FEBRUARY 13th.—Bright, beautiful weather, with frosty nights.
The dispatches I cut from the papers to-day are interesting. Gen. Wise, it appears, has met the enemy at last, and gained a brilliant success—and so has Gen. Finnegan. But the correspondence between the President and Gen. Johnston, last spring and summer, indicates constant dissensions between the Executive and the generals. And the President is under the necessity of defending Northern born generals, while Southern born ones are without trusts, etc.
INTERESTING FROM FLORIDA.
OFFICIAL DISPATCH.
“CHARLESTON, February 11th, 1864.
“To GEN. S. COOPER.
“Gen Finnegan has repulsed the enemy’s force at LakeCity–details not known.
“(Signed)…………………………………………………………………..G. T. BEAUREGARD.”
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SECOND DISPATCH.
“CHARLESTON, February 11th–11 A.M.
“To GEN. S. COOPER.
“Gen. Finnegan’s success yesterday was very creditable—the enemy’s force being much superior to his own. His reinforcements had not reached here, owing to delays on the road. Losses not yet reported.
“(Signed)…………………………………………………………………..G. T. BEAUREGARD.”
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REPULSE OF THE ENEMY NEAR CHARLESTON.
OFFICIAL DISPATCH.
“CHARLESTON, February 12th, 1864.
“Gen. Wise gallantly repulsed the enemy last evening on John’s Island. He is, to-day, in pursuit. Our loss very trifling. The force of the enemy is about 2000; ours about one-half.
“(Signed)…………………………………………………………………..G. T. BEAUREGARD.”
Every day we recapture some of the escaped Federal officers. So far we have 34 of the 109.
The President sent over a “confidential” sealed letter to the Secretary to-day. I handed it to the Secretary, who was looking pensive.
Dr. McClure, of this city, who has been embalming the dead, and going about the country with his coffins, has been detected taking Jews and others through the lines. Several live men have been found in his coffins.
Again it is reported that the enemy are advancing up the Peninsula in force, and, to-morrow being Sunday, the local troops may be called out. But Gen. Rhodes is near with his division, so no serious danger will be felt, unless more than 20,000 attack us. Even that number would not accomplish much—for the city is fortified strongly.
It is rumored by blockade-runners that gold in the North is selling at from 200 to 500 per cent. premium. If this be true, our day of deliverance is not distant.