The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-02-20
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Caledonia COunty-.JOHN MORSE.
Orange COunty-.J. B. CRAM.
Orleans COunty..C. A. J. MARSH.
THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Lieut. Blake, commanding the gunboat
Hatteras, which was sunk off Galveston by
the Alabama, has made his report to the
Secretary of War. Lieut. Blake, BY order
from Commander Bell, chased the Alabama
several miles, when the latter allowed the
former to come within hailing distance. The
commander of the Alabama responded to the
hail of " What ship is that:9' by Her Brit
tanic Majesty's ship Vixen,' but shortly af-
ter shouted d" We are the Confederate steam
err Alabama" and Immediately fired broad
side into the iatteras After severe fight,
the Hatteras being on fire in two places, her
machinery broken so as to disable her, the
boat was surrendered. A boat was sent from
the Alabama and the ere " taken off, Scarce
ly had the boat left when the Hatteras sunk
with all her armament, there rot being time
for the pirates to take anything from the ves-
sci. Two of our men were killed and five
wounded. The Alabama went to Kingston,
Jamaica, and landed the officers and crew of
the Hatteras. The Alabama suffered severe
ly in the fight size had five shots in her hull,
one Of which, through her stern post, was
very bad one. She put into Kingston to re-
pair damages, and expected to be ready for
sea in four days. The Alabama sailed from
Kingston on the night of Jan. 18th.
1t is probable that bills will be introduced
into the House for the admission of num-
Der of new states into the Union. The half
dozen new states, with one or two representa-
tves each in the next Congress will, it is sup
posed, neutraize the conservative ma jority
Of the next House. 1t is therefore probable
that the Administration will have majority
in the next House of Representatives.
Again have the oppressed and downtrod
den people of Poland struck for freedom.
Again are they striving to throw Oft the
Russian yoke. The accounts which have
reached usrepresent,t the matter as very serious.
Sanguinary conflicts with the Russian soldiery
\
number Of Russians have been killed, among
them one colonel, and Russian general has
been wounded. The communication be-
tween Warsaw and ST. Petersburg has
been interrupted. 1t is to be hoped that un-
happy Poland will yet be free from Russian
tyranny, and find herself among the indepen-
dent states Of Europe.
On the % inst, Gen Grant commenced a
movement on the rear of Vicksburg, via Va
zoo Pass. Iazoo Pass is on the LETT bank of
the Mississippi, about six miles below Helena.
1t leads into Iazoo river some distance from
its mouth. Gen Grant, by cutting the levee
Of this pass, foods an immense extent of the
enemy's country and opens communication
for small gunboats and steamboats, through
to point in the rear of Vicksburg. By
these means it is supposed he will be able to
capture the enemy's transport feet now safe
ly protected in the Yazoo river by the rebel
batteries at Haines' Bluff; and at the same
time transport large land force, with which
10 cut OFT the Vicksbnrg army from the com
mnnlcations with the interior. The rebels
are Placing heavily loaded barges outside the
steamer |icksburg to protect her from the
putting propensities Of our south-down rams
1t Is reported that the rebels are soon to
MAKE the attempt to recapture Roanoke
Island. They propose to cross to the Island
in small boats and capture the garrison
Forewarned, torearmed.
A refugee from Arkansas states that SOC
Jay Hawkers, who defed the rebel conscr;n,
law, were in the mountains of Clark county
while 1000 more are in Montgomery county
and openly defy the rebels. They are sun
piled with powder and lead by one Of thei,
number, formerly engaged in the rebel ordi
nance service.
The report of quarrel between Gems
Hunter and Foster is utterly denied by 1t
Col. Daor one Of Gen Fosters staff, recent,
from Port Royal.