February 6, 1863, The New York Herald
Despatches received from Fortress Monroe at Washington yesterday, state that the blockade at Charleston was not interrupted for any considerable time by the dispersion of the Union fleet on Saturday, the 31st of January. While there can be no doubt that the port was opened by the sudden assault of the rebel rams, it appears that on the 3d inst. the blockade was completely resumed, and that the Union iron-clads were then lying inside the wooden vessels. An attack on the city of Charleston was momentarily expected. Thus news was derived from information conveyed to General Dix from rebel sources – in fact from Charleston itself.
Our news from the Southern journals today contains much of interest. The most prominent feature is, of course, the late attack on our blockading fleet at Charleston, upon which the rebel press is jubilant. It discusses at length the question of international law relative to the subject of blockade, and claims that it is legally raised. They admit that the Union gunboat Ironsides was lying in the offing on the 3d instant. The Richmond Enquirer states that a steamer was despatched to Nassau to notify the British authorities there that the port of Charleston was open to foreign commerce. Mr. Benjamin, the Confederate Secretary of State officially informed the British and French Consuls in Richmond of the same fact. If the news received by General Dix is true they may have been too hasty.
The only news regarding the affair at Fort McAllister today, at Genesis Point, comes from Savannah, and describes that the Union gunboat Montauk was seriously injured, but that before she retired the parapet in front of the guns of the fort was entirely demolished.
The only news from the Army of the Potomac is that the enemy do not seem either as active or as numerous as heretofore. Their pickets and camp fires appear to be reduced. A heavy snow storm commenced at Falmouth yesterday morning, and ended in rain, leaving the prospects of available roads for military operations exceedingly doubtful. A quantity of ice had gathered in Aquia creek, which completely interrupted the advance of the mail boat.
Major Peck had issued an order highly complimenting General Corcoran and his command for their bravery and success at the late fight on the Blackwater, which the rebel Roger A. Pryor pretends to claim as a victory for the enemy.
A despatch received at Cairo yesterday states that the attack of the rebels on Fort Donelson resulted in a decided repulse with heavy loss. Our loss did not amount to more than forty or fifty. The intelligence from Island No. 10 leaves us in doubt as to the result of the attack upon the Union gunboat New Era, farther than that the rebels, who retired after firing upon her have not been seen there since, and the probability is that they have transferred their guerilla operations to some other point.