March 24.—The rebel steamer Havelock, under the command of Captain L. M. Coxetter, ran the blockade into Charleston, S. C. A correspondent of the Mobile Register, gave the following account of her “narrow escape:” “She had run through the blockaders just before day, having left Nassau on the twentieth instant, bringing a most valuable cargo. After crossing the bar, however, she ran ashore on Drunken Dick Shoals, and it was feared the enemy’s gunboats would run in and endeavor to capture her, which might have been done at the time had they had pluck enough to have attempted it The confederate States rams Chicora, Captain Tucker, and Palmetto, Captain Rutledge, immediately got under weigh and went down to offer battle, should the enemy attempt a capture. There was evidently great commotion among the fleet, who could be seen rapidly signalizing each other. The battery was crowded by spectators watching events, and eagerly looking for some demonstrations on the part of the Federals, as our rams glided down to the scene of action. The British steamer Petrel, which had been delayed in rendering assistance to the French steamer Renaudin, which had just gotten off, was now seen going out at this time, passing Sullivan’s Island. Numerous sail-boats and barges were seen running down the bay, adding to the interest of the scene. For a time the greatest interest and excitement prevailed. By the assistance of the high tide, and after throwing overboard some ten heavy slabs of iron and about forty boxes of tin, the Havelock floated off and came safely up to the city, much to the chagrin of the Federals.”
—Ponchatoula, La., was this day captured, after a brief skirmish with the enemy, by an expeditionary force of National troops, under the command of Colonel Clark.—(Doc. 144.)
—The English schooners Mary Jane and Rising Dawn, while attempting to run into Wilmington, N. C, were captured by the gunboats State of Georgia and Mount Vernon.
