February 7, 1863, The New York Herald
There is nothing further of importance from Charleston today later than our former despatches. The Army of the Potomac is still quiescent. The roads, after the late storm, are in sad condition, rendering all movements impossible.
By an arrival at Suffolk from Richmond we learn that the new Merrimac is now lying between seven and eight miles below Richmond. It is pierced for two guns on each side, and will carry one forward and aft. The vessel is pronounced by many a failure, while there are others who are confident of its success. Two other iron-clads are in process of construction there. The rebels are throwing up earthworks in every direction for the defence of the rebel capital.
A propeller which arrived at Norfolk from Newbern yesterday, via the canal and inland route, reports two government schooners ashore on Hatteras Shoals, one loaded with cattle, and one with coal, and that a fleet of one hundred and twenty vessels had sailed, and all bound South.
A portion of General Magruder’s rebel fleet, off Galveston, is reported to have recaptured Sabine Pass, and the United States ship Morning Light on the 21st ult. We publish the official account of the affair by Major Watkins, commanding, together with a map of the Pass.
It was rumored in Louisville that Morgan’s rebel forces contemplated a raid on Lexington, and that the bankers and merchants there were packing up their money and valuables ready for a flight. It was also said that our troops had got possession of Shelbyville.
The brig Wilhelmina, Captain Welsh, at St. Thomas on the 18th of January, reports that she spoke the rebel privateer Alabama on the 15th of that month, about four hundred miles southeast of Bermuda. The Alabama attacked and destroyed the United States steamer Hatteras on the 11th ultimo, and must have steamed to the latitude described by the Wilhelmina during the four ensuing days.
Advices from Dominica, West Indies, of the 19th of January, state that the United States steamer San Jacinto had called there to inquire after the Alabama.
The report relative to the capture of the privateer Florida was not confirmed by the latest intelligence from Havana.
The steamship Roanoke, from New Orleans 28th and Havana 31st ult., arrived at this port last evening. By her we received later accounts from Mexico; but they are not of particular importance, except in so far as they confirm the intelligence previously received of the evacuation of Tampico and Jalapa. There are also reports of the sally of the Pueblo garrison and the rout of the French. Two Mexicans, who had been convicted of poisoning by a French court martial, were executed at Vera Cruz, in the form prescribed by French military authority. There is no other news of importance.
The British war ship Vesuvius, at Bermuda on the 27th of January, reported that the French army had been defeated in an attack on Pueblo, Mexico, and had lost three thousand men.
The British steam sloop-of-war Styx, Commander Hon. W.J. Ward, left Bermuda on the 26th for Havana and New Orleans.