American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

4 3/8 x 3 1/2 in. newspaper extra. Printed in one column, this printing includes a declaration from General P.G.T. Beauregard claiming that the Union blockade of Charleston, South Carolina has been lifted after the successful use of Confederate ironclads. It reads, "We, the undersigned Commanders of the C.S. Naval and Land forces, in this quarter, do formally declare the blockade, by the United States, of the said City of Charleston, S.C., to be raised by an inferior force of the Confederate States Navy, this the 31st day of January, 1863."

On January 31, 1863, the ironclads CSS Palmetto State and Chicora attacked the blockading fleet, seriously damaging three ships and inflicting losses of up to 27 men dead with a further 20 wounded. However, the ironclads had neither the speed nor oceangoing capacity to give chase and sink the blockaders. By the end of the 31st, the blockade had been reinforced, and the Union Navy substantially reinforced it with the addition of ironclads. The blockade was not lifted.

This edition also appears to discuss the results of the Battle of Deserted House on 30 January 1863, a minor engagement which saw foraging forces of Confederate General Richard A. Pryor were intercepted and engaged by forces commanded by Brigadier General Michael Corcoran. Though the name of the Union officer is not mentioned in this edition, Pryor is. Further subjects discussed include the resignation of General Ambrose Burnside, Senator Willard Saulsbury, Sr.,'s denunciation of the suspension of the Writ of Habeus Corpus, and more.

The Huntsville Confederate was originally published in Huntsville, Alabama, but moved to Marietta, Georgia in late 1863, less than a year after this extra was issued.