February 17, 1863, The New York Herald
The official account of the recent attack on our fleet in Charleston harbor, from Admiral DuPont, which we publish today, establishes the fact pretty clearly that the blockade of that port was never broken. The statements of the officers of the blockading vessels, which Admiral DuPont encloses, deny absolutely nearly all the facts promulgated by General Beauregard and Commodore Ingraham, and endorsed by the foreign consuls – the latter officials receiving a severe rebuke for their agency in the propagation of the original report. From the official despatch, as well as from our own correspondence, we learn that not half the fleet slipped their cables during the action on the morning of the 31st ult., nor moved from their anchorage during the day. Even the Stono river, where the Isaac Smith was lost, is again reoccupied, and Union sailors and soldiers are constantly on shore at James Island.
Some difficulty occurred at Port Royal as to the right of command to the troops of General Foster’s expedition to that place, the latter officer presuming that, although within the jurisdiction of General Hunter’s military department, the supreme command of his own men still rested in himself, as being a portion of the Eighteenth Army corps. But General Hunter has settled the question by assuming command of General Foster’s troops, regarding them as reinforcements to the Tenth Army corps, of which he is chief, and requiring Generals Naglee and Ferry to report to him.
General Hooker, accompanied by Generals Butterfield and Sickles, reviewed the corps of General Sigel yesterday, and expressed himself greatly pleased with the appearance and discipline of the men. There is nothing of importance regarding military movements reported from the Army of the Potomac.
The official account of the destruction of the United States steamer Hatteras by the privateer Alabama was received at the navy Department yesterday from Lieutenant Commanding Blake and Surgeon Matthews, dated from the United States consulate at Kingston, Jamaica. The loss suffered by the crew of the Hatteras was two killed and five wounded. The latter are being well cared for in hospital at Kingston. We give in another column the detailed story of the conflict and the names of the killed and wounded.
Among the interesting items of news from the South which we publish today are the proceedings of the rebel Congress with reference to the navigation of the Mississippi river, which was declared free to all friendly States by the Confederate provisional government in 1861, and relating to the confiscation of property belonging to alien enemies (Unionists.) A bill authorizing the impressement of slaves and property for the use of the rebel army was passed in the House of Representatives, and a resolution was adopted providing for the sale of all negroes found in arms against the rebel government, the proceeds to be divided among the captors. A vote of thanks to the guerilla chief Morgan for his services in the West was also adopted.
The London Telegraph of the 31st of January says the Hon. Mr. Mason, the Commissioner from the Confederate States, has been one of the distinguished circle of visitors entertained by the Marquis and Marchioness of Bath, at Longleat, during the past week.
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