February 24, 1863, The New York Herald
As we announced a few days ago, the mortar boats of the expedition against Vicksburg were towed into position on the 18th inst.; and we now learn by despatches from Memphis that they opened fire upon the city on that day, which was answered by the rebel batteries, three in number. The position of the gunboats was found to be too much exposed to the fire of the enemy, and they accordingly withdrew to a safer place, from which they renewed the bombardment. The result of this initiatory attack upon Vicksburg is not reported; but the fact that it has fairly commenced prepares us for news of a lively time around the great rebel stronghold in the Southwest.
General Hooker visited Washington yesterday. There is no news from his army on the Rappahannock later than that already published. The snow storm there was very heavy, and will keep the roads in an impassable condition for many days to come.
From the West we do not receive any intelligence further than the movements of our gunboats at Vicksburg above referred to. The army of General Rosecrans appears to be taking no decisive action for the past few days.
Our news from the South today indicates that the rebels are inclined to stake their last chance upon the approaching attack upon Charleston, which they declare to be impregnable. The blow that is about to fall, says The Charleston Mercury, “may be the last we shall receive in the struggle for our independence, but it will be dealt with the strength of despair. The foe comes with the avowed purpose to sack our homes and plough our streets with his round shot; and, should his power prove equal to his malice, that will be no empty threat. We are ready for the ordeal.” They threaten us with their matchless little squadron of iron clads, which are about to obtain the long desired opportunity of encountering the “Yankee” vessels. The Southern journals also anticipate an immediate assault by our forces upon Savannah and Vicksburg, and they talk very confidently, of course, about the capacity of the rebels to defend them.
The Richmond Examiner says that the greater portions of General Hooker’s army, 25,000 in number, are now in Fortress Monroe, Suffolk and Newport News. The policy of Louis Napoleon is treated by the same journal with distrust and suspicion. It says that he will give no aid to the Southern confederacy unless it is pushed to the wall by its enemies, and is ready to fall into his arms in the hour of its great necessity, as Sardinia and Turkey did, and that it will be his tool for many years afterwards.
The Richmond papers put down their loss at Fort Donelson at ninety-eight men, and they claim the capture of eighty prisoners, and the destruction of one transport. The rebel General Gustavus W. Smith is reported to have resigned his commission in consequence of being recalled from his command in North Carolina and General French being appointed in his place. Governor Letcher, of Virginia, has ordered the imprisonment at hard labor in the Richmond Penitentiary of the Union officers, Captain Damron and another, as retaliation for the incarceration of two rebel officers in the Penitentiary at Washington.
Our European files by the Canada, at Boston, which were delivered in this city yesterday evening, enable us to publish today full reports of the speeches delivered in the British Parliament on the 5th inst. respecting the American war and foreign mediation. We had already given a synopsis of the addresses, telegraphed from Halifax; but the relative details of the remarks made by Earl Derby, Earl Russell, Earl Grey, Earl Carnavon and Mr. Disraeli on that occasion will be found of great interest and importance.