Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-20
THE SENTINEL.
SUMMARY OF WAR NEWS.


Gazette
FRIDAY, Feb 1.-The correspondent of the
New York Times, writing from Grants army,
opposite V:cksburg, is of opinion that some
time must elapse before letters from that point
will contain much Of interest. His descrip-
ton Of the situation in the region Of tie IA
nous "cut of, though graphic, is, by no
means, cheering or hopeful. The troops are
saturated with rain, and are knee-deep in
black, thick mud. The crevasse of last year
has left wide, unsightly rent in the levee -
and there is said to be great danger that the
river, " now rapidly rising will flow through
the gap, drown out our forces, and thereby
raise the blockade sooner and easier than It
could be done by a hundred thousand Confede-
rates. In addition to these troubles, the con-
trabands have proved to be much more of a
bindrance than help. " Where one is de-
tailed TO do nothing several others are sent to
help him." When ordered to do a little dig
ging on the canal, I" their looks of disgust
we are told, "were so profound that they
would move to pity a heart of stone" As for
the canal itself says the writer, " it seems very
likely to be pit which we have dug for our
enemy, and in which we are about to fall our
Selves The fear now is that the water If it
rises much more, +" will overflow the low banks
OF the canal and food the country upon which
all our forces are encamped." Clearly, If
these representations are true, there is not
much consolation to be derived from the pre-
sent condition of things before Vicksburg.
For the sake Of preventing any misunder-
standing in the matter, the Federal Govern
ment has consented to recognize the fact that
the blockade of Galveston was actually raised
by the Confederate Naval and Military forces
under General Magruder. A circular has been
sent by the Secretary of State to the repre-
sentatives Of Foreign Powers at Washington.
officially notifying them Of the resumption OF
the blockade. As no similar notification has
been given to the Foreign Legations in regard
to the blockade of the port of Charleston
which the Confederate authorities also claim
to have been raised, we presume that its vail
dity has been repudiated There are rumors,
moreover, that the bombardment Of Chlrles-
ton has already commenced; but we may well
doubt whether the enormous preparations ne
cessary for combined military and naval at
tack upon so strongly fortified place can, as
yet, have been completed
The Confederate steamer, Florida which
left Nassau on the 3lst ut., after coaling at
that port, was chased the following day, when
of the Bahamas, by the United States rum
boat Sonoma. The chase was continued for
thirty-sx hours, but the superior speed Of the
Florida enabled her to outstrip her pursuer.
Late advices from Port Royal state that the
Weehauken, iron-clad, has arrived .here with
a broken shaft, which will take some three
weeks to repair. General Foster was about to
return North for renforcements.
SATURDAY, Feb. l4.-The Port ROYAL cor
respondent Of the New York World announces
that General Foster expedition is at % a stand
still !" that the troops have taken up their
quarters at st, Helena Island, and that many
days must elapse" before anything can now
Inv
ments were originally shrouded in so much
mystery. General Foster presence in Wash
ington is not for the purpose of obtaining re-
Inducements, as previously stated, but arises
from the fact that serious disagreement has
occurred between himself and General Hunter.
which can only be adjusted by the interview
tion OF the War Department
MONDAY, Feb. l6.-The only information
vouchsafed US with respect to the Army Of
the Potomac, is that Major General Hooker
visited, on Saturday last, the headquarters of
General Sigel, and that, on the same day, the
Phillips House, the headquarters OF General
Stoneman, was destroyed by fire.
The latest telegram received from the Army
Of the Potomac mysteriously announces that
the Contederates are throwing up breastworks
and rihe-pts north of fredericksburg. As the
latter city is situated Immediately on the banks
Of the Rappahannock, are we TO understand
that the Confederates have actually crossed
that stream and are terrifying new positi IN
at some point between fredericksburg and
Washington II certainly looks like Il. If
such be the case, it must be evident that the
whole Of the army Of the Potomac las be n
Withdrawn from Falmouth, and that what re-
mains of it--since the embarkation of so large
portion Of the troops for the South-is once
more disposed at varions points between the
Rappahannock and Alexandria, with view TO
the protection of the Federal Capital The
work Of consolidating the fragments is still
going on.
From Kingston, the steamer Talsman brings
intelligence that the Alabama was riddled'i
in her encounter with the Hatteras; but not
withstanding the numerous perforations thus
indicated, the damage done to her must have
been OF the most trifiing character, as the re-
pairs were speedily completed, and she is now
again upon the high seas. Whilst at Kings
ton, Captain Semmes was honore1 with a re-
ception at the Commercial Exchange, and was
Justify cheered; but portion of his crew had
been taken before a magistrate on a charge Of
creating disturbance in drinking saloon
TUESDAY, Feb. l7.-Matters do not move
pleasantly at Hilton Head The inevitable ne
gro in uniform, wherever he is brought into
contact with the white soldier, creates serious
disaiiection in the ranks. At Baton Rouge. re-
Gently, number Of officers are said TO have
resigned, and, Of course, their men were moro
or less demoralized in Consequence. AtHilton
Head, one entire New York regiment Les En-
fans Perdus) has shown SO dis1rderly a shirt
owing to the dislike Of the men to Gen. Hun
ter and his negro regiments, that il was sun
posed the whole Of the malcontents would be
placed under arrest for characterization
The Confederate war steamer Alabama has
again been heard from. She put into Port
Royal, Jamaica, on the Goth ult. for the pur-
pose Of landing her prisoners tone hundre ed
and sxty-fve in number) from the Federal
gunboat Hatteras, and also to repair damages
Several shipwrights and caulkers were imme-
diately sent from Kingston, and the work was
pushed so rapidly to completion that she was
able to put TO sea again on the night of the
25th.
The number Of merchant vessels captured by
the Confederate steamer Florida since her es-
cape from Mobile is now reported to be ten
A story reaches us by way Of New Orleans.
that the Florida, after ooaling at Havana on
the goth ult., was pursued by the San Jacinto
and other Federal vessels Of war, and was a.
nally compelled TO take refuge in the port Of
Kingston, Jamaica, where she was said 10 be
lying at the last accounts Such is the state.
ment published in the New Orleans pieg,,,,ns