The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-02-13
important Southern News

New York, Feb. 4.-The Herald pub
fishes the following dispatches
CHARLESTON, Feb General Beaure-
gard and Commodore Ingraham as COM
manders of the land and naval forces have
issued joint proclamation, dated Janu-
ary 31st, declaring the blockade of Charles
ton raised. The entire hostile squadron
having been sunk burned, or dispersed by
the superior naval force Of the cOnfeder-
ates.
Yesterday afternoon General Beaure-
gard placed steamer at the disposal OF
the foreign consuls, to see for themselves
that no blockade existed. The French and
Spanish Consuls, accompanied by General
Ripley, accepted the invitation. The Bri-
tish Consul, with the commander of the
British war steamer Petrol, had previously
gone five miles beyond the usual anchorage
of the blockaders, and could see nothing of
them with glasses.
Late in the afternoon four blOckaders re-
appeared, keeping far out. This evening
large number of blockaders are in sight,
but keep steam up, evidently ready to run.
LATEST DISPATCH.
OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION,
HEADQUARTERS LAND AND NAVAL FORCES,
CHARLESTON, s. c., Jan. 81.
At about five o'clock this morning the
Confederate steamers placed on this sta
tiOn, attacked the United States blockad-
ing fleet off the harbor of the city of
Charleston, and sunk, dispersed, or drove
off, and out of sight for the time, the entire
hostile fleet.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, COM
manders respectively of the Confederate
States naval and land forces in this quar-
ter, do hereby formally declare the block
ade by the United States of the said city
OF Charleston, S c., to be raised by a
superior force of the Confederate States,
from and after this the 1st of January,
1868.
(Signed) P. G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General Commanding.
D. N. INGRAHAM,
Flag-Officer Confederate Naval Force.
(OfficiaD THos. JoURNIGAN, Chief of Staff.
The results of the engagement yester-
day are, two vessels sunk, four set on fire,
and the remainder driven away. The
COnsuls held meeting last night, and
were unanimously of the opinion that the
blockade had been legally raised.
Twenty blockaders are off the bar.
FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 4.-Richmond
papers of the I'd, received, contain an ac-
count of the affair off Charleston, substan-
TALLY the same as published, with the fol-
loving:
RICHMOND, JAN 31.-The Secretary of
State notified the British and French Con-
suls of the city that he had official infor-
nation of the opening of the blockade off
Charleston
The editor of the Dispatch says, he
learns a steamer was dispatched from
Charleston, after raising the blockade to
Nassau to inform the British authorities
| there of the fact. 1t is understood that
| official notice being given of the opening
of the blockade, it cannot be renewed un-
til sixty days previous notice has been Civ
en- to neutral maritime governments.
The Richmond Dispatch of the Sd, says
the frigate Ironsides is lying off Charles
ton bar
The E'raminer of the Sd, has the fol-
lowing:
SAVANNAH, Feb. 1.-During the attack
at Fort McAllister this morning the flag
staff of an iron clad was shot away. She
was anchored 200 yards off the Fort, and
retired evidently injured as she did not re-
ply to the Forts shot.
Two gunboats came up to St. Mary s on
Monday last. One of the two went up
the river and set fire to the houses on sew
eral pretences. Capt Harrison's company
of cavalry fired on them, when they
hauled out OF range of the small army and
shelled away furiouly. Another boat
was landing at St. Mary's on Tuesday.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 5.-Strange to say, the
Richmond Eraminer of the Sd instant,
makes no sort OF reference to the great
rebel victory and raising of blockade, but
simply has this announcement "The new
lron-sides is off Charleston.