March 2, 1863, The New York Herald
It is reported by the officers of the British frigate Petrel, which arrived at Hampton Roads from Charleston on Friday night, that the rebels have a dangerous network of torpedoes across the channel at the entrance to Charleston harbor, with the intention of blowing up any portion of the Union fleet which may attempt to enter.
A reconnoitering party under command of Colonel Percy Wyndham, which left Centreville on Friday, reached Falmouth yesterday, and reports having passed through Warrenton, where they found twenty-five of the rebel cavalry, who made their escape. At Elk run and Licking run they came upon a few more, and captured about a dozen. No rebel force is at Culpepper. Colonel Wyndham made a splendid march, considering the state of the roads and the constant obstructions he met with from the rising of the streams.
Brigadier General Cochrane has resigned his command, and has issued a spirited parting address to his soldiers.
We have further particulars today from Wheeling of the surprise and capture of two hundred of the Union cavalry near Strasburg, on the 25th ult., by which it appears that a rebel cavalry scout, eighty strong, came inside our pickets on the Strasburg road. After a skirmish with infantry pickets, in which two were wounded on each side, they retired, capturing a cavalry picket of twelve men. Five hundred of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania and New York cavalry sent in pursuit, recaptured, beyond Strasburg, most of the prisoners and horses, and also took a number of prisoners. The commander of our detachment, exceeding his orders, pursued them beyond Woodstock. After driving in the rebel pickets, he stood parleying in the road, without guarding against surprise. The enemy returned in force, charged upon and threw them into confusion, killing and capturing two hundred in a fight of twenty miles. It is said that the Union troops made no stand, though outnumbering the enemy. If all these facts be correct it was a disgraceful affair, which should be rigidly investigated by the military authorities.
The President and Secretary of War received despatches from General Grant yesterday, giving a very favorable account of the progress of his work at Vicksburg. He says that he only wants a few days of good weather now to secure a success, and it was thought that not only would Vicksburg be taken, by the whole rebel army with it, an event which was looked upon as a prelude to still more important victories.
The concurrent resolutions reported by Senator Sumner, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, in reference to the subject of mediation by France or any other foreign Power, takes a decided stand against any intervention whatever, declaring that Congress cannot hesitate to regard every proposition of foreign interference in the present contest, as so far unreasonable and inadmissable, that its only explanation will be found in a misunderstanding of the true state of the question and of the real character of the war in which the republic is engaged; that such interference is injurious to the national interests, and that Congress will be obliged to look upon any further attempts in the same direction as an unfriendly act.
The British steamship Corumbia arrived at Bermuda on the 19th ult. from Charleston with a cargo of cotton. She would discharge and load arms for a Southern port. The steamer Miriam, mate to the prize Princess Royal, was loading arms and would sail for Charleston in a week.