The Goodhue volunteer., 1863-02-04

Commodore Bells fleet is large and am.
ply sufficient to retake Galveston but his
desire is to recapture the Harriet Lane and
not destroy her.
Cairo, Jan. %.
The forces under Gen. McClernand, are
now in the vicinity Of Vicksburg.
Two brigades were engaged, when the
Captain left. in opening the famous Cutoff.
OF which so much was heard last summer.
| The river is bank-fulI at V,cksburg, and
h'gh enough to rush through the canal at a
fearful rate. He thinks it will be A perfect
success. He thinks that should this chan.
mel become large enough to admit the pas-
sage Of boats, the rebels for the present will
be allowed to hold Vicksburg, while the
Fedcrals turn their attention to matters fur.
ther South. .:':'
In his opinion. it would take 10000
men to storm their fortificatlons at Vicks
burg. Our gun and mortar boats could
shell tie city from where they lie on the
north side Of the river bend bur: even if it
were entirely destroyed, the Qualifications.
walch extend for miles back, would be as
formidable as ever. ~. ..-.-: q.
NEW York, Jan. 20.
A Havana letter Of the 24th states that
the pirate Florida arrived there the 2lst
from Mobile, coaled during the night. and
went on cruise the 22d. She: chased i.
bark from Portland. but the bark escaped-
The pirate then captured and burned the
brig Wndaoa,d. from Mantarsas, four miles
from shore. Her cargo (molasSes) belonged
to Spanish merchant. On tho 23d, off
Cardenas, the pirate captured and burned
1.-The brig Cora Ann of Maine, She was
burned only one mile from shore. Soon
afterward the pirate destroyed two more
br'gs. A schooner arrived at Havana re-.
ports the pirate last seen steering for the
Bahamas under British coiors.
The United States steamer Re,n,v ro.
turned to Havana on the 23l, having been
fired upon by spanish man-of war. The
American consul ordered the Rsaney to pro.
ceed, and the gunboal Ooeuln was sent a.
convoy. The Rraney had the American ila4
flying when fired into. and had mails and
government dispatches on board.
The gunboat Wachus tt arrived at Havana
on the evening Of the 22l, twelve hours
after the pirate left, bit coaled immediately
and went in pursuit.
The rebels i'll Havana are in high glee -
! TX Consul Helm, secession agent, holds r.
ceptions every week. NJ ,yor Woods dau.h
ter was present at the last one.
! Two vessels with cotton arrived at lIaya
ia the 23l.
The pirate Florid,s is com manded by !
New!and Moftis, formerly of the u. s. NAVY
The Eding1ury arrived from Liverpool or
tho 18th.
The French official documents explaining
the foreign policy of the French Government
wero distributed among the Legislative
corps.
These documents say meditation in Amer.
ica is postponed in consequence Of the re
fusal Of England and Russia to join France
but the Emperor has not refraincd from ac
quainling the Cabinet at Was in.:on, tha,
his Government is still ready to mediate
provided the American Government desires
that France should facilitate the task Of peace
either alone or collectively, ia whatever form
may b: pointed out to her.
WAsulNGToy, Jan. 20.
The u. s. steamer Aurora on the lOtl
captured the Englisf, steamer Rising Bawn
with cargo Off, .63S bushels of salt and 9
large quantity oflucitcr matches, soap coffee
"hN FouhHy oaSH, O',c NdS IIOill MASS iu, ~
T., and was trying to run the b.ockals.
The y. 8. steamer Ottaway on the 2ls'
captured the schooner Ha,aw.n with ninety
nine bales Of cotton, trying to run on. 0
Charleston.
On tho 9th inst, the steamer Traphi,
(formerly the Huntressl ot Charleston
while attempting to run the blockade. was
destroyed BY fire. Her crew and passe nse,
were saved by boats from the quakers
city.
The following portion Of news by the
Biobia is highlg important.
/ Advices from Mexico confirm the reported
defeat Of 4OOO French under Gen. Berthicr
by $40 Mexican cavalry. 1t occurred in q
fog at 2 o'clock A. H., Dec 18th. Th,
French were completely routed The Mex
;can Gen. Presida had captured convo,
from Jalappa for Perote.
The Mexican Gen. Neyrehe with 1o,ooe
men made sortie Puebla and attacked q
French division :l4.0jO strong at Acaga,e
eight miles from Puebla completely rou,in.
the latter. The French had to retreat t.
Oaizabas The Freoch communications VA:
almost cut off.
J.laps and T.mpico are. abandoned b,
the French. e y s< . = !
The small pox is raging at vera Cruz
| .... WAsnINGroS, Jan. 80.
| The Nary Department has received : re-
port OF the cour: Of inquiry into the Calves
ton affair. One Of the vilsessss, rebsI, tes
tilted thss l1O men .vers lssi1s& fo,.t TIN
llasist Lane. II %. the loss Of lie essso.
be 50 grsat . was previously reported.
= Sr. LOUIS, Jan. 80. j
Tho iron clad Chickssaw, u resdy bs
launching. She Is built on the Aonito,
pattern -. y - ; $40.
! The IRON -cIad. Osase. will BE- ready in
about thee weeks ss <-tS1 z =. 50. 90. =.
/ The negro decision Of Judge Clover viii e.
to the Supreme Court. .s...
NEw Yosx, Jss. 81.
Tbs 1fses special says the Adninisis.
ton Is engaged through eminent cosseiI, In
preparing TO bring before the Supreme Court
the power of TIE Presiiest in times ot r..
beliion, TO suspend the writ Of AaIoas eoypss
| The Administration is dstermined to settle
this question inmsdistely, = there ars ma.