November 8, 1863, The New York Herald
A report reached Philadelphia yesterday by the steamer Salvor, which left Hilton Head on last Monday, the 2d. inst., that Fort Sumter had surrendered, that the Stars and Stripes were flying over the dismantled ramparts, and the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Pennsylvania regiment of Volunteers were then garrisoning the place. This news reached Hilton Head on Monday morning by the United States steamer Golden Gate. But as we have despatches from Charleston to the Richmond papers of the 5th and 6th inst. which entirely upset the probability of such a story, it is undoubtedly a fiction. For example, a despatch from Charleston on the 4th, two days after the Salvor left Hilton Head, says that the bombardment of Fort Sumter was going on furiously at that time, and that Jefferson Davis had visited James Island, Forts Pemberton and Johnson and all the shore batteries. Another despatch, dated the day following, also says that there was slow firing on that day from the enemy Monitors and their land batteries; that five hundred and eighty-seven shots had been fired in the last twenty-four hours; that another iron-clad had joined the fleet, and that the Monitors remained quiet, while, at the same time, the Monitors were than taking in ammunition…
From the same source as the above, a rumor found circulation yesterday that the rebels were evacuating Richmond. The same credit, however, may be attached to it.
The Army of the Potomac is evidently on the qui vive for an important movement. General Meade has already changed his headquarters. It was reported yesterday that the enemy were crossing the Rapidan in haste, it was supposed with a view to reoccupy Fredericksburg, under the impression that General Meade was contemplating a move in that direction.
We have late and important news from Tennessee by way of rebel telegrams to Richmond, which appear in the papers of the 6th instant. They came from Atlanta to Richmond, under date of the 4th instant, and state that the Union troops which occupy Raccoon Valley have been reinforced, and shell the rebels incessantly; that our pontoons have been carried away by the flood in the Tennessee river; that our advance has reached Florence and that our forces are committing terrible depredations near Huntsville. The telegrams admit that we have gained important advantages within the preceding forty-eight hours, and that unless the movements of our troops are counteracted, the question of subsisting the Union army at Chattanooga will be placed beyond doubt.
Later advices from Arkansas state that General Steel now occupies Arkadelphia, the recent headquarters of the rebel General Price, and over seven hundred Arkansians from Yell county have offered themselves as volunteers to General Steele.
The arrival of the steamer Evening Star, from New Orleans on the 31st ult., puts us in possession of much important news from that district, which will be found embodied in the letters of our correspondents. An active campaign is now in progress in the Department of the Gulf. The naval expedition under General Banks was at Southwest Pass on the 26th ult., with the Commanding General on board the flagship McClellan. The fleet consists of sixteen steamships and a large number of schooners and brigs as tenders. Three ships of war — the Monogahela, Owasco and Virginia — accompany the squadron. General Dana issued a stirring address to the troops of his command on their embarkation, in which he says: —
“The people where we go shall feel that we are their friends, and be encouraged to […..] in under our battle tattered colors and fight the fight of freedom; and the troops of any nation we may meet shall burst into a shout of admiration when they shall see the citizen soldiers of armed America in […..] “to and occupy”their own, and to tread out the dregs of the rebellion.”
On the 27th the order for sailing was given, and the whole fleet sailed out in two lines, each steamer half a mile apart, presenting a splendid spectacle.
Our correspondence from Key West today is very interesting, recounting the capture of the blockade runner Martha Jane, with a large cargo of cotton, and the British steamer Mail, which was supposed to have been burned by the rebels. An expedition to Tampa Bay resulted in the destruction of the rebel vessels.