Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-02-14

Hon. John Conness was nominated IN the sen
atorial caucus tonight on the first ballot lie
received 60 votes out Of 100. The announcement
of the nomination created great enthusiasm ana
confusion, during which the caucus adjourned
sine die.
SAN FRANCTsCo, Feb. 0.
The Constitution has arrived. She brought up
! $500 900 treasure recovered from the wreck OF
the Golden Gate. The Sierra Nepddd arrived
from the North this afternoon. The Senator ar
rived from the South.
New YORK, Feb. 9.
The Richmond Examiner of the 5th, and the
Inquirer of the 9th, contain news from Charleston
| to the 3Oth of January. 1t is to the effect that
q formidable naval and land expedition was
about TO attack Charleston, the preparations being
nearly completed.
The following dispatch was received by mail
from Descbard, January 3lst: The enemy ad-
vanced twelve miles from Murfreesboro yester-
day, with one brigade and six peices of artillery,
! on a foraging expedition. They made vigorous
attack on our cavalry, sbelling us back a short
distance. We concealed in the woods near For
restville. Andersons brigade fortunately arriv
ed and repulsed them with loss of 800 killed
and wounded. Our loss is small. Heavy skir-
mishing is looked for daily.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 0.
The steamer Princess ROYAL has additional
particulars in regard to the Charleston affair,
showing conclusively that there is no foundation
for the assumption of the rebels that the block
ade was ever raised by the departure of the
blockading feet, only two vessels of the fleet
being obliged to leave. 1t appears from the
statement Of an eye witness that the cause of the
attack of the rebels on our feet was owing to the
capture Of the Princess Royal, the captain and
pilot Of the vessel having escaped during the
night, communicated the intelligence to the
rebels.
The Princess Royal ran The blockade by way Of
Beach Inlet, and was discovered by the pilot
boat Blunt A signal being given to the Una
dWa, she gave chase and captured her The
captain and pilot succeeded in getting ashore,
and carrying with them important dispatches to
the rebel Government. AT daylight the thunder
of guns was heard, supposed to be the outer fleet
engaged in making an attack on the Alrbdma or
Floridd At daybreak the rebel iron-clads were
seen coming from the direction of Stone Inlet
towards the fleet they attacking the Mercedita
| first, and one ram struck her near the waters
edge keeling her over for some time. Firing
commenced, and one shot entered her boiler,
which caused the death of three persons. The
ram held the Aercedaa while Capt. Steiwagon
lowered a boat After tearing the plug out and
allowing the water to enter the commander of
the ram asked three times, " Do you surrender 7"
This was answered each time by Captain Steil
wagon, am in sinking condition. The
rebels answered, &" If you don't surrender we will
| blow you out of the water. Send your boat
aboard" The boat which had been lowered then
| conveyed the officers to the rebel ram, and the
officers asked to be admitted on board The
Lieutenant then repeated, ave are in sinking
condition." The rebel commander replied, =" Y ou
can't sink lower than the rails. We can't take
you on board" The officer then gave his parole
as demanded, and returned The rebels were
thus successfully deceived in regard to the con-
dition of the Mercedta. She lay in shoal water,
and hence the reply that she could not sink be-
low the rails. The ram then steered towards the
drum, which caused the death of twenty lone
persons, and wounded five more. In the mean
time the gunboat HOusdtOnic engaged the other
rebel ram. At half past six in the morning both
rams left the scene, and passed up 20 Charleston.
During the attack on our feet the Princess
Royal succeeded in escaping. She was sue
cessfu, ewng to the assistance of the third en-
gineer OF the IhurstOn. The dfercedtd steamed
to Port Royal, with one of her boilers injured.
She can be repaired in q day. The keystone
State was disabled, but was towed to Port Royal.
The rebel statement that the Federal fleet had
disappeared from Charleston is untrue. Our ves-
sells all returned by dark. The new iron clads
arrived the next day and reinforced the block
aders. The iron-clad Monfduk attacked Fort
McAllister on the 29th She was not disabled in
the least, although seventeen shots struck her
sides, and twelve the turret She was engaged
five hours. She returned to her anchorage for
want OF shell, and the next morning being very
fOppy she did not renew the attack