The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-19
THE SITUATION.


Our latest dates from Charleston are to the 18th
inst, and came by the Arago yesterday. Gen.
Gilmore has removed his headquarters to Hilton
Head until the spring. No firing on Fort Sumter
has taken place since our last accounts. The
rebels continue to fortfy the ruins as best they
can. The Smelling of the city continues slowly
and irregularly 1t is said that the rebel rams are
preparing for a raid upon our feet in the harbor.
A nsval expedition up Morrell's Inlet destroyed
rebel schooner lying there, loaded with cotton,
rosin and turpentine, and drove off the enemy's
cavalry from their lurking places on shore. A
skirmish occurred near St. Augustine Fla, be-
tween small guard of our force-the Tenth Con-
necticut and the Twenty fourth Massachusetts,
and Dickenson's rebel cavalry. The guard was
protecting body of men employed in cutting wood
for the garrison; but they were surprised and
worsted Lieut. Walker. the commandment, being
killed. together with twenty one'of the Connecticut
regiment and four of the Massachusetts,.
Our news from the South to-day is very full and
interesting, spd includes very copious extracts
from the rebel journals up to the 18th instant.
The approaching spring campaign is looked for
with solicitude, and the people are urged to make
the most vigorous battle Of which they are capa-
Bile. as everything is at stake and "a giant danger
presses"
large party Of Union troops, cavalry and in.
fantry, under General Marson, lately made a raid
from Point Lookout into westmoreland, Northum.
berland and Richmond counties, Virginia, destroy
ing large quantities Of grain, pork aud bacon,
some tanneries. with all their hides and other
stock; burning bridge at Farnham's creek, and
taking twenty-five prisoners and a number Of
horses, mules, cattle and sheep. The fotilla
rendered them much assistance at some points
EUROPEAN NEWS.
The steamship Columbia arrived at st. Johns
on Sunday evening, with two days later news
from Europe. She left Galway on the 9Th instant
and sailed for Boston on SUNDAY. at four o'clock.
The London journals say little about American
affairs. The Times publishes letter from its
cession correspondent at Liverpool, admitting the
progress which the North has made, but prophesy.
ing greater difficulties in the future campaigns and
the fnal collapse Of its financial policy.
It is again confidently asserted the Archduke
Macmillan has positively accepted the throne Of
Mexico, that the understanding between him and
Napoleon was perfect and that capitalists are ready
to back him to any amount. II is said that he will
soon visit Paris, and will start for Mexico in
March, with strong reinforcements Of French
troops. The London Ne,cs says that Gen. Forey
obtained promise from the United States gov.
eminent not TO dispute the Mexican monarchy,
and that France has made promises in return rela-
tive to the confederacy.
The rebel steamer Florida had completed her
repairs at Brest, and anchored about two hundred
yards from the Kearsarge. She wouldsail in
February. A French vessel will accompany each,
at an interval of twenty-four hours.
The Holstein question continues TO be very ex.
citing. The Danish government has called out
fourteen thousand veteran troops, and the King in
9 recent proclamation says that the motto OF
Honor 70 the Country shall be upheld
by force Of arms IL necessary at any sacrifice.
Meantime the Danish troops had evacuated Hol.
stein, including the ak villages north Of the Elder,
which'are geographically part Of schleswig, but
had been Incorporated with Holnstein.
The London Times says that peace can hardly
be said 70 be unbroken even now
The Austrian proposal to the Federal Diet that
the Prince Of Augustenburg be Immediately sum.
moned 10 leave the Duchies. was rejected BY vote
OF nine TO seven.
-nis the general belief In Copenhagen that the
French and English taeet viii soon appear in the
Danish waters. Large reinforcements viii be sen,
20 the island Of Funen.
The address Y Napoleon yss INTRODUCED In tn,
Corps Legislstlf on the 4tb. Il expresses thu
hope that beneficial results may speedily be de-
rived by France from the Chinese and the Mexican
expeditions. II is very pacific in tone towards
Rasia aud Poland and loudly extols tue Emps,
IOT's sC hcme for a congress