Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-10
TEL EG RAPHIC


or Vicksburg, and the only force left be
hind being about $4,000 men, an ample
number to prevent the passage Of our
forces across the Rappahannock at the
present season.
From deserters and other sources il has
been asccrtained that the rebel commu-
nications arc perfect ; that IN ~ hours
the entire army OF the enemy can be sup
ported from any point in the Sonth TO
Fredericksburg, SO they can we'll afford
10 spare the great body Of their army
from on front.
The President las determined upon
calling Mcclellan TO the command Of the
army again. Upon the announcement
being made III a Cabinet council there
wss great furry. Secretary Chase at
once threatened to resign, as did also the
rest Of the radical members. For this
and other reasons tho President deferred
to make ass change for the present
Within two weeks, however, there is
scarcely doubt that command OF the ar
my will lie rendered to Mcclellan. The
appointment Of Gen. Hooker to the com
manl i. merely temporarily II was
made against the Judgment OF the Presi-
dent. lie, and even the Secretary OF
War, say his soIdierly qualities are not
doubted.
Nothing OF Importance Is expected
from Nichsburg for at least 80 days. 1t
will take that time to complete the can
al and to bring our forces TO eiiectnally to
bear against th0 rebel stronghold. II
may be that circumstances may precipi-
tate battle, but the impression Is that
il vii require month at least to capture
tho Place.
The ron steamer l'rinccss ROYAL, in
charge Of the acting master, arra "a OF
the navy yard to-day. She brings highly
important intelligence, both as relates TO
her capture and the rebel attack on our
blockading fleet at Charleston, showing
conclusiselv that there is no foundation
for the assertion OF the rebels that the
blockade of Charleston was cIcr raised
l., the departure If the blockading fleet,
ouly two vessels OF the eight having been
disabled, or Obliged to leave. 1t appears
from the statement Of an intelligent eve
witness. that the cause ofthc attack OF the
rebel rams OH our squadron was owing
to the caution Of the Princess ROYAL. the
captain and pilot OF that vessel having
escaped ashore during the darkness ofthc
night, and communicated the intoli-
/ genee 10 the rebels
/ TIE Princess Royal enlcavorcd to run
\ the blockade by way Of Beach until the
+ 10Th, but was discovered bv the pilot
boat Blunt On signal being given the
! Unadilla FASTENED toward and captured
! her without other assistance. II was then
discovered that the captain and pilot had
succeeded in getting ashore 10y small
boat, carrying important dispatches 10
the rebel government.
At daylight thunder Of three guns
was heard, accompanied by sharp tlashe s
of fire. 1t WIS supposed that our fleet
was engaged in making an attack on the
Alabama or Florida, who were endcayor-
ing TO force an entrance.
At daybreak two iron-ciads were seen
coming down rom the direction Of Stone
Inlet towards our fleet. They attacked
the Mercidata first. onc ram struck her
on the water ridge, keeling her over, and
at the same time firing a shot which en-
tered one of her boilers, causing leak
and the death Of three persons, including
n gunner. The ram then hailed the Mcr
cidata, and Capt. Stettwagcn lowered one
of his small boats. The ram answered
our hail by the Confederate ram Palmet-
to Statc-"Do YOU surrender r. This
was repeated thee times, Capt. Stett-
wagon replying at each inquiry, II am
in q sinking condition. The rebels an
sworcd, "God damn You to he'll il you
don't surrender we will blow You out OF
the water; send your boat aboard" The
boat which Capt Stettwagen lowered
then conveyed his executive officer TO the
rebel ram, and the officer asked to be adj
mttcd on board This was refused The
Lieut.. then repeated Capt. Stettwageu's
statement, that We were in a sinking CON
dition. The rebels replied. "lou can't
sink lower than the rails; we can't take
Won on board The officer then gave
his parole, as demanded, and returned to
bis ship.
The rebels were thus successfully de-
cciyed as to the condition Of the Mercl-
data, thinking she was in sinking con.
ditiiion. She Law in shoal water, and
hence the reply that she could not sink
below her rails.
The ram started towards the Key
stone State, and sent a shot through her
steam drum, causing the death OF 2 per.
sons. II by the shot, and nine by scald
ing by steam. Fifteen were wounded,
and are al Port Royal, some in preca-
rious condition.
In the meantime the gunboat Housa.
tonic engaged the other ram, driving her
away.
Al half past six in the morhing both
rams left the scene and passed up to
Cnarlaefnp