Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-04

stPamer-carrying eight guns, and the destruc-
ton OF some others by two rebel iron-clads that,
taking advantage of fog, slipped ont OF
Charleston harhor and attacked those vessels
laying close in shore and isolated from he
rest of the blccfading squadron twenty IN
number.
The most remarkable exploii OF he age is the
proclamation of Beauregard and Ingraham.
that this achievement raises the bio ckade OF the
port of Charleston.
If European spectators essay TO act upon
that paper, orr blockade-s will, OF course, reap
hesvy wards in the way Of prizes. The for
eign Spectators in gold, in Wall street, Selling
upon this surprise OF the Mercedita in fog,
: lore" terribly to-day on the value OF cur
GOycrnment's issues. In one week the fail OF
Charleston will pay them of, or we are greatly
mistaken
The Richmond Disp1fch of the Oh inst has
dispatches from Charleston, = g, 10 Feb. I:
Mobile, Jan. 81; Petersburg, Feb. 4; Chatta-
nooga, Jan. Boz and Savannah, Feb. I.
CHAELE7ToN, Jan. 3I.-The iren-cIad gun.
boats ChIcora ana Palmetto State, with three
steamers as tenders, went out beJ ond the bar
al O'clock this morning 10 attack ;he blocka-
ding Hett. Firing began soon after one, AMI
for time was very rapid and continuous
Afterwards il slaCkened, but continued AT in
teryalS until O'Clock this morning Owing 10
the fog the result has not yet been aScertained.
Commander 1Egraham is aboard the Pal
metto State, az commander Of the expedition
fsECoSD DIsPATCH.l
CHARLEsToS, Jan. 3i.-This morning the
gunboatS Palmetto State, Capt. R;..ledge and
ChiCora, Capt. Parker, accompanied by N Re
small steamers, the Gen. Clinch EIlwsn ami
chesterfield, all under the command OF Com
lngraham, made an attack on the blockaiers
and SucceeGed IN sinking two and Gripping n
third. The engagement commenced at clock
i ne PalIpetto state, with Commodore InrrahaIn
on board, opened fire upon the Federal gun
boar Mrrcidita, carrying III guns and is men,
Which was soon sunk in Ave fathoIns water
Her commander, Captain StettyYagou with
a boat crew, came on board and surrendered
One shot pierced her boiler, going clear through
tapt. StettWagon and crew were paroled by
Com. Ingraham.
Capt. Tucker, of the Chicora, reports sinking
another Federal gunboat, and the disa bling. of
the steamship Quaker City. The latter was
set on lire by the ChicoTa and hauled down
her frg to surrender, but afterwards managed
TO escape, using only one whesll She was
very seriously damaged.
The number Of the blockading fleet outside
at the time OF the attack was thirteen with two
hrst-ciass frigates, the Susquehanna and Can
andagua.
The Federal loss is very savere
1t was a complete success on our mart with
not a man hurt. Our gunboats Were not even
struck. All the blockaders have disappeared.
mere Is NOT one TO De seen within five miles
with the strongest kind of glasses Our boats
are now returnin 10 Charleston
The following Is the official dispatch:
On Board GEnbo1t Palmetto StIte-"I pyenAon
last night This vessel stuck the Haroedits
when he sent boat Oh board and surrendered
The ofhcers and crew We're parolsd Captain
Tucker, thinks he sunk one vessel and sci
another on fire, WI n she struck her flar Thu
blockadins fleet had gone To southwark aud
eastward out Ct sight
'lSisned,) ID. N ISGRAHAM,
''Fiag Officer Commanding-
Ninety-feur prisoners, including three ne.
groes, from the Iailkce guuboat + p SnitS
arrived here this morning.
THIRD DIsPATCHl
CHARLESTON, Jan. 3I.-Our gunboats Pal.
metto State and Chicora have reached the
WharYes. They were enthusiastically cheered
oy an immense concourse Of citizens wha had
assembled TO greet them. Salutas Were Nrpd
from all the forts and batteries Not man.wss
hurt on our side, and our gunboats were nor
struck by the enemy.
Our attack on the fleet was q comnlata snr
prise 10 the blockaders, each one runnino szxsv
without caring for the others. Its supnosaS
that nearly All the crew OF the Mercsdita
persisted, the Palmetto State (which snosgaJ
hrrl having no boats and fighting az tia tima
could render hcr no assistance The Quaker
Guy was struck twice, and one OF her side
wheels almost torn OF.
The Federal gunboat John Smith, cspturaa
on theS;ono Yesterday, had killed and X
wounded, Her Chief Engineer, Turner, was
killed. ~
Yankee gunboat came 20 the mouth NJ S,oro
river this afternoon and fired FIVE shots, hut
soon retired. She did no damage, and NO ona
CroURTH DIsrAroHl
CHAEL SsToS, Feb. l-Generat Raaurapara
ana Commodore Ingraham IA commandsrs Of
The land and naval forces, have issued a Joint
proclamation, dated January 81, declaripg the
blockade OF Charleston raised-the entire bosiIIs
squadron having been sunk, burned or dis.
persed, by the superior naval forces of the
COnfederacy. WIG
Yesterday afternoon, Gen Beauressrd pIacas
a steamer at the disposal Of the foreign consuls
70 see Tor themselves that no blockade existed
The French and Spanish Consuls accompanied
by Gen. Ripley, accepted the in yitationf The
British Consul, with the commander of tha
British war steamer Petrol, had previously
gone hve miles beyond the usual anchorage OF
the oiockadeTs, and could see nothing OF them
with glasses.
Late in the evening four blockaders rean.
peared, keeping far out This evening a large
number of biockaders are in sight, but saan IN
steam, evidently ready TO run.
Lieut.. Sheldon and chief Engineer PrinbIe
OF the Yankee gunbcat Flambeau, Were cap,
turec oy Iur scouts on Balls Island ist a ight
tTHB LATEST DIsPATCHJ
CHARLESTON, Feb l.-OPProIAL PRosr.y.
TON Heddquorters Land and NdraI Eercss
Charleston, 5. c., Jan. 81, ISS3.-At abopt n Va
CLOCK ms morning the Confederate States
naval force TO this station attac ked the II =
blockading fleet of the harbor OF the CITY Of
charleston. and sunk, dispersed OF drove or
anu OUT OF sight for the time the entire hostile
nect therefore we, the undersigned, commans
cers, respectively, Of tue Confederate Statas
naval and land forces in this Quarter 40
hereby formally declare the blockade by tina
= hitea states OF the said city Of Charleston,
,. e., TO he raised by a superior force OF the
confederate States from and after this az
day OF January, A. u. 1853 wv
tSiSneol Ct. I. BRACRYGARn.
General Commandinr
ID. N. INGRAHAN,
RAG pHcer Com 6 Naval Forces i'm : a
JoURDAN, Chief of STAR
L he results OF the naval engacemants vesta,
day ar, two vessels sunk, foGr SIT on flre. aud
Tie remainder driven away
1 M foreign Consuls here had meeting las,
~. n, arc we're unanimously of opinion that
liit hlcckaur had been legally raised
Iw'nty hiockaders are on the bar to-day
me tuhoo"t John Z. Smith. capturnd from,
al f'o'Tai7 IN Stone river, is now safely an
vEo-yo under tho guns OF Fort Pamherton
: Ia ila9 on" farrot iiu, Ten a-iuch yuns go
sea 'Vaut tor
30 rrisonrfs captured while on a gnnnire
pydliion on HuifS Island We're hron,hi -
,"-"aN They belong 10 the .tsamar Flsnth..,i
'"h!"ing The port Of Hcorgetcwn "'