Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-02-13
Gen. Butler to have command Of
the Texas Expedition.
Fight between Rebel Cavalry and
COlOred Volunteers.
Successful movements of the Queen
Of the West.
The French Intriguing for Inter-
VentiOn. y'H.e.;
Suggestions for a Peace Confer
..s---.t ri l4sa ence. -a'c

ton, it is said, has received assurances that
Texas expedition will shortly be fitted out,
which will have for its object the reclamation
of that State to the Union. The chief COM
mand will probably be given to Gen. Butler,
Gen. Hamilton having subordinate COM
mand. 4. .. .hf-..
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8.
The Princess Royal has aboard, besides a
large amount of arms and ammunition, COM
plete machinery for the construction of an
iron-clad ram, also as passenger an inteli-
gent English mechanic, who is well versed in
the process of making and hardening projec-
tiles. .
New YORK, Feb 0.
Rebel prisoners captured from the Hun
tress report that when they left Charleston
the rebel gunboats were preparing to make a
dash at our vessels. They were only waiting
for our iron-clads to 60 to Port Royal to join
the Ogeechee fight They state that the rebel
iron-clad Chickora is a fine vessel, of 1000
tons, six feet above water and armed with the
best English rifles. ~
The British steamers Howard, Hero and
Ariel were at Charleston on the 18th. The
Hero had 1900 bales of cotton, and probably
OoS0pCo vi tiiC VI t1c dGtdCk. L ne ARIEL
had 200 bales, waiting chance to run the
blockade.
New YORK, Feb. g..
The New Orleans Picayuns of the 1st states
that Rio Grande advices of Jan. 23rd saws
the French have evacuated Matamoras Tam
pico has been evacuated by the French, but
the port is still blockaded. A large number
of merchantmen were at the mouth of the
Rio Grande, with cargoes for Matamoras.
A. Fl. Clinch, Ark, dispatch of the 31st,
states that fight took place on st. Mary S
river, at Scrubs Bluff, between rebel cavalry
andthree companies of colorcd South Carolina
volunteers. The rebels attempted to take the
steamer John Adams by boarding, but the
negro soldiers beat them off bravely. The
captain of the John Adams was shot, his
mu, derer being shot Immediately bya negro
sergeant. Our loss was killed and wound
ed. We took prisoners. The steamer was
not injurned.
CAIRO, Feb. 9.
A gentleman from Vicksburg says if the
gunboats were so disposed, they could run
past the upper battery and take position in
front of the leading streets, where they would
beout of range of the batteries, and where
they could shell the city effectually without
themselves being in any danger. 1t is to be
hoped the brilliant achievement of the wood
en- ram will stir our iron-clads up, and induce
them to leave their anchorage up the Yazoo
The Memphis argus says Capt. Eller took
command of the Queen before she run the
blockade, and that the Monarch had intended
to accompany her, but backed out at the last
moment.
On Friday last 20 of Bob Smiths guerril-
las attacked some negroes and white guards,
as they were returning from work at cotton
gin, five miles below Grand Junction. A
mule team and wagon were captured, several
Of the negroes taken and Benjamin Strickland,
of the 3lst Illinois, was killed. Seargent
Speakman, of the Add Ohio, was wounded in
the heel and taken to Ripley, where he was
paroled. The gin was destroyed by fire.
A steamer has arrived from Memphis, hay
ing on board fifteen regiments, and five States
are represented. They were taken at various
times and places. There are twelve Indians
among them, from Gen. Blunt's army. w.
P. Randall, of the 18th Missouri, died on the
way up, also one Indian. They go to st.
Louis, in charge of Capt. Burmeister, Ct the
35th Iowa.
The Ohio is falling. Heavy ice still con-
tinues in the Mississippi. ta..
- .5s WASHINGTON, Feb. g..
An official dispatch has been received from
Admiral Dupont, regarding the recent affair
off Charleston, also enclosing the account of
Commodore Stellavogen, of the Mercedita. -
The account does not differ from thst sent by
Telegraph, and presents no new features. The
Mercedita and Key Stone were the only two
vessels injured, though other vessels of the
squadron were struck by the enemy's shot.
The officers and crew Of the Mercedita were
paroled, but nothing was said of the vessel,
which, together with the Key Stone, are re-
pairing at Port Royal. The rams came upon
the fleet during thick fog, and were not seen
until close along side the Mercedita, the
ram being so low in the water, that the Mer-
cedita was unable to bring gun to bear on
her and was disabled by the first shot from
the ram, which passed clear through her, and
exploding her steam drain, depriving her of
the power of motion, killing the gunner and
scalding number of the crew. The ram,
after being detained half an hour by the Mer-
cedita, started for the Key Stone, and soon
disabled her by a shot through both steam
chests. Ten rife shots struck her and two
burst in the quarter deck. The Houston gave
chase, and a shot from her struck the pilot
house of the ram, doing, it is thought, some
damage and carrying away q flag. The rebel
vessel then passed northward and took refuge
in the Swash Channel. About one-fourth Of
the crew of the Key Stone were killed and
Most Of Them died from the es-
Gaping steam. Com Stellavogen has asked
and Admiral Dupont has ordered an investi-
cation. ..- s..i.a... |
81 as4g o. New YORK, Feb. Q.
A Port Royal letter of the Sd says the Mon
aux has been engaged several days in attack
ng an iron-clad battery on the Ogeechee riv-
n. The rebels have got much heavier guns
han ever used before; they also use steel
pointed solid shot, but although the turret
las been struck sixteen times, they have all
glanced off. Capt. Worden had nearly de-
nolished most of the rebel parapet, and ex-
,ects soon to capture the battery behind
which lies the steamer Nashville. 9dI~
The Passaic is said to be at Warsaw Sound.
Heavy firing was heard there on. the 3D.
The rebel ram Fngal isin that vicinity. The
'atapsco and Weehawken are both hourly
xpected. IS '-- "-
The harbor of Port Royal is full of vessels
nd troops, and Gen. Foster had arrived.
es5zg HALIFAX, Feb. 9.
The Europa, from Liverpool, Jan. oath and
queenstown 25th, has arrived.
The Paris correspondent of the London
sases has reason to know that official in
tructions have been sent by the French Gov
rnment to Washington, suggesting that
be delegated BY the Federal
government and by the Southern States to
leet on neutral ground and confer together,
ithont hostilities being suspended, SO that 8
hey might advise mutual concession and ef-
ct reconciliation so desirable for the inter-
its of the world. - ~ 'z-!5 ~