The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING', FEBRUARY 12, 186

command you, your full and cordial support and co-opera-
tion, and you will deserve success.
"Your General, in taking an affectionate loave of the
army, which he separates from with so much regret, may
be pardoned if he bids an especial farewell to his long and
tried associates of the 9th Corps. liis prayers ere that God
may be with you and grant continual succe_b until the re-
bellion is crushed.

"By command of Major-General Burnside,
"LEWIS RICHMOND, Acting Adjutant-General."
The following order had been issued from the
War Department :

"Washington City, Jan. 20:
"Ordered,—That, Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts,
is authorised until further orders to raise such number of
volunteer companies of artillery for duty in the forts of
Massachusetts or elsewhere, and such corps of infantry for
the volunteer military service, as he may find convenient,
such volunteers to be enlisted for three years, unless sooner
discharged, and may include persons of African descent—
organised into separate corps. He will make the usual
needful requisitions on the appropriate staff, bureaux and
officers for the proper transportation, organisation, supplies,
subsistence, arms and equipments of such volunteers.
" EDWIN M, STANTON, Secretory of War."
A despatch from Washington says a list has been
prepared of more than 80 army officers, who are to
be summarily dismissed from the service for violat-
ing the army regulations by the use of improper
language inb reference to their superiors and the
commander-in-chief, in connection with the re-
moval of General M'Clellan and the court-martial
and the sentence of General Fitz John Porter.

Advices from the army of the Potomac report
heavy snow storms, and that the roads were nearly
impassable.
Vigorous measures are in progress to secure the
return and prompt punishment of deserters.
Respecting the sinking of the Federal gunboat
by a Confederate vessel, we have the following in-
telligence, via Key West, under date Jan. 20 :
"By the Northern Light we hear of the most audacious
act yet performed by the Alabama, in which a United States
steamer, the Hatteras, has been sunk by her heavy battery,
and within sight of our coast. The particulars,as near as I
can obtain them, appear to be as follows :—The squadron
ordered to Galveston, after the retaking of that city by the
rebels, consisted of the steam sloop of war Brooklyn and a
number of smaller vessels, among them the Hatteras. While
the squadron was lying off that port a steamer was reported
in sight in the offing, when signal was made from the Brook-
lyn for the Hatteras to get under way and see who the
stranger was. The Hatteras at once obeyed the signal and
stood to sea. It was not very long before heavy cannonading
was heard, when the Brooklyn immediately got under
way, and stood in the direction, and after proceeding for
some distance picked up a boat's crew from the Hatteras,
who reported that their steamer had been sunk by a broad-
side from the " 290" (Alabama), and that they alone were
left to tell the tale. They further reported that on coming
within hailing distance of the stranger, both crews being
at quarters, Capt. Blake hailed, and asked, " What ship is
that ?" and the reply came back, "Her Majesty's steamer
Spitfire." Hearing this, Captain Blake gave the name and
character of his vessel, and said, " I'll send a boat on board
of you." While the boat was pulling from the Hatteras to
the stranger she fired a heavy broadside into the Hatteras,
which was at once replied to without apparent effect, for
her battery consisted of but three or four light guns. The
Hatteras sank in a few moments from the effect of her an-
tagonist's broadside, and carried down with her all the
officers and crew except those who were in the boat. Such
is supposed to be their fate, for no traces were afterwards
discovered of them. The Brooklyn proceeded to the
locality of the disaster, but found that the Hatteras had
gone down ire nine fathoms water, and that the stranger
had disappeared. Such is an outline of one of the most dar-
ing and at the same time one of the most cowardly actions
ever perpetrated on the high seas, The rescued seamen say
that it was the Alabama who did it, but their description of
her rig is that of the Oreto. The Alabama is barque-
rigged, but these men say that the vessel they encountered
was squareleigged forward only. This answers the de-
scription of the Oreto. Semmes may have sent down
his main, maintopsail, and topgallant yards to disguise his
vessel; but that is not probable, for he knows that with the
Alabama, in case of her being disabled in her machinery, his
only dependence for safety is her canvass. Consequently
he would not be likely to disable his vessel in the manner I
speak of. The mischief is done, however, no matter who
did it ; and it would not be surprising to hear that other ac-
tions of a similar nature by the same vessel have been per-
petrated in our immediate vicinity. I here assert that the
blockade of the entire line of coast comprised within the
limits of the Eastern Gulf blockading squadron could be
raised and the blockading vessels destroyed by one vessel
similar to the one that destroyed the Hatteras. I have be-
fore stated the reasons why this could be done. Conse- I
quently there is no use in repeating it ; but if any one, Go-
vernment official or otherwise, is desirous of knowing, it
will afford me much pleasure to give once more the desired
information, and show to the country fully the material of
which this squadron is composed."
The same correspondent adds some further parti-
culars of the event :
" Since writing the above I have conversed with Acting-
Master De Hurst, United States Navy, who was attached to
the United States steamer Brooklyn during the recent affair
between the Alabama and the United States steamer Hat-
teras. He confirms my account, and states that the mast-
heads of the Hatteras were discovered above water ; that
they removed the pennant, which was still flying from her
main truck, and they discovered two boats lashed together,
apparently belonging to the Hatteras, besides the one that
contained the men. From this they are of opinion that
these boats were used to transport the crew of the Hatteras
to the Alabama after she was captured, and that in all pro-
bability, the majority are prisoners on board the pirate.
I have also seen a copy of the report made to
Admiral Farragut by Acting-Master L. H. Part-
ridge, United States Navy, the officer of the
Hatteras who was in charge of the boat that Capt. Blake
sent to board the stranger. He says that in chasing the
stranger they came up with her rapidly, and when close up
with her she stopped. As the Hatteras ranged alongside
within pistol shot Capt. Blake hailed, as I have before
stated, and her reply was, " Her Britannic Majesty's ship
Spitfire." Mr. Partridge was then ordered to board, and
he says that he had not shoved off a ship's length befere the
Alabama poured in her first broadside, which was immedi-
ately replied to by the Hatteras. This occurred just tit dark.
As the first broadside was exchanged both vessels steamed
ahead, side by side, exchanging broadsides as fast as the
guns could be loaded and fired, and within a very short dis-
tance of each other. Mr. Partridge was pulling ahead all
the time to endeavour to reach his vessel, but did not suc-
ceed. He says the cannonade lasted about 20 minutes,when
he heard the sound of musketry. By dint of hard pulling
he came again in sight of the vessels, and found them
stopped, with the Alabama alongside and the Hatteras blow-
ing off steam, and heard cheering from the Alabama, prov-
ing that the Hatteras had been captured by boarding.
Deeming it best not to be taken prisoner, he pulled back in
the direction of our squadron, and was picked up, as before
stated. This is the only information we have of the affair,
and it is in all respects reliable. The Hatteras was a small
iron steamer, slightly built, with engines and boilers ex-
posed to shot and shell. She mounted probably six guns of
small calibre, and possibly less. She has been doing block-
ade duty in the Gulf for a year past, and was the vessel that
took possession of Cedar Keyes. She is nothing in com-
parison with the Alabama, either in size, speed, or in the
number and calibre of her battery. She was enticed into
the jaws of the lion and crushed, without the slightest pos-
sibility of her being able to injure her antagonist in the
smallest degree. She has been captured, after a most gal-
lant fight, by overwhelming power and numbers, and by
English sailors, and under the plea that it was one of the
English navy. A long time may elapse before the fate of
her gallant officers and crew is determined.'
A Key West letter of the 22d ult. says the Oreto,
after burning the brig Estella, of Boston, proceeded
to Havannah, where she was coaling at 11 o'clock
on the morning of the 21st. The United States'
steamers San Jacinto and Oneida were about to leave
New York in search of the Oreto. There was not
one United States' ship of war between the Florida
reefs and the coast of Cuba.
A New York letter of the 29th says:—...
s that'at.
" The captain of the steamer Eagle, from Havannah, re-
ports that on the 27th, atnootnu,rnhi,
ho saw
Hsme oaklseotostthatee e
ward, probably some vessel
the American Consul, Mr. Shufeldt, at Havannah, pro-
tested to the Spanish authorities against allowing the pirate
to leave until 11 o'clock in the morning of the 23d ; but the
pirate captain stated that the Federal cruisers would cap-
ture him if not allowed to go to sea sooner. He was allowed
to go, Soon after the pirate had passed the guard-ship, at
night, the Wachusett arrived at the same spot, when the
Spanish authorities kept the Wachusett there until morn-
ing, before allowing her to enter port. The captain of the
brig Estella was offered a free passage home in the Eagle,
but he preferred coming in a British steamer."
The following official report had been made to
the Navy Department in reference to the loss of the
Hatteras : .
" Rear-Admiral Farragut has forwarded to the Navy
Department the report of Commodore Bell, of the steamer
Brooklyn, at Galveston, giving an account of the sinking of
the Hatteras, 11th inst. Commodore Bell states that he has
heard
Partridge, of
of
Maine; persons who escaped, viz.,—Acting Master
James Bailey, ordinary seaman, of
New Jersey; George A. Falkenburg, of Philadelphia; Jas.
Wright, of Troy, New York; Wm. H. Jenkins, of New
Jersey; Wm. Brown, coxswain, of Boston. Commodore
13e11 reports that at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of the 11th,
the Hatteras was sent in chase of a strange sail, which was
reported from the masthead, and was seen after sunset
about 12 miles distant bearing south. At 715 the Brooklyn
was under way steering south quarter east, and at the same
time the Cayuga steered south by west. The Brooklyn
cruised in several courses as far as 63 miles south of Gal-
veston in search of the combraeatanchteds, supposing tohne
tehneemaytetro.
be the 290) and returning'

noon of the 12th. About 11 o'clock next day discovered
two masts of a sunken vessel standing out of the water.
The tops and rigging were awash, and the United States'
naval pennant was flying gaily from the main truck. No
ensign was found, and the hurricane deck was adrift. Sh
was recognised to be the Hatteras by certain marks made
on her hurricane deck by the Brooklyn some time ago."
From Havannah we have further intelligence re-
specting the Florida, alias the Oreto
The pirate Florida arrived here on the 21st inst. from
Mobile. She coaled during the night and sailed on the
22d on a piratical cruise. The pirate first met the bark La
Ciguena from Portland, but the bark kept well in shore
and the pirate's boat was recalled, the La Ciguena escap-
ing. On the afternoon of the 22d, four miles from the
coast, fell in with the brig Windward, Captain Roberts,
from Matanzas, with molasses, for Portland. The
Windward was robbed and burnt, the crew being sent
ashore in their own boat. The cargo belonged to a Spanish
merchant. On the morning of the 94th, off Cardenas, the
pirate captured and burnt the brig Coals Ana, of Machias,
Maiae, Capt. Small, from Philadelphia, laden with shooks.
She was only one mile from land. The captain and crew
were sent into Cardenas in their own boat. Soon after the
pirate captured two mere brigs, just out from Cardenas.
She burnt one and sunk the other. A schooner arrived at
Havannah on the morning of the 24th, which states that
the pirate was last seen with the British flag flying, steer-
ing for the Bahamas. The United States steamer Reaney
left Havannah on the 23d, but returned the same afternoon,
having been fired into by the Spanish man-of-war Prin-
cessa d'Asturia. The American Consul ordered the Reaney
to proceed on her voyage, and the gunboat Oneida, which
had just arrived, was sent out as convoy. The Reaney had
the American flag flying when fired into. She had the
American mails and Government despatches on board.
The gunboat Wachusett arrived at Havannah on the even-
ing of the 22d, twelve hours after the departure of the pi-
rate. She coaled and sailed on the morning of the 24th.
The rebels in Havannah are in high glee. Mr. Helm,
their agent, holds receptions every Friday evening, and
ex-Mayor 'Wood's daughter was present at the last one.
The rebel schooners Ray and General Worth, from Mobile,
arrived at Havannah on the 23d The rebel schooner Mary
Harris was to sail on the 25th for Matamoras. The French
Consul-General at Havannah had lately drawn 1,000,000
dole. on the French Treasury, which draught was
honoured by the Spanish bank." _

A despatch from New Orleans received at New
York on the 30th ult. says : _

" The Harriet Lane is blockaded in Galveston Bay. The
rebels are fortifying the island and fitting out the Harriet
Lane, and large numbers of rebel troops are concentrating
on the island to resist our attack. Our fleet is large and
amply sufficient to retake Galveston, but it is hcped that it
will be able to recapture the Harriet Lane without destroy-
ing the city."
A Port Royal letter of the 26th ult. says:—

" An exciting naval conflict is believed to be impending

in the Ogochee River between the Montauk and the rebel
ram Fingal, said to be guarding the steamer Nashville. An
effort will be made by Capt. Worden, under the orders of
Admiral Du Pont, to attack and destroy the Fingal and cap-
ture the Nashville. The Montauk was still close to Fort
Pulaski this morning, but it is expected to be ready to go
to work in the morning."

The Memphis Bulletin of the 26th states that
Gen. Joe Johnston commanded the whole Western
department of the Confederate army, and was march-
ing with a large force to Vicksburg. It was believed
that he could concentrate 150,000 men for the de-
fence of Vicksburg. The Confederates were deter-
mined to stake everything to hold Vicksburg and
Port Hudson, and to keep open the communication
between Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. The for-
tificationa at Port Hudson were complete, and Gen.
bl~Clernand's forces and Commodore Porter's squad-
ron had reached Young's Point, a place only 20 miles
above Vicksburg.
A despatch, dated Goldsborough, North Carolina,
of the 25th ult., says—
" It is reported that the Abolition fleet, 92 sail, including
twoXonitors and six other iron clads, are in Beaufort har-
bour ; also that 52,000 Abolitionists are encamped in Moore-
head and Carolina cities.
According to a despatch from Newbern, General
Stanley had sent in his resignation in consequence
of the President's proclamation.
The Richmond papers of the 24th ult. contain
the following intelligence :

Mobile, Jan 23.

The Advertiser and _Register have received the following
despatch —" Macminniville, Jan. 22:—A detachment of 100
of Morgan's men, under Col. Hutchinson, made a dash into
Murfreesboro' yesterday in sight of the enemy's cavalry
camps, and captured 2(•0 prisoners and 20 waggons. Trust-
worthy information from Kentucky states that on the 13th
1 inst. Gen. Woolford made a speech to his men in the pre-
sence of 3,000 citizens of Lebanon, telling them to go home
for 20 days, and if within that time Lincoln did not modify
his proclamation he would not call upon them, to fight
against the South, but he would himself take the field in be-
half of the South against the North,"

Fredericksburg, Jan. 22.

The Yankees are building immense warehouses at Acquia
Creek, and repairing and refitting the railroad to the point
opposite this place, and building huts and other more per-
manent conveniences for their army. These preparations,
together with the erection of batteries in front, indicate that
their present line has been established as the permanent
base of operations for the winter. A new earthwork, with
several guns in position, was visible just below Falmouth
yesterday. Considerable bodies of troops have been moving
up the opposite bank for two or three days past.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
New York, Jan. 30.

At the Second Board to •day the stock market was not so
firm. Stock quotations—Chicago and Rock Island Railroad,
92 ; Cleveland and Toledo Railroad, 90; Galena and Chi-
cago Railroad, 94 ; Michigan Southern Railroad, 61; Cum-
berland Coal Co., 211 ; Pacific Mail Steamship Co., 166 ;
Hudson River Railroad, 914 ; Harlem Railroad, 39 ; Michi-
gan Central Railroad, 974 ; Michigan Southern Railroad,
guaranteed, 103 ; Illinois Central Railroad scrip, 95/ ;
Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, 109; Norwich
and Worcester Railroad, 82.

President Lincoln and the Working Men of

Manchester.

The following letter and enclosure have been re•
ceived by the Mayor of Manchester (Mr. Abel Hey

wood) :

have no hesitation in assuring you they will excite admira-
tion, esteem, and the most reciprocal feelings of friendship
among the American people. I hail this interchange of sen-
timent, therefore, as an augury that, whatever the case may
happen, whatever misfortune may befall your country or
my own, the peace and friendship which now exists between
the two nations will be, as it shall be my desire to make
them, perpetual. " ABRAHAM LINCOLN."