, 1863-02-28


< be enlisted to receive the same ratons clothing
@and equipments as volunteers, and monthly pa,
snot to exceed that of volunteers to be oficereC
&by white or black persons appointed and com
Eymissioned by the President, and to be governed
&by the rules of the Articles of War, and snct
Eother rules and regulations may be prescribed
Mby the Presidents Provided that nothing con
tained in the rules of the Articles of War shal
sbe so construed as to authorize or permit any Off
EScer of African descent to be appointed to a rank
ssor exercise military or naval authority over white
a3cficers soldiers or men, in the military or nava
Sservice of the United States nor shall they have
Eany greater pay than $40 per month, with THEN
Musual allotment of clothing. Rations are to be
I#aOwed or paid to private and laborers of African
szdescent, who are or may be in the military oi
E1naval service of the United States: Provided
3futher, that slaves of loyal citizens, in States ex
iEempt by the Prsident's Proclamation Of January
EElst, 1868, shall not be received into the armed
ssservice Of the United States nor shall there be
k.recruting offices opened in the Saes of Della
Mware, Maryland, Western Virginia, Kentucky OF
ssTennessee, without the consent of the Governors
EAof the said States having been first obtained.
III The Postoffice Appropriation bill passed the
MSenate. ... r. '....
81 New York, Feb. 3.-The steamer Ocean Queen
E$brings South American mails and Valparaiso
ESdates to the I'd and Calao to the 18th ult.
"a Adylces from New leland represent that the
f#gold discoveries exceed in extent and richness
Eshose of Australia irt3n-1Ia mla la
"a The British steamer St, Thomas, at Aspinwall
Esreported that the prvateer retrbuton had burned
Sstour American vessels near st. Thomas.
"a Advices from New Orleans to the 9th ult..
& &tates that the last transports OF the Banks expe-
Edition left for up the river on the 26th Gen.
Banks went up on the 24th, and only sufficient
ASroops are left to defend New Orleans with four
@sor five gunboas. It is inferred that the destna-
.Aton Of the expedition is Port Hudson.
The bark Restless, from Port Royal, reports
sHthat she passed on the 3 LIST portion of Fosters
isexpediton from Beaufort for Port Royal, s. c.,
I3consistng of six steamers.
IA From late rebel Charleston newspapers, Of the
ffaa2Sth of January we learn that another British
Nsteamer successfully ran the blockade the previous
ssnight nto Confederate port.
~ Albany, Feb. 3.-Edwin ID. Morgan, ex-Gov-
fsaernor, was elected U. S. Senator to-day.
s. Chicago, Feb ga special Washington dis
spatch, received tonight says that the House Sc
Elect Committee on the Pacific Railroad made a
severe report against the Atlantic and Pacific Tel
8Segraph Company, declaring that they charge
Iaimuch greater rates to California than the law al
q lows, and that they overcharged the Government
Mas high as 500 per day, to say nothing of over
0o " uL lllt lIAHt anu " Cnbs
H4lhe Committee are convinced that the stock of
Eslhis line realizes as high as Is per cent per an
5Hnum on the actual cost of the line. They report
s9a bill forbiddng the Secretary of the Treasury
!4paylng the Company any subsidies and which
4cuts down the rate5 Of charges one third.
"a Washington, Feb. 3.-Mr. McDougall address
3ed the Senate at length on the conduct of France
I5wth regard TO Mexico contendng that it was a
5violalion Of all international laws, treaties and
sAassurances made to this country. He declared
sthat the ulGmatum offered to Mexico by France
4 twas disgrace to any civilized naticn. He de-
scared that if any Government was unfriendly to
Gus, France was. Lower California, he said was
I-inot very loyal, and many disoyal persons had
sagone to Sonora; and to-day very few arms and
sbut little ammunition were left in California and
4 France might seize hold ofthat State at any time
sswthin thirty days He thought that the Gov
'ernment was bound to pay some attention TO this.
Ea There was no reason why we should be afraid Of
1 conflict with France, or with Spain and Eng
Gland combined with US in a common cause against
5Sthe common enemy.
Il Dates to Feb. 4th.
N New York, Feb 4-The following is from the
s5Richmond Dispatch: Charleston, Jan. 81
1The iron-clad gunboats Chicora and Palmetto
Estate, with three steamers as tenders, went out
.lbeyond the bar this morning to attack the block
asand for time was very rapid. 1t afterwards
.asackened but continued at intervals until this
#eyening. Owing to fog the result is not yet
& ssascertained. Commodore lngraham is on board
%sthe Palmetto State and commander of the ezpe-
edition.
81 This morning the gunboats Palmetto State and
Chcora, accompanied by three small steamers
sundei commodore Ingraham, made an attack on
Lfshe boekaders and succeeded in sinking two YES
S,sels and crippling third. The engagement
scommelced at 4 o'clock The Palmetto State,
sswitf Commodore Ingraham on board, opened ire
S5upon the Federal gunboat Mercedita, carrying
s5sguns and l58 men, which was soon sunk in five
"a ssathoms water Her commander, Capt. Stelwagon
/. with boats crew came on board and surrender
faed One shot pierced her boiler, going clear
Through. Capt. Tucker, of the ChcGra, reports
" Sinking another Federal gunboat and disabling
s he steamship Quaker City. The latter was set on
sgire by the Chicora and hauled down her flag and
sssurrendered, but afterwards managed to escape
\ with one wheel. She was very seriously dam
tagged The number Of the blockading squadron
outside at the time of the attack was 10, with
sawo firSt.class frigates-the Susquehanna and the
ECanandaigua. The Federal loss was very severe.
Is3 Ii was complete success on our part with not
Z ga man hurt. n Our gunboats we're not even
Asstruck T!1 All the blockaders have disappeared
#here is not one to be seen within five miles, with
the strongest kind of glasses Our boats are now
sreurning to Charleston.
Oar gInboats Palmetto State and Chicora were
enthusiastically cheered by an immense concourse
aof citizens assembled to greet them. Saluies
Il gwere fired from the forts batteries. Not a man
was hunt on our side. Our attack on the fleet
s was complete surprise to the blockaders, each
h3one of them running away without caring for the
kothers. il is supposed that nearly all the crew Of
EEthe Mercedita pershed The Palmetto State, which
#engaged the Mecedita, having no boatsand fight
ng at the time could render her assistance. The
AQuaker City was struck twice on her side, and
81 her wheels were almost torn off,
"a The following is an official proclamation:
sHEADoUARTERs GRAND NAVAL FORCES,
~ Charleston, S. c.
IA Jan. 31.-About o'clock this morning, the
EConfederate States naval forces at this station at
kltacked the United States blockading feet off the
harbor of the city of Charleston, and sunk, dis
persed and drove off out of sight, for time, the
sSentre hostile feet. Therefore, we, the under
s.signed Commanders, respectively, Of the Confed
9erate States naval and land forces in this ear
Ester, do hereby formally declare the blockade by
E3the United States of the said city Of Charleston
Is c.. to be raised by superior force of The Con.
e5federate States, from and after the 3lst day o.
sJanuary, 1868.
H 6. T. BEAUREGARD, Gen. Commanding.
Ez d. n. INGRAHAM, Flag Officer,
"a Commanding Naval Forces.
n Oficial-To Thomas Jordan, Chief of staff.
"a The results Of the naval engagement yester
sday, are two vessels sunk, four set on tire, anC
Z 5the remainder driven away. The Foreign Con
E1suls here held meeting last night, and were
unanimously of opinion that the blockade had
been legally raised Twenty blockaders are of
Y the bar to-day.