Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-01-16
AFFAIRS Al CHARLESTON 8 G.

correspondence OF the Mobile Advertiser.
The days and weeks of the fateful winter
are fast gliding by, but the long threatened
einonstraion against Charleston is still de-
'srrcd. Meantime, every hour adds new
strength and completeness TO the fortifica-
lions which girale or, good old city. Gen
b anregrard has conc :, trated all his
euergies the work of PREPARATION for the
task Which is before him--to hold the city
at every hazard and to the last extremity !;
and the good effects of bis skillful manage
mcnt and unfagging zeal are already appar-
ent. The people and the troops are ANNA
ted with new confidence, and Richmond does
not rest more tranquil behind the matchless
army of Lee. than does Charleston within
her belt OF massive outworks and bristng
cannon. / may say, without divuging any
military secret, that the State of defences at
the present time is such as to preclude all
possibility Of the city being reduced by any
means now at the disposition of the Yankee
nation. The cannonlers of Fort Sumter and
Noultrie would desire no better sport than
that the ehemy's navy as at present con
stituted, should be hurled against them. As
for the new iron clads, we have reliable in.
formation that they cannot be ready before
the middle of January, at the earliest; their
fitness Tor the job for which they are
built will even then be doubtful; and their
seaworthiness worse than doubtful. Long
before they can be brought here, some very
material improvements in our defences, in
tended specially for their reception, will have
been finished; and, if they do not find our
own homemade iron clads pair of ugly
custgrrrs then the judgment of our best
and bravest navel officers is very much at
fault Every thing considered, we of Charles
ton consider our worst danger as past, and
d. Youtly hope that Mobile is equally for,
tunate.
c*&IA*
uSpeaking of French vessels, reminds !, Q
cfa'very graceful and sympathetic courtesy
lust extended to one Of our Generals by az
officer OIL, that nation. General Beauregard,
few days ago received letter from the
Commanderofa French steamer at New Or.
leans, offering n-the kindest manner the
protection Of his vessel for the Generals FAM
lily, who, it viii be remembered still reside
quietly in New Orleans. The letter OF tn,
French 0Conlnander, was forwarded by
Brute Butler, but it is not probable that he |
was aware of its contents. l have not heard |
what reply, If any, was returned by Genera
Bcaurrgard. ~ ~ In. a2., ''...........
Auction sales OF stocks, Of every imagina
blef-kind, but especially Of the eargoes
brought thther through the blockade, have
become the rage here. Yesterday the Steam
or Aries, (Which, by the way, made the run
direct from sSandeIlaGd, England, to this
port and to-day the damaged cargo of the
steamer Kate, now sunk below Wilmington,
We're SeFs under the hammer. An immense
copconts2e9f dealers and spectators, from
every portion of the South, attended the
sales, and the prices that ruled were the
most excruciating ever known here since the
Blockade began. During The auction yester-
day, Government agent bid fourteen dol |
lars and n half per gallon for linseed OIL
othsr bidders were ready tog 60 higher, but
the Confederate agent announced that the |
Government needed the oil, and would, in |
any event, seize it at the rate which he had
bid: This produced a 'scene.,' The owner
OF the goods grew indignant, and the auc-
tloneer dcfied the agent 10 make the threat |
ened seizure. SO matters stood for awhile, |
when one Of the aids of General Beauregard |
entered the room, and announced in the
name Of the General, that if the Goyernmet
failed to obtain any articles Of the cargo |
which 1t nccded, not a bale Of cotton would |
bealow2d to leave the port of Charleston in
the Alics. This threat had the desired Of !
feet, and the parties interested in the steam
err, at once arranged matters so that the Gov
ernmentscouid obtain every thing it desired. |
The business Of running the blockade, as
here, in swift steamers, is won
'delful gulcktmethodq of markings fortune
II $4,000 worth of cotton be sent out, il
wiz bring about $25,000in sterling. This,
;,uacously spent, will purchase a return
cargo that will yield hundreds Of thousands
Oh its arrival here. But TO succeed in null
lplying ones investments in this fashion,
capital, fast steamer a good pilot, cap.
tain with plenty OF, nerve, and cordial and
Intelligent cooperation OH the other side of
ths yatcr, are ip9ispensibly requisite. ..