The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-21
THE SITUATION.


THE SITUATION.
Our news from the Southwest indicates the ap-
proaoh of stirring events. The Union troops are
now in view of the city of Vicksburg, and the NOR
tar boats were towed down and ready for action
yesterday. A barge containing seven thousand
bushels of coal followed the example Of the ram
Queen of the West, and ran the blockade at vicks-
burg on Saturday night, passing harmlessy through
in the dark. The gunboat Conestoga destroyed b.
livar Landing, scattered village fifty miles above
Memphis. Tho river is rapidly overlooking its banks
on the Louisiana side to such an extent that the
little town of De Soto, opposite Yicksburg, is now
nearly under water, and it is thought that the
whole peninsula viii ere long be submerged The
Queen of the West has gone up Red river on the
hunt for rebel boats supposed to be lying there.
There is no news from the Army on the Kappa.
hammock to-day. Everything remains quiet in that
direction.
Our intelligence from New Orleans, by the
steamers General Mcclellan and George Crom.
well, which arrived yesterday, is very interesting.
Great fears are expressed Of o crevasse, which
would inundate the Crescent City and destroy
great amount Of lives and property. The Delta
newspaper had been suppressed by General
Banks but it was to be issued again by new
editors, under the name of the Era. Our cores
pondeucc, with the General Orders of the Com
mander-in- Chief of the Department, will be found
fun Of interest.
The news from Havana and Mexico, brought by
the steamship Eagle, which arrived here yester-
day, does not represent any improvement in the
condition of the French army in Mexico. On the
contrary, it that the invaders are suffering
severely from disease and the continual vigilance
of the irregular soldiers Of that republic. Our
Havana correspondent gives avery impartial re-
view of the facts; but from all that can be gather.
ed it seems that until General Forey receives
strong reinforcements he will not be able to storm
the Mexican intrenched works at Puebla. On the
occasion of the great fight at Tampico. already
reported in our columns, several vessels and r1ed
cannon fell into the hands of the Mexicans. Al.
monte had Issued a new proclamation. The news
from Havana is full of interest, containing, as it
does some Spanish comments on Southern indie.
pendence.
g. Our correspondent in the Bahamas, dating at
Nassau, N. p, on the 10th of February, informs
us that the law officer Of the British Crown had
prosecuted some local pilots for taking United
States gunboats over the banks of the Bahamas,
to three months imprisonment. The report Of the
loss Of the Oreto had reached Nassau from New
York and caused some sensation, as II was known
that that vessel had been lying snugy in port there
at the time It was said abe was destroyed by the
Union steamers. Captain Mafit, Of the Oreto.
had waited on the Governor at his official resi-
dence and obtained permission to remain of Mas.
ssu for twenty.four hours, during which time he
laid his ship alongside the English war steamers
Gslates and Barracuda The 0reto was thought to
be looking out for the American ship Eliza Bon
Abaco to take away United States troops lately
wrecked there. Her capture by the Oreto was
considered as very probable. It was reported a
few days ago in the Richmond papers that tho
"Annie" was sunk by the Florida, and the Rich.
mond Dispatch Of the 18th states that "the Flo.
rda has sent the Annie Bonsa, with troops for
New Orleans, to the bottom" Steamships from
England with cargoes destined for the use Of the
rebels continued 70 arrive at Nassau. The Brit
ish bark Severn, from Liverpool, with q contra
band cargo, was wrecked outside Of Hog Isant
on the goth Of January.
We have received our Richmond (va.) files Of the
lstn and nth instant. A despatch from Mobile
dated February -, asserts trinmphantly that "tht
statss a Indiana, Illinois and Ohio have deter
mined 20 stop the war and make peace with
the Confedo, ute States at all hazards.n One Of the
Richmond Jour-, ais states that the parties who thus
cry for peaco orc without the power 10 enforce H.
The Dispatch of the l7th has an editorial article
insisting that "the cor, scription lawn should be
Thoroughly executed thro. ghout every State, 80
that "thc coils Of the anacond. VIII 90 every WHre
broken" II asserts that this ia the most critical
me of the war" The steamer RI. "" reported
having recently run the blockade y TN Nassau
to the 10th instant,