The New York herald., 1863-04-23
TRIPLE SHEET
New York. Thursday, April 90, 1868.
THE SITUATION.

The steamer Key West, which arrived at this
port yesterday from Beaufort, s. c., with dates of
the Goth inst. reports that the story of the rebels
having abandoned the siege of Washington, N. c.,
fully confirmed. We have no later news from
hat direction.
A despatch from Memphis, dated Tuesday, re.
ports some spirited engagements in that quarter.
II says that on Saturday evening last three reg
ments Of infantry and one of cavalry left Memphis
on a accommodating expedition. When near Non
Gonna the cavalry came upon detachment of
Blythe's rebel cavalry A fight ensued, resulting
in the repulse Of the rebels. The next morning
the cavalry again attacked the rebels, killing
twenty, wounding forty and capturing eighty.
The rebels fed in great confusion across the
Coldwater, where they received reinforcements,
and our forces fell back to Hernando. The rebels
were 30 severely handled that they did not attempt
to follow.
At fernando we were reinforced by infantry and
artillery, under Colonel Bryant, who moved to the
Coldwater and attacked the rebels on the opposite
side of that river. The fight lasted until sundown,
and confined chiefly to the infantry, as the ar.
tiery could not be successfully used as desired.
Dur loss is Eve killed and fifteen wounded.
The particulars of the passage of Admiral Por-
ter's feet under the batteries of yicksburg show
the fact that the transport Henry Clay was SO &C.
vcrcly damaged by shot that she sunk, and that
all hands made for flatboat as the boat was going
iown. II is believed that they were lost The
oilot foated down the river nine miles On plank,
aud was picked up opposite warrenton. There
are eleven gunboats below vicksburg now, in
:iuding three under Farragut. The Navy Depart
me1t has received official account OF the run
ming of Admiral Farraguts feet by the batteries
at Warrenton, and his conflict with the batteries
at Grand Gulf, the main facts of which we have
already published.
The enemy continue to cross the Rsppahannock
in sinaIi bodies, and prowl about the lines of Gen.
Hooker's army. On Tuesday the commanding off.
Ger of The rebel Black Horse cavalry and six men
were captured at Waterloo. The river is falling
rapidly and the condition of the roads is mprov.
ing.
The question of the disposition of the British
mail found in the Petorhoff was decided in the
United States District Court yesterday, Judge
Belts delivering the mail bag to the custody of the
United States Attorney who Immediately trans
ferrsd it to Mr. Archibald, the British Consul, who
was present in court The proceedings against
the vessel and cargo suspended for the present.
The British prize steamer Gertrude, of London,
from Nassau, N p, arrived at this port yesterday.
She was captured on the 10th inst. of Harbcr
Island. by the United States gunboat Vanderbilt
after q chase Of several hou.s She was bound TO
Charleston. S. c., and on arriving OIL that port,
turn to Nassau when captured. Her cargo consists
Of gunpowdcr and miiery stores.
More light is thrown upon the late news from
Mexico touching the reported defeat Of the French
army at Puebla, by the arrival Of the steamer
Eagle from Havana last night. Her dates are 10
the 18th inst. and, although the intelligence con.
tainedin our correspondence is confined 10 the
rumors exlan, in Havana yet il looks in the drec.
ton of defeat Of the Mexicans instead Of q vic
tory at Puebla, aud speaks Of the offer Of Ortega
to capitulate to the French general after being
repolsed in sorte. These, however, are merely
The floating rumors in Hlvsua, and have yet 10 b,
confirmed before they can be accepted as true.
EUROPEAN NEWS
The steamship Persia, from Queenstown on th,
18th inst, arrived at this port yesterday morning
Her news is two days later than the advices Of the
Jura, and IL of an important character.
The English government was still engaged II
efforts ossensBy directed against the fitting out o.
rebel war Vessels 10 the ports Of the kingdom
Although the Alexandra was seized by the OH
GERS ~ customs az Liverpool, previous 10 th,
sailing Of the Jurs, number OF men still contin