March 21, 1863, The New York Herald
Nothing of importance occurred in the Army of the Rappahannock yesterday. A heavy snow storm was falling during the day and previous night, and the weather was very cold.
By an arrival from Hilton Head we have an account of the exploits of the Black Brigade in Florida, by which they have obtained possession of many important points and a large quantity of munitions and supplies. Large reinforcements, supposed to be Burnside’s army corps, were expected at Hilton Head.
Rumors were circulated in the city yesterday that some of our gunboats had passed Fort Sumter on Monday and Tuesday, and that Charleston was being bombarded. We need hardly say that this report is without confirmation, as we have had despatches from Charleston dated Monday saying that all was quiet in that vicinity; nor do our reports from Hilton Head of the same date make any mention of a fight going on near Charleston.
We have some very interesting news from the Southwest today. The Union forces made a brilliant dash into Northern Alabama, in company with a number of gunboats, reaching as far as Tuscumbia, on the 22d ult. The advance drove the rebel cavalry from the town into the mountains, and occupied the place. Advancing farther into the interior our troops, who were commanded by Colonel Corwin, carried away considerable plunder. This account of the raid comes from a rebel source – the Confederacy, published in Atlanta, Ga.
The only news from Vicksburg is to the effect that the cut-off is likely to prove a success, and that our troops are improving in health. The movements of transports and gunboats up the Yazoo Pass continue very active.
Large bodies of rebel troops are said to be concentrating at Knoxville, and that a number of them, amounting to four hundred, crossed the Cumberland at Rowena, Ky., on Wednesday, which were supposed to be the advance guard of a large army en route for the invasion of Kentucky, which has been anticipated for some time.
A despatch from Murfreesboro, Tenn., dated yesterday, says that Colonel Hall’s brigade of General Reynolds’ division was attacked near Milton by a large force of rebel cavalry. Colonel Hall sent word he could hold his own until reinforcements could arrive. Colonel Wilder went to his aid with a mounted infantry force. At last reports quite a heavy engagement was going on.
The enemy, under Van Dorn, are evidently determined to harass our troops in the vicinity of Franklin, Tenn. A large force of their cavalry recrossed Duck river and advanced towards that place on Thursday, but were driven back by Colonel Walker’s cavalry brigade. The bridge at Columbia has been rebuilt, and General Van Dorn is said to have been largely reinforced. Cavalry skirmishes occur constantly.
The extracts which we give today from the Southern journals are unusually interesting. They comprise an official report of the recent raid of rebel cavalry near Fairfax Court House and the capture of Colonel Stoughton, and Gen. Stuart’s commendation of the officers in command. The defences of Charleston are described by the Mobile Register as absolutely impregnable. It says that no floating thing can breast unharmed the batteries of Sumter, Moultrie and Battery Bee; that the attack will be a fearful shock of tremendous forces, and will test the quality of ships and iron-clads against powerful batteries more conclusively than has ever been done before. The fight with the Chillicothe, on the Tallahatchie, opposite Fort Pemberton, is minutely described by the Richmond Enquirer.
With regard to the late attack on Port Hudson and the firing heard at St. Helena on the 13th inst., the Jackson Mississippian of that date confirms the theory suggested by us yesterday by stating that General Banks’ movements against Port Hudson had commenced; that General Weitzel was supposed to be about making a diversion in the rear of his position, and that the attack would probably be made by our combined land and naval forces.
The Richmond Examiner of the 19th has an article which is evidently intended to prepare the public mind of the South for serious reverses to the Confederate arms on the line of the Rappahannock. It says that the active operations of the army under Hooker are now commenced, and either a decisive battle or the retreat of General Lee must be the speedy consequence. The latter contingency is possible, but not probable, and another heavy struggle over the line of the Rappahannock may be safely anticipated.
It continues to state that if General Lee’s force is not sufficiently numerous to prevent the completion of Hooker manoeuvre, it is supposed that no course remains but to fall back upon some point nearer Richmond, and give the enemy battle at a greater distance from his base.
BY the arrival of the Norwegian at Portland yesterday we have news from Europe up to the 6th inst. The American question was on the tapis still in the House of Lords. Lord Strathheden’s notice in favor of the recognition of the South whenever France is ready to concur in the movement had not been brought forward. The London Times strongly condemns the motion, deprecates discussion on the subject, and urges continued strict neutrality.
In the House of Commons Mr. Laird asked if the government was informed of ships preparing for the Confederates in England similar to the Alabama, and Mr. Layard said that the attention of the government had been called to more than one vessel of the kind, but no evidence has been yet furnished to enable the government to interfere. He said, however, that strict orders have been given for all suspected vessels to be closely watched.
A deputation had waited upon Mr. Adams in London and presented him with an address, signed by more than 13,500 citizens of Birmingham, sympathizing with the anti-slavery policy of President Lincoln.
It is stated by Le Nord that Mr. Slidell had an interview with M. Druoyn de Lhuys, in the course of which mention was made of Mr. Seward’s recent despatch. Mr. Slidell is said not to have concealed his surprise that Mr. Seward could think that the seceding States were willing to send representatives to the Washington Congress.
The same journal says that the rebel government has just contracted at Paris a loan for 60,000,000 francs.
It was also reported that the rebel loan of £300,000 will be at once raised as eight per cent stock at seventy-seven.