The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-21


New York, Saturday, March n. Is63.
THE SITUATION.
Nothing of Importance occurred in the army Of
tie Rappahannock yesterday. heavy snow
s,orm was falling during the day and previous
night, and the weather was very cold.
By an arrival from Hilton Head we have An &C.
count Of the exploits of the Black Brigade In Flo.
rida, BY which they have obtained possession of
many important points and large quantity of
munitions and supplies. Large achievements,
supposed to be Burnside's army corps, were ex-
,pected at Hilton Head.
that some Of our gunboats had passed Fort Sum-
ter on Monday and Tuesday, and that Charleston
was being bombsrded. We need hardly say that
this report is without confirmation, Is We have
saying that all was quiet in that vicinity; do
our reports from Hilton Head Of the Same date
make any mention Of . fight going on near
Charleston.
We have some very interesting news from the
Southwest to-day. The Union forces made . bril-
liant dash into Northern Alabama, in company
with . number Of gunboats, reaching as far a.
Tuscumbia, on the 22d ult. The advance drove
the rebel cavalry from the town into the noun
taias, aud occupied the place. Advancing farther
into the interior our troops, who were commanded
By Colonel Corwin, carried away considerable
plumber. This account of ths raid comes from a
rebel source--ths Confsderacy, published in At
1anta, Ga.
The only news from vicksburg is to the effect
y the cutoff il likely to prove . success, and
our troops are improving in health. The
ments of transports and gunbosts up the
J. 10 Pass continue very active.
.irge bodies ofrebel troops are said to be concen-
trsting at Knoxville and that a number of them
amounting to four hundred, crossed the Cumbcr
land at Rowens, KY, on Wednesday, which
were supposed to be the advance guard of large
army en- route for the invasion Of Kentucky, which
has been anticipated for some time.
despatch from Murfrecsboro, Tenn, dated
yesterday, says that Colonel Halls brigade Of
General Reynolds division was attacked near
Milton by large force Of rebel cavalry. Colonel
Hall sent word he could hold his own until re-
Inducements could arrive. Colonel Wilder went
to his aid with mounted infantry force. At
last reports quite . heavy engagement was
going on.
The enemy, under Van Dorm, are evidently de.
termined to harass our troops in the vicinity Of
Franklin, Tenn. large force Of their cavalry
reorosscd Duck river and advanced towards that
place on Thursday, but were driven back by Cello.
mel Walkers cavalry brigade. The bridge at
Columbia has been rebuilt, and Gene al Van Dorm
is said to have been largely reinforced. Cavalry
skirmishes occur constantly.
The extracts which we give to-day from the
Southern journals are unusually interesting. They
comprise an official report Of the recent raid Of
rebel cavalry Fairfax Court House and the
commentator Of the officers in command. The
defences of Charleston are described by the Mo-
bile Register as absolutely impregnablc. 1t says
that no floating thing can breast unharmed
the batteries Of Sumter, Moultrie and Bate
ry Bee that the attack will be q fearful
shock Of tremendous forces, and will test
the quality Of ships and iron-cads against power.
ful batteries more conclusvely than has ever been
done before. The fight with the Chillicothc, on
the Tallahatchie, opposite Fort Pemberton, is
infinitely described by the Richmond Enqui,e,'.
With regard TO the late attack on Port Hudson
aud the firing heard at s.. Helena on the 18Th
rst., the Jackson Nississippidn Of that date con.
irms the theory suggested by US yesterday by
siating that General Banks movements against
Fort Hudson had CONNIE need; that General Welt.
was Supposed to be about making a diversion
the rear Of his position, and that the attack
vonld probably be made by our combined land
aad naval forces.
The l,i'hmond Examiner Of the 10Th Ia. an ar
tclc which is evidently intended 10 prepare the
rablic mind Of The South for serious reverscs 10
the Confederate arms on the line Of Inc Rama.
hammock. II says that he active oprra,ions
81 The army und,r Hooker are nov cam.
mrncod, and either decisive battle mr. no
retreat of General Lee must be the speedy copsc.
queace The later coulingen cy IL possible hut
no, pl,i,s6e. and another heavy struggle over III,