March 29, 1863, The New York Herald
By the arrival of the Anglo-rebel prize steamer Peterhoff at this port from Port Royal yesterday, we have the important information that on the 23d inst. all the Union troops at that point were embarked on a number of transports – their destination, of course, not being made public. The Union iron-clads had left Port Royal the previous day, and the Peterhoff while on her way, abut eighteen miles off Charleston, at night, saw the flashes of guns and shells bursting in that vicinity. These demonstrations probably were made by the iron-clads reconnoitering and securing a position to protect the landing of the troops, which were following in the transports. Our news from Charleston via Richmond is to the 25th, and does not mention any attack as taking place on Charleston at that date. That it cannot be far distant, however, is now morally certain.
We have some exciting news from the Southwest. Despatches from Cairo yesterday state that our forces are within one and a quarter miles of Haines’ Bluff, on the Yazoo, and have landed at Eagle Bend. A despatch from Vicksburg says that two of our gunboats attempted to pass down the river on the morning of the 25th, and that one of them was sunk and the other badly damaged by the fire of the rebel batteries. The same intelligence reached Richmond from rebel official sources at Jackson, Miss. A despatch from Mobile says that three of our gunboats were destroyed by the rebel batteries at the junction of the Sunflower river and Deep Creek, and the balance driven back, on Saturday last.
From Kansas City we learn that the steamer Sam Getty, while passing Sibley’s landing, on her way from Independence, was boarded by a force of guerillas, who killed five infantry soldiers, fifty cavalry and twenty negroes, and robbed all the passengers of their property, at the same time throwing overboard one hundred sacks of flour and a number of government wagons.
Several paymasters arrived at Fortress Monroe yesterday with money to pay off our troops at Suffolk, Norfolk, and Yorktown. Most welcome messengers they will prove, no doubt.
The news of the destruction by our fleet of the rebel steamer Georgiana, off Long Island beach, South Carolina, reached the Navy Department by telegraph from Fortress Monroe yesterday. Information had previously been received that she left Liverpool on the 21st of January, and that at her departure many secessionists were present, who waved handkerchiefs and made many other manifestations of their delight. She was a powerful steamer of four hundred and seven tons burden and one hundred and fifty horse power, and it had been represented to the Navy Department that she was more formidable than the Alabama.
Gen. Schofield, lately commanding the Army of the Frontier, has arrived in St. Louis, his nomination as a major general not having been confirmed by the Senate. Major General Herron will probably be assigned to the command in his place. The latter officer is familiar with Southwest Missouri and Northwestern Arkansas, having served there in three separate campaigns. At Wilson’s creek he commanded a company in the First Iowa infantry; at Pea Ridge he was Lieutenant Colonel of the Ninth Iowa, where he was wounded and captured, but speedily exchanged; and at Prairie Grove he was in chief command until Gen. Blunt arrived on the ground, near the close of the battle. Subsequently Gen. Herron led the advance upon Van Buren. He ought to take Little Rock as his next move.
General Totten, lately commanding a division in the Army of the Frontier, has been ordered to Washington. Gen. Totten holds his commission from the State of Missouri, his rank in the regular army being that of major. He was present with Gen. Lyon at the capture of camp Jackson and at the battles of Booneville and Wilson’s creek. At the latter engagement the skilful handling of his battery prevented the rebels from winning the day, repulsing them in three successive assaults. He will probably be assigned to duty in the Army of the Potomac.