The news from America is scarcely important. Of course the
Blair mission came to nothing but Blair's Rhetoric, and the - only news from Richmond is that Congress has decided, and Mr. Jefferson Davis es :smelted, to appoint a commander-in-chief, but the, ppointment had not been made, because General Lee still declines to attempt a .general supervision for which he does not feel that he has time. General Joseph Johnston was, it was said, to be re-appointed to the command of the army of the west, Hood having failed so disastrously. A bold attempt was made under .Captain Raphael Semmes (late of the Alabama) to surprise the Federal flotilla on the James River and General Grant's stores at City Point. Three iron-clads and five gunboats descended the James River on the night of the 23rd January, and had not three of the vessels grounded, it might have been successful. With the return of daylight.the fleet returned to Richmond, leaving one gun- boat in the hands of the Federals. Great alarm was created, and Admiral Farragut was requested to assume the command, to prevent a repetition of the attack.
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