Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-06


lnzas, laden with molasses and bound for
Portland, Maine On the following day, off
Oardenas, she captured and burned the brig
Cora Anne, of Machias, Maine, laden with
slaves. On the same day, and in very nearly
the same latitude she captured two more
briggs sinking one and burning the other
When she was last seen she had the British
Aag flying, and was steering for the Bahamas
A somewhat serious difficulty has also oc-
CURED in another quarter. On the 23d inst,
the United States mail steamer Reaney left Ha-
vana; but returned to that port the same day,
in consequence Of having been fred into by a
Spanish man-of-war The Reaney had the
American flag flying at the time of the occur
renee, and also Government dispatches. No
reasons are assigned for the act Of the Spanish
commander; but, by order of the American
Consul at Havana, the Reaney again proceed
ed on her voyage, under the convoy Of the
gunboat Oneida.
From the blockading squadron off Savan-
nah, we learn that the Confederate steamer
Fingal has left her old berth, and is supposed
to be on her way down the Wilmington river,
and from thence to the Ogechee river. The
Nashville was also getting ready to run the
blockade, for the purpose Of sharing with the
Florida and the Alabama in the destruction Of
Northern merchant ships.
special despatch from Cairo, received at
General McClernand have landed on the Lou
isiana shore, FIVE miles below the mouth Of
the Yazoo river and in full view Of the city
of Vicksburg. The river is now full, and two
brigades are said to be engaged in deepening
the famous cut off," for the purpose OF chang
ing the channel Of the Mississippi, and thus
allowing vessels to proceed down the river
without coming under the fire of the Confede-
rate guns.
SATURDAY, Jan. 3l-The Harriet Lane is
blockaded in Galveston Bay-so says New
Orleans correspondent of the New York Tn
bune. The writer also states that the Contede-
rates are terrifying Galveston, and fitting out
the Harriet Lane. The Federal fleet off Calves
tor, we are assured, is amply sufficient to re-
take that town, but that Commodore Bell does
not do so for the curious reason that his de-
sire is to recapture the Harriet Lane, and not
10 destroy her." In the meantime, the COME
derates, taking advantage Of this generous
forbearance, are concentrating large numbers
of troops on the island to resist attack, and
are doubtless doing their best to put the Har-
riet Lane in condition TO run the blockade
successfully whenever favorable opportunity
occurs.
The Confederate steamer Tropic, formerly
the Huntress, of the New York and Charleston
line, after running the blockade of Charleston
Harbor, with a cargo of cotton, turpentine
and rosin, caught fire within sight of the
blockading squadron, and was burned TO The
waters edge Her crew and passengers were
picked up subsequently by the United States
steamer Quaker City.
From the New Orlens Delta--a Journal of
very doubtful aulhority--we learn that the
Confederate steamer Cotton, which has here
tofore successfully opposed the advance of the
Federal gunboats up the Bayou Teche, has been
totally destroyed by the forces under General
Weitzel.
A similar doubt is thrown upon the reported
destruction Of the steamer Nashville by the
United States iron-clad steamer Montauk. A
letter from Hilton Head, dated on the 26th in
stnnt states it as fact, and as such it is tele-
praphed 10 the press from New York; but the
Port Royal correspondence of the New York
papers OF The same date, whilst announcing
that An expedition had set out for the purpose
OF endeavOring TO capture or destroy the Nash
vile, makes no mention whatever Of the result
1t is proper, however, to add, that des-
patch is said to have reached Washington, Civ
ing an account Of an interview on the Black
water between General Peck and Gen. Roger
A. Pryor, at which the latter is said to have
admitted q Confederate defeat near Savannah
The Washington Star is Of opinion that this
afflir refers to the Montauk If so, it would
in all probability, include also the Confederate
steam ram Fingal and the Nashville.
A fleet of twenty nine transports under
convoy OF three gunboats, reached Nashville
Tennessee, on Thursday last.
MONDAY, Feb 2-The destruction of the
Confederate steamer Cotton, during the mill
tlry and naval engagement in Bayou Teche,
Louisiana, is confirmed. From the letter OF
the correspondent Of the New York Times, il
is impossible to understand whether she took
FIRE from some unexplained cause or was dis
lad n, Eala tlarss "A ,kea
" set on fire by the Confederates themselves.
The result of the combined operations of Com
mander Buchanan and General Weitzel does
not appear to have been very satisfactory -
The destruction of the Cotton and the capture
OF some forty Confederates are the only fruits
of an expedition which comprised five gun
oats, six regiments of Federal troops, and
some four batteries OF artillery-the opposing
force consisting Of only eleven hundred men,
supported by the gunboat Cotton. AT the
date Of the letter to the Times, the expedition
had returned to the point from whence itstart-
ed ; but the distractions in the bayou, which
prevented the further progress Of the Federal
gunboats, had not been removed. There were
other Confederate steamers preparing to take
the place OF the Cotton and, in the language
Of the Tunes correspondent, f" the work would
have TO be done over again"
From Newport News, via Fortress Monroe
mond Examiner, dated Charleston, January
goth, and announcing the unconditional sur
render to the Confederates of the Federal gun
boat J. !? Smith, carrying eleven guns and
two hundred and ihisty men, after sharp en-
gagement at Stone river. The Federal loss is
reported to have been very heavy, whilst the
Confederates are said TO have but one man
wounded. Another gunboat, which was in
the same engagement, escaped in crippled
condition.
q Something of fight" we are told, has
taken place on the Blaekwater. party of
Coniederaies crossed the stream, and after some
sharp skirmishing fell back, losing several Of
their number taken prisoners. The Federal
loss is estimated at "about forty" killed and
wounded; that Of the Confederates was, we
are assured, considerably more"
A body OF Confederate cavalry. one ,hous
and strong, with battery Of four pieces Of
artillery, IS at the shoals Of the Cumberland
river, awaiting the arrival OF vessels on their
way 10 Nashville. Great efforts are said 10 he
making by the Confederate to capture such
boais as may attempt to cross the Cumberland
Tuesday, Feb. 3.-The bombardment Of
Galveston which xxar IN hax-a haao ,.......s