The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-02-17 00:00:00

YOurs .obedisoe)
A RAM.* ‘YER•

LATEST PRON AVEIIICL.—The Arabia, whim& se 'rived
at Qumnstown on Sunday, brings American mew 1 to
the 31st January. The meet important portion sit he
intelligerce---indeed the (restart mrprise of the wow
is that relating to the neva' victory gained by the Clew •
federates over the Federal fleet maintaining the bleak.-
Me outside Charleston harbour. A Federal fleet ot 13t
gunboat+ and two first-cime frigates has been attaabeill
and defeated • in regular naval action, by a mush.
emrdler form Belonging to the Confederates. The ea-
meanest took place on the morning of the 31st of•
J emery. Two Confederate iron-clad gunboat; mown-
mixied by three Measlier; went colt of the harbour of
Charleston to drive the blockading force from the
coast. The engagement began at 4 o'elook in the
afternoon, and the result of the fighting was that
the Federal gunboat Hereedita, of 11 gum, and
another mese) of the lame clam, were seek. Foar
Federal vereele were net on fire, and see steamer, the
Quaker City, we disabled, bet seemed with the Lose
of • peddlewliseL The Confederate isetilla, having
streak this unexpected blow. returned te Charleston,
where it was justly received with iarmilla. enths-
slum." Out of this short &Mica • niee quenfiter of in-
ternational law is likely to arise, and, indeed, ie
already warmly di is the imamate of New
York. The Confederate authorities at Chenlietesi
mewl that the blockade of the port has been homily
naiad. They state that their fleet attacked. amli
"mob. diepersed, or drove off, and out of sight," the,
satire hostile and blockading squadron. Glesserall
Eleauregard, the commandant of Charleston, therefore-
formally declared the blockade of that city and harbour
1 aa " raised" by the superior loess of 'the Confedeantee"“
I frcm and after the day of the engagement. He also.
, placed • *testier at the disposal of the foreign Commie
that they might see for themselves how the blockading-
forec had disappeared. The British Consul, it is talc
went out to ma five miles beyond the usual anchorisw
/round of the Federal ships of war, code. 'weeping the.
horizon with a glass could trace nothing of them. •
Richmond peter is the only present authority for a
statement that the different foreign Consul; at a meet-
ing held forth, purpose of considering the state of airier!,
have declared the blockade as "legally raised."
Though this is the most prominent incident of the war
intelligence, the state of military affairs a unusually in-
teresting. By land titers I. nothing in the coedit/on al
the Federal forme to coompentate for the blow the
Government has received at ma. The Grand Army el
the Potomac remains on the Rappshanseek powerless
It is thoroughly demoralised, the &mossiest pervading
all reeks, officers and men. The Weer are in
' such numbers that tlm army is descr : ibed se
, away. Of some divisions two-third. ham d•
Even of those who remain nothing can be mpested in
the field. In a recent motion in Virginia • whale
4
Fennsylyanian regiment refused to fight at all, "aedl
lay dowg upon tb• grated dying the satin
ment." It was composed of • &assisted re55."..1711;
evident that soldiery cannot be obtained by the esti-
seripttoe. West of faith in the Government and their
commander; the long arrears of pay dm, and doable
as to what theoblect of the candid has become are ther
causes of the dieaffection. As az illustration bow
meetly public credit bits been affected by the present
sanest of affairs, the messy market report M that Money
I. „ mow, th. pri.dua ee gold 57j, awl exeluage on
Leaden 173 j.

LIR EDER ICH FOOT, AUCTIONEER,
1" GENERAL VALUER, mad conassioN
AGENT, DORCHESTER.
VALUATIONS for ADMINISTRATION.

Printed end published for the .rielor. bk,C=s
WsITIMIAD MILLARD, of NisWok i e-~
Printer. at the (Moe of rk4 Dana Overly &prat:
Omni-street, Derebeetmr, Tw44l. Issuwy 17,

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