Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-06

SEES current for wisdom in these DAYS, il
3 accepted without comment But if Com
lander Bell desired to take and repossess HIM
Self of the Harriet Lane, the Confederales, on
Ithe other hand, were not disposed to risk the
Eecapture of the vessel which they had so har-
Hily won. Accordingly, on the morning of
the l9lh, the Harriet Lane ran the blockade Of
the harbor and put to sea, the Brooklyn and
two or three gunboats following in chase. In
consequence of this exciting episode the bonn
bardment of Galveston has been suspended I'M
til the vessels which were in pursuit OF the
Harriet Lane shall have returned.
Passengers by the steamer Columbia, from
New Orleans, which reached New York yes
terday, report the total destruction of the Flo
rida in tue vicinity Of the Cages of Cardenas
and Matanzas. The passengers quote the steam
er Creole as authority for the statement, and
the Creole credits it to the United States gun
boat Cayuga, which latter vessel stated that
she had observed a steamer on fire, and sup
posed it TO be the Florida. The New York
Tribune gives much more eircumstantial ac-
count of the affair, and speaks of it as being
very generally credited at Havana.
From Richmond papers, received a: Fortress
Monroe, we learn that, on the 9th ult., an
engagement took place between the Federal
iron-clad steamer Montauk and Fort McAllis-
ter, at the mouth of the Ogechee, sixteen miles
south of the Savannah river. The Montauk
finally drew off with her turret damaged -
Acecsi6ag to the Washington Star, bearer
u Sss<->4ches from Port Royal declares that
the Montauk was not disabled at Fort Meal
lister. Commander Worden, we are told, sim
ply went into the fight " to try his vessel
and, after sustaining the enemy's FIRE for four
hours, withdrew without sustaining any inju-
ry. The same person states that nothing was
known at Port Royal of the capture Of the
Federal gunboat j. P. Smith, in Stone river
The Confederate General Morgan is report
ed to have again crossed the Cumberland RI
yer, either for the purpose Of cutting off, to a
still greater extent, railroad communication
with Nashville, orof making another incurson
in Northern and Central Kentucky.
1t has been discovered that the famous canal
which was commenced opposite Vicksburg last
summer was planned "on unsound engineer
ing principles" new canal is, therefore,
now being dug, through which it is hoped that
the river will flow in due season, and consti-
tute, at some future day, the improved chan
mel of the Mississippi.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4.-Beyond few stray
fragments of news, there has been nothing re-
ceiyed within the last twenty-four hours that
is worthy Of note. Information has reached
New York Of additional losses TO the American
mercantile marine from Confederate cruisers.
This time, however it is neither the Alabama
nor the Florida, but the Confederate privateer
Retribution, which has been actively engaged
in the work Of destruction--the British steam
er Solvent having reported at Aspinwall, the
capture and burning, by the Retribution, of
four or five American vessels off the Island of
St. Thomas.
The war in Missouri is assuming a still more
desperate aud bloody character. Gen. Loan,
commanding in the central district Of the
State has issued orders directing that all
guerllas, bushwhackers, rebel recruiting Off
GERS or commissares, found within that mill
tary district, shall be promptly executed by
the first commissioned officer into whose hands
they may fall All persons knowingly har-
boring, aiding or abetting them, are TO suffer
like fate their houses are to be destroyed,
aud their personal property confscated. Any
officer neglecting TO carry out these orders is
TO be court-martialed.
THURSDAY, Feb. 5.-Intelligence Of more than
ordinary Importance reaches US from Charles
ton, in the shape of kilograms to the Richmond
papers. On the 3lst ult.-Saturday last-the
Federal gunboats blockading Charleston har-
Dor were attacked by two Confederate steam
rams the Palmetto State and Chicora, accom-
panied by three small steamers as tenders
During the fierce but brief contest that en-
sued, two of the Federal gunboats were sunk
four other vessels set on fire, and the remain
der driven away. One of the above the Mer-
cedita, Commander Slellwagen was sunk in
five tathoms water. General Beauregard and
Captain Ingraham, the Confederate military
and naval commanders at Charleston, imme-
diately issued proclamation, forsally de-
clarlng the blockade TO be raised. In this dar-
ing exploit they did not lose single man,
whilst they claim that the Federal loss was
very heavy. The French Consus are reported
to have held meeting on the evening of the
3lst, at which they unanimously expressed the
opinion that the blockade bad been legally
raised. The New York Herald in commenting
editorially upon this affair characteIizes it as
surprise" and " shameful defeat and dis
persion of our blockaGing squadron at Charles
ton" a portion of the Federal feet reap
peared before Charleston on the evening of
Sunday last, excepting far OUT" but the
Charleston telegram alleges that although the
blockaders were in sight they had their steam
up, evidently intending to run. 1t is proba-
bly, the intention of the naval commander of
that station to await the arrival of the IRON
olads, now on their way, before attempting
any offensive movement.
The late intelligence from Charleston also
furnishes additional details concerning the
capture Of the United States gunboat j. p,
Smith in Stone river. Some doubt had been
thiV"h upou Tue previous report Dy deSphtcneS
nom Washington; but the unconditional sur
render OF this vessel, together with her officers
and crew, appears now to be confirmed beyond
further question.
second attack was made, on Monday last
upon Fort McAllister, at the mouth of the
Ogeechee river. The Federal gunboats were
again repulsed, but not until some of the guns
in the Fort had been disabled and its com
mander killed by she'll
Six steamers, forming part of Gen. Fos-
ter's Expedition, were passed off Cape Fear on
Saturday last en- route for Port Royal.
We have advices from New Orleans to the
28th ult. A general movement of troops and
transports up the river had taken place The
destination Of the troops was understood to
be Port Hudson. 1t was not believed, howev-
err that any attempt would be made to reduce
that important Confederate stronghold, for
some weeks yet to come.
The New Orleans correspondent of the Phi
ladelphia Inquirer reports as " a rumor of
startling character" but the truth Of which
could not be ascertained before the sailing of
the steamer, that the negroes, recently sent
down the river TO garrison Forts Philip and
jackson, had come into collision with the
white soldiers and that general revolt had
taken place.
BY a telegram from Paducah, Kentucky. we
Il.