The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-05


Beauregard Pronounces the Blockade
Raised.-Return of the Blockading Fleet.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4.
The followingis from the Richmond Dispatch
of Feb 2: F
Charleston, Jan. 3l-This morning the gun
boats Palmetto State, Capt. Rutledge, and
Chicora, Capt Tucker, accompanied by three
small steamers, the Gen. Clinch, Etiwan and
Chesterfield, all under command of Commo-
dore lngraham, made an attack on the block
aders, and succeeded in sinking two and Grip
ping third. The engagement commenced
at 4 o'clock.
The Palmetto State, with Com. Ingraham
on board, opened fire upon the Federal gum
boat Mercedita, carrying IL guns and l5S men,
which was sunk in five athoms of water. Her
commander, Capt. Stellwagen, and boats
crew, came on board and surrendered. One
shot pierced her boiler, going clear through.
Capt. Stellwagen and crew were paroled by
| Com. Ingraham.
Capt. Tucker of the Chcora reports sinking
another gunboat, and the disabling of the
| steamship Quaker City, The latter was set on
fire by the Chicora, and hauled down her flag
to surrender, but afterwards managed to es-
| cape, using only one wheel. She was very
| seriously damaged.
The number Of the blockading fleet outside
at the the time of the attack was thirteen, with
two first class trigates, the Susqnehanna and
! Canandaigua.
The Federal loss was very severe. 1t was
complete success on our part with not man
hurt Our gunboats were not even struck.
All the blockaders have disappeared. There
is not one to be within five miles with the
strongest kind OF glasses.
Our gunboats Palmetto State and Chicora
have reached the wharves. They were enthu-
siastically cheered by AN immense concourse
| OF citizens, who had assembled to greet them.
Sautes were fired from the forts and batteries.
| Not man was hurt on our side, and our gun
boats were not struck by the enemy.
Our attack on the fleet was a complete sur
| prise to the blockaders, each one running away
without caring for the others. 1t is supposed
that nearly all of the crew of the Mercedita
! persisted. The Palmetto State, which engaged
| the Mercedita. having no boats and lighting at
the time, could render her no assistance. The
| Quaker City was struck twice and one of her
side wheels was almost torn of.
| Charleston, Feb. l.-Gen. Beauregard and
| Com. lugraham commanders of the land
aud naval forces have issued joint proclaina-
ton, dated JAM 81, declaring the blockade of
| Charleston raised, The entire hostile squadron
having been sunk, burned or dispersed by the
superior naval forces of the Confederacy.
Yesterday afternoon Gen. Beauregard placed
steamer at the disposal of the foreign Con-
suls, 10 see for themselves that no blockade ex-
listed. The French and Spanish tonsus, ac-
companied by Gen. Ripley, accepted the nyi-
tation. The British Consul, with the Com
mander of the British war steamer P.treI had
previously gone five miles beyond the usual
anchorage OF the blockaders, and could see
nothing of them with their glasses.
Late in the evening four blockaders reap
! peared keeping far out.
This evening large number of blockaders
are in sight, but keep up steam evidently to
run.
CHARLESTON, Feb. 1.
OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION.
/ HEADQUARTERS LAND AND NAVAL FORCE
| Charleston. >. c., Jan. 81.
At about 5 o'clock this morning the Confed-
crate States Naval force on this station at
tackled the U. S. blockading fleet off the har-
Dor of the city of Charleston, and sunk and
dispersed or drove Off and out of sight for the
time the entire hostile fleet. Therefore we,
the Undersigned, Commanders respectively OF
the Confederate States naval and land forces
in this quarter, do hereby formally declare the
| blockade by the United States of the said city
| OF Charleston, 5. G., to be raised by superior
force of the Confederate States, from and after
this 3lst day of January, A. ID. 1863.
/ (Signed) G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General Commanding.
| ID. n. INGRAHAM,
Flag Officer Commanding Naval Forces south
| Carolina.
THOMAS JORDAN, Chief of staff.
The results of the naval engagements yes
terday are: Two vessels were sunk, four set
on fire, and the remainder driven away.
The foreign Consuis here held a meeting
last night, aud were unanimously OF the opiu-
| ion that the blockade had been legally raised.
Twenty blockaders are oil the harbor to-day.
| Other very important movements are in
| progress here.
The Richmond Dispatch of the 81 contains
Telegram from Savannah OF the LIST, stating
That federal fleet, consisting of one iron clad
turret, four guHboats and one mortar boat,
again attacked Fort McAllister at Genesis
Point this morning. The firing continued UNI
| til 1-2 o'clock this afternoon when the enemy
retired, whipped again. The bombardment
was more furious than the last The only per-
son killed on the rebel side was Maj. John b.
Gallie, commander of the fort.
A Charleston dispatch of the 3lst gives the
particulars oil the capture of the gunboat
John B- Smith. A force OF artillery, under
Lieut.. Col Gates, with 81 guns, completely
surrounded her in Stone river, eight miles
from Charleston. The engagement lasted one
honr when she hauled down the flag surren-
dering Internationally, with $50 men. The
rebel loss was one wounded. The Smith had
eight killed, including Turner, the chief engi-
neer, aud Is wounded. She was anchored un-
der the guns of Fort Pemberton, and it was
said she would soon be ready for sea. A Yam
kee gunboat came to the mouth of the Stone
river on the afternoon of the 31st and fired
five shots and retired. No damage was done.
Lieut. Sheldon and Engineer Prindier, OF the
federal steamer Flambeau, bockading George
town, were captured on Bulls Island to-day
while on cunning expedition.
The Vicksburg Canal Progressing. Long
street with IS Brigade gone To Tenne-
see.-Battle going on at Fort
Donelson.
CAIRO, Feb. 8.
Vicksburg dates to the Both ult. have been
received. The work of widening and deepen
ing the canal is progressing The rebels have
planted battery on the Mississippi shore,
which commands the lower end of the canal
The Richmond Wing of the I'd says that
Longstreet with IL brigades has gone TO Ten
nesse.
The gunboat New Era was attacked Sun
dav nivht n O'clock naar Island M IN nv