December 10.—A fight took place between seven or eight United States gunboats on the Rappahannock River, above Port Royal, Va., and the rebel shore batteries. At the commencement of the fight, the gunboat Teazer succeeded in bringing out two schooners which were within range of the rebel guns. The firing lasted for nearly three hours, when the rebels’ guns were silenced. The fleet lay off all night and reopened in the morning, but no reply was made. Two of the gunboats were struck several times, killing one man and wounding three.
—The town of Plymouth, N. C, garrisoned by a small force of Union troops, was this day captured by a body of rebels, and partially burned. The U. S. gunboat Southfield, Captain C. W. P. Behm, lying in the stream opposite the town, was also attacked; but, after being considerably damaged she escaped.
—The schooner Alitia, with thirteen bales of cotton on board, was this day captured by the United States gunboat Sagamore, while attempting to escape from Indian River, Florida.—The bill creating the State of Western Virginia, was passed by the United States House of Representatives by a vote of ninety-six to fifty-five, having been previously adopted by the Senate.—J. Wesley Green published an extended statement, that he brought certain peace propositions from Jefferson Davis to President Lincoln, and that he had several interviews with the President, and two with the Cabinet.—New-York Evening Post.
