Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-02-16
The News of the Week.

The News Of the Week.
We have very little war news to report
this week. Descrters from the Yankee army
about Newuern and Beaufort, report that
Gen Foster had left Beaufort with his IRON
clads and transport feet, With $4,000 or 40
ooo men and from what they could learn
before leaving the enerny's lines, they had
passed Wilmington and a portion had gone
into Port Roya, S. G. They think Charles
ton. Savannah and Mobile are to be attacked,
and think it wei that Wilmington should
be prepared for an attack also. They report
5000 or 5000 troops still about Newborn.
These deserters also report that Capt. Whit
ford CAUSED great excitement in Newbern on
the SOth ult, by attacking the 92d New
Yoh regiment at Barrington's Jerry, opposite
Newbern. He ran their pickets in, killed
three YANKEES and wounded five, without
INV loss to his men. The regiment took to
their heels and their gunboats. Another
regiment had been sent over to reinforce
them.
The northern papers have reports OF the
loss of the new Confederate steamer Florida.
They say she was wrecked off Cardenas and
o. rr.saav january ~, it was reported
in Havana that heavy firing had been heard
at MatanZas and Cardenas as ifcoming from
vessels of war e. gagged in a serious contest
at sea. 1t was also stated that the Florida,
or some other rebel vessel, had been chased
by several Union gunboats but with what
- ~ - 49, lnr~o1 A.
believed at Man'anzas that the firing and
chasing were connected with the same YES
sci. This rumor was strengthened by the
arrival of the Creole, from New York, on
the following day, which reported that she
had been spoken by the Union gunboat
Cayuga, which vessel reported that she had
observed a steamer on fire, supposed to b,
the Florida. and that three other vessels
were firing int her with great rspidity.-
The locality of this engagement was no
definitely stated but that it was in the vi
cinity. Of the Cages, off Cardenas and Ma
.anzas. ... .... .a
II it were so, we should probably hay
heard something from our side before this
Not having done so, we are inclined to dis
credit the northern reports. We should no
be SOrDTlSeu On lllO Oub al y ANo - III
Florida giving some Yankee craft fits befor
fore many days.
We fear though II ere is too much trutl
in the reports of the capture of several Con
rederate steamers around Vicksburg. !
special dispatch to tic Mobile papers, date
the 7th inst, says:
a. A government ordnance agent who escaped
renorts that the federal gpnboat Queen of tn
West. which passed Vicksburg Batteries
went up Red river, capturing steamer A. W
= TAYLOR. loaded with sugar and molasses hay
ing thirty Confederate officers on board
nine of whom escaped steamer Moore wit
s, 100 900 lbs. of pork for Port Hudson an
also steamer Berwick Bay, with 1000 bbls
-four and 100 bales of cotton. Queen of tn
West mounts Il rihed guns and carries
oils crew Of $50 picked men unoer Col. Elliot
She was struck twenty times, but being col
ton clad was little injured. She has return
ed to Vicksburg without her prizes, whic
were probably re-captured or destroyed.
On the 9th, Co. Martin of Morgan's bri,
.-Eade, with 100 men, attacked Reynolds yar
aakee division, killed and wounded a conside'
!. able number and burnt several wagons wit
provisions.
Z A dispatch from Port Hudson, ION til
mississippi, about 200 miles below Vicksburq
dated the 10th icst., says:
.ft..r Information has Just been received fror
the pickeus that a portion of Sibley's com
mand encountered the enemy at Indian vi
Lare to day, routing him after 3 severe f1gh
killed. wounded and missing.
Positive information from Baton Roug
- has been received that an Irish Brigade an
nero Regiment have been sent below. To
,al force Of the enemy there, $4,000. ID,
e,ters are continually arriving here.