of America, has been highly gratifying both to the government and people of the Confederate States.

The tone of the Richmond journals generally indicates a want of hope and spirit. All prospects of foreign mediation seem to be given up, and the present is considered […..] most critical period of the whole war.” Generals J.E.B. Stuart and A.P. Hill were in Richmond on the 16th instant and addressed the legislature. According to the Richmond papers, information has been received there to the effect that the entire Army of the Potomac is evacuating its position, and being divided between Washington and Fortress Monroe.

A crowd of alleged secessionists in Frankfort, Ky., met yesterday in the theatre of that city for the ostensible purpose of nominating candidates for the August elections; but Colonel Gilbert with a regiment of Union troops with bayonets fixed made his appearance, took the chair himself, and dispersed the meeting by declaring that they should then and there prove by oath their loyalty to the government, as he believed they were nothing but democrats and secessionists. With the fear of fixed bayonets before their eyes, and remembering, no doubt, the story of Cromwell and the rump Parliament in the good old times of free and merry England, the citizens of Frankfort wisely resolved to separate, and they did so.

With regard to the Mexican expedition we learn that the French troops, four thousand strong, intended to reinforce General Forey, were, according to the Journal du Havre, to leave the ports of Toulon, Brest, Cherbourg and Oran on the 1st of February. The different vessels will afterwards assemble at a fixed point, and start together for Vera Cruz.