Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-09
LATER NEWS FROM EUROPE,
The American Question in
Liverpool.
Particulars of the Charleston Affair
THE PORT STILL UNDER BLOCKADE.


most Of them have been sent 10 the Blackwster
or Vicksburg. The only force left behind is
about $4,000, an ample number to prevent the
passage OF the Rappahannock at this season.
From deserters and other sources il has been
ascertained that the railroad communications of
the Rebels are perfect. In seventy two hours the
entire army of the enemy can be transported from
any point in the South to Fredericksburg, 80 they
can we'll afford to spare the great body OF their
army from our front
During the past week the President has deter
mined upon calling Gen. Mcclellan TO the COM
mand of the army again. Upon the announce
nent being made in a Cabinet council there was
great haring up Secretary Chase ut OLce
threatened to resign. did also the rest of the
radical members For this and other reasons the
President determined to make no change for the
present. Within two weeks, however. there Is
scarcely a doubt that tho command of the army
will be rendered to Gen. Mcclellan. Tho ap-
pointment of Gen. Hooker to the command Is
merely temporary. liz was made against the
judgment OF the President and even the Secre-
tary of War. His solderly qualifications are not
doubted, but his ability TO handle such an i'm
mense body is seriously questioned by his friends.
Nothing of importance Is expected from Icks-
burgh for at least thirty days. Ii will take that
time TO complete the canal and to- bring our forces
effectively to bear against the Rebel stronghold.
1t may be that circumstances may precipItate "A
require month at least to capture the place.
The prize steamer Princess Royal arrived at
the navy yard to day from off Charleston. She
brings partial confirmation of the attack on our
blockadiDg fleet at Charleston. The Keystone
State had twenty three killed. and the Mencedlla
tour. Our vessels were all driven off. but none
were sunk.
There is no foundation for the assumption OF
the Rebels that the blockade of Charleston was
hy a a lapa ttre of la hlnf kadip i'm
fleet. only two vessels out of the eight or ten
having been disabled or obliged TO leave.
Ii Appeals from the statement of an intelligent
eye witness that The cause OF the attack OF the
Rebel rams squadron owing to the
capture OF the Princess Royal the Captain aud
pilot OF that vessel having escaped ashore during
the darkness oi the night and communicated the
intelligence To- the Rebels
The priucess Royal endeayored TO run the
blockade by way of Beach Inlet on the 29;b but
was discovered 10y the pilot boat Blunt. On sig
III being given the Unadilla proceeded toward
aud captured her without other assistance Ii
was then Discovered that the iptau and pilot had
succeeded IA getting ashore by snail boat ear
rying important dispatches to the Rebel govern.
meut
At daylight the thunder % guns was heard ac.
comparled 10y sharp flashes OF lire. and il was
supposed that our fleet was making an attack. or
the Alabama or Florida were eudeavorng TO iorce
an entrance.
At da,break two Rebel ironcads were seen
coming down from the direction OF Stone lnlet,
t)wa d our fleet
They attacked the Mencedita first One ram
.....i l. -. -. H. 80. ,ida keelin, her over
and NJ the same time bring shct, which entered
one of her boilers. causing the death Of three
persons including gunner 10y shot aud steam.
The ram then hnlcd the Mcnccdta aud Captain
S'ellwagcn then lowered one OF his small boats
after leaving one of the plugs out allowing the
water to eutei IT, The ram answered our hail by
Confederate ram Palmetto State. Do YOU sur
reuderG" This was repeated three times, Capt
Slcllwarcn replying ~ each inquiry. 81 am Ia n
sinking condition The Rebels answered. God
damn yen To hell II YOU don't surrender Nc will
blow you out OF the wulcr Send n boat ab0atd y
The boat which Capt Steclwagcn lowered thon
conveyed his executive officer 60 the Rebel ram
aud the officer asked 10 be admitted on boafd
This was refused The Lieutenant then re
peatcd Capt Steelwagen's statement that We
were Ia sinking condition The Rebel replied
"You can't sink lower than the rails. We can
not take YOU aboard"
The officer then gave his parol. rs demanded
aud returned "a his ship.
The Rebels were thus successfully deceived ~
20 the condition OF the Mercodita, thinking sh,
was In sinking condition. She laid In shoa
water, aud hence the reply that she could not
sink below her rails.
The ram stcercd toward the Keystone Stat,
and sent shot through her steam.drum, causing
tho death Of twenty .ouc persons on the spot. mia,
were aided by steam, and fifteen wounded
The wounded are living at Port Royal. some IN
precnrlous condition
Ia the meanlme the gunboat Housatonc en-
gagged the other ram, driving her away At n.
Ia the morning both rams left Il scene and pro
cceied up Ia Charleston During this attack ot
a A Al a -
Huusatouc and was the principal object OF prize
on both sides, succeeded In getting of, mainl,
through the energy of Third Assistant Enginee
Thurrton. who piled into her fires nli the Ia
tammnble material M hand Her escape i
chief, owing TO his endcayors. "a is also her sal
arrival az this port.
The Mencidn steamed down TO Por, Royal
escaping with only one of her boilers injured
She arrived safely ut Port Royal. and will b
repaired IN u day. The keystone State was en-
tirely disabled. aud was lowed 10 Port Royal b.
the Memoirs
The rebel statements TINT the Federal fleet ha
entirely disappeared from the port OF Charleston
are entirely unsustained hy The facts. Durin
the day time. our blockading fleet are not par
ticulat rs 10 keeping 10 tie station, and on Oh
day of this assault, most OF the vessels sailed "a
ward the Keystone State 10 ascertain her condi
ton. and whether she wanted any assistance.
This may occouut for their apparent absenc'
NJ the time of the visit of the foreign Consuls. q
mentioned by the rebel papers. Our vessels, a
usual. resumed their positions at dark. The nc'
lronsdes arrived the next day 10 reinforce I'll
blockade. Information - also brought by III
Princess Royal OF the attack by the iron ella
Montauk on Fort McAilister on the 2-th ult.
The M0ntauk was not az all disabled Sh
received IL shots In her sides aud ~ on her tul
ret without receiving any injury whatever. a.
though engaged five hours. She returned to he
anchorage for want OF shells IL being fogg
next morning she did not return TO the attack.
NV YoRK, Feb s-The steamer Honsa fror
Bremen vi the 18th and Southampton on Oh
22d. arrived here this morning. She has exps
renced very heavy weather the entire passage
She lost all her quarter boats and nearly all he
sails. She had her wheel house stove in and
/ badly damaged abouethe deck.
An important meeting held at the Clareu
| don, Liverpool, on Saturday, 20 take steps e
eliciting the opinion Of the people OF that pac
in reference 10 the American war aud SLAYER,
Mr. j. Chopper presided. A resolution va
moved to the effect that the emancipation polio
of the Federal Government was entitled 20 III
generous sympathy aud support of free Englsl
men, and that committee should be formed {
bring the subject before the people of Lverpoo
The resolution was supported by Mr.. RobaTt-oI
Gladstone. {. Wilson and pther influential met
II was opposed: by- Mr. Spence, who has const
tuted himself the champion Of the South. II
sought to resusctate the argument that SLAYER
could he supported on scriptdksl grounds. but Oh
meeting refused 10 hex chin. Eventually th