, 1863-02-19

remainder driven away. The foreign consuIs held
meeting last night, and were unanimously Of
opinion that the blockade had been legally raised.
Twenty blockaders are off the bar to-day.
CAIRO, Feb. 4th.
Advices from the Federal camp opposite Vicks-
burg represent our troops concentrating there in
large numbers. The whole peninsula Is in pos.
session Of the Federals
II is said that our defense at Fort Donelson
was most brilliant The rebels are said to have
been three or four thousand strong One battery
Of four guns was taken by the rebels by an over
whelming charge, but our troops rallied and re-
took It. The enemy loss is reported at 1856 killed
and so wounded and taken prisoners. Gen. Forrest
was wounded aud the rebel Col Mcneil killed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9Th.
p. II. Watson has been confirmed Assistant
Secretary Of War
The Navy Department has ordered the follow.
ing iron.clads to be prepared for sea and sent
South at once, to wit; the ReOkuk, Naugatuek,
CdtskiH, and SdgdmOTe. II is believed here that
they will be ready in four days The Department
has received information that the PatapScO left
Fortress Monroe to join our mailed vessels south.
Thus all the Ericsson batteries may be expected
to be engaged In fight within two weeks.
FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 4th.
Richmond papers Of the I'd and Sd give &c.
counts Of the affair off Charleston substantially
the same as already telegraphed, with the follow
ing in addition: The Secretary Of State notified
the British and French cOnsuls that official iniOr-
nation had been received Of the opinion that the
blockade had been raised.
The editor Of the Dispatch says: We learn that
q steamer was dispatched from Charleston, after
raising the blockade, 10 Nassau, to inform the
British authorities there Of the fact It is under.
stood that an official notice being given of the
Al. l.. "a l. -
until sixty days previous notice have been given
TO neutral maritime powers.
Headquarters Army Of the Potomac, Feb. 9th.
Indications are that the enemy isvery much weak
ened; his force opposite here relying on the i'm
possibility Of any movement under existing cir
cumstances But few pickets or fires are seen
to-day. A heavy snow storm has commenced
changing TO rain.
CAiRo, Feb. 9Th.
The health Of the troops at Vicksburg is i'm.
proving very satisfactorily. Our forces are now
engaged In repairing the crevasse Of last tall, in
order to keep the water out of the camp. The
water in the old canal Is six feet deep.
| A staff officer who arrived this evening says
the rebel force at Vicksburg does not exceed
$4,000, aud thinks this number is all they can
bring to its defense.
| A dispatch from Fort Donelson to night says
that the Federal force there, TOO strong, with one
battery, were attacked at o'clock on the Sd, and
the fight lasted until o'clock 10 the evening,
when the rebels retired southwark in great dis
order. The enemy's loss was 200 killed and 500
wounded Our loss was l2 killed and Al wounded
and missing.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 9th.
Ine house eoncnrred IN the Senates amend
ment to the PoSt.Othce Appropriation billi au.
thorlEIng the Postmaster General TO contract for
carrying the mails by steamships from San Fran
c'sco W OEesOn P0E's ior NOT eAceeu'ng Sz4'OOV'
NEW foRK. Febs T.
The New Orleans DsttG q the 2eth uit says
that accounts from the rebel army at Port hud-
son and elsewhere SHOW most dePlora6le state
S' S a".n .s',.; iOus ue Sne u Len on,J "II"s Hep'
H.. .'S" - P.OS P..~;.,.;P :, PS4Ss. Pss" ~ tI'Iy
ny. III S; s"y =. w." olnes's "Au "ee"
'"Os """e S"Oe~'O"'s =" tS'S' t"e"
| NEW YORK, Feb. z.
Ine 1nOHnes washington special dispatch
says there were Two circles OF oIockading ships
~ ,.,uns S"o,, E"e. VS.sr one ~ useP
" mssc. Ss,v" ~, .ss Ne S"n oI ~ Wv otTer
,. O"s woo W. ~ .,";n az. .h :" sS snS IVY -
"nt a., ~ III, =, ~. ' ,s.,. ~ TL non S'aus
.I"',.."I e." -, ~ o',,I s~ .,. "S !. ~
S",uJ u" W s Sep IA so, "o'e. m oeSonu anS ~.
T S sas ,n S'u III ~ "SSI ~ snAoe 'ne
's'O"u eNu Ou''' ""e VI '~i "'oe~~u
CAIRO Feb.T.
| uckSoorg IeuteIs OF tne zist say the canal
prc)ect nas oeen iI'ly ADOPTED. ana the largest
possible iorce WI oe kept at work On night
ana Gay nll y completed. u must oe wholly
cut 70 the required deptn ana wldth, u having
been demonstrated that no reliance can be placed
On the actlon o. tne w water ~ wsSnlng tout r oome