Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-02-05
THE BLOCKADE OF CHARLESTON
FORMALLY DECLARED RAISED.
disappearance Of the
Blockading Fleet.
Rebel Report Of an Attack on
Fort McAllister.
Our Boats retire after several
hours Firing.
Successful Federal Dashes in
Tennessee.
Highly Important from Charleston.

Highly Important from CharIestom-
The n. Y. Herald contains dispatches as
follows:
The Richmond Dispatch of Monday, con-
tains kilograms from Charleston of the most
exciting character, as follows:
Charles ton, JAM 81
This morning the gunboat Palmetto State,
Captain Rutlege, and Chcora, Captain Tuck
er, accompanied by three small steamers-the
General Cllnch Etiwan and Chesterfeld-all
under the command of Commodore Ingraham,
made an attack on the blockaders, and sue
ceeded in sinking two and crppling third
The engagement commenced at four o'clock.
The Palmetto State, with Commodore Ingra-
ham on board, opened fire on the federal gun
boat Mercedita, carrying eleven guns and l58
men, which was soon sunk in five fathoms of
water.
Her commander, Capt. Stellwagen, with a
boats crew, came on board and surrendered
One shot pierced her boiler going clear thro'
Captain Stellwagen and crew were paroled by
Commodore Ingraham.
Captain Tucker, of the Chicora, reports
sinking another federal gunboat and The disa-
bling OF the steamer Quaker City.
The latter was set on fire by the Chicora,
and hauled down her flag to surrender, but af-
forwards managed to escape, using only one
wheel.
The number of the blockadng feet outside
at the time of the attack was thirteen, with z
first class frigates, and the Susquehanna and
Canandaigua.
The federal loss was very severe. 1t was
complete success to our arms, with not a man
hurt.
Our gunboats were not even struck
All the blOckaders have disappeared. There
Is not one to be seen within FIVE miles with the
strongest kind of glasses.
Our boats are now returning to Charleston
LATER.
Charleston, Jan. 81
Our gunboats Palmetto and Chicora have
reached the wharves
They were enthusiastically Cheered by an
immense concourse of citizens who had assem-
bled to greet them. Statutes were fred from the
forts and batteries.
Not man was hurt on our side and our
gunboats were not struck By the enemy
Our attack Oh the fleet was 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 Mercedta persisted.
The Palmetto State, which engaged the Mer.
cedta, having no boats and fighting at the
time, could render her no assistance
The Quaker City was struck twice, and one
OF her side wheels almost torn Off
Charleston Feb |, 1863.
General Beauregard and Commodore In
graham, as commanders of the land and naval
forces have issued a joint proclamation, dated
January 81, declaring the blockade of Charles
ton raised, the entire hostile squadron having
been sunk, burned or dispersed by the superb
or naval forces of the confederacy.
Yesterday afternoon General Beauregard
placed a steamer at the disposal of the foreign
consuls to see for themselves that no blockade
existed.
The French and Spanish consuls, accompa-
MED by General Ripley, accepted the invita-
ton. The British consul with the command
er of the British war steamer Petrol had pre-
viously gone five miles beyond the usual an
chorage of the blockaders, and could see moth
ing of them with glasses.
Late in the evening four blockaders appear
ed, keeping far out. This evening large
number of blockaders are in sight, but keep
steam up, evidently ready to run.
THE LATEST DESPATCH.
. Charleston, Feb. |, 1868.
(Ofiical Proclamation)
Headquarters, Land and Naval Forces, }
Charleston, S. c., Jan. 81, 1863.
At about five o'clock this morning the Con
federate States naval force on this station at
tackled the United States blockading fleet of
the harbor of the city of Charleston, and sunk
dispersed or drove off and out of sight for the
time the entire hostile fleet
Therefore, we, the unders gned commanders
respectively of the Confederate States nava
and land forces in this quarter, do hereby for.
mally declare the blockade by the United
States of the said city of Charleston, S. C.
to be raised by superior force of the Confed
crate States from and after this 3lst day o
January. A. d.. 1868.
z. L. BEAUREGARD,
General Commanding.
d. N. INGRAHAM,
Flag Officer commanding Naval Forces il
South Carolina.
Official Thomas Jourdan, Chief of staff
The results of the naval engagements yes
terday are two vessels sunk, four set on fir,
and the remainder driven away.
The foreign consuls here held meeting las
night, and were unanimously of the opinion
that the blockade had been legally raised.
Twenty blockaders are off the bar to-day
Other very important movements are il
progress here