Martinsburgh Gazette

FORT STODDERT, Sept. 21.

A New Order.—The Commandant of Mobile has received from the Captain-General of Cuba, positive orders not to permit the passage of any powder, troops, or armed vessels past Mobile, belonging to the United States; that should he permit any to pass, it would be considered a disobedience of orders by him, and that he should answer for the same. In a private letter to the Commandant he evinced much displeasure at permission being given to the last powder schooner to pass unmolested.

As this order is positive, we may expect in case an attempt is made to hear of a few shots being exchanged: in fact, this expectation in the minds of some was realized, when our gun vessels appeared off Mobile 2d of last month, but a council of war was held, and a majority were of opinion, that it was their safest plan to permit the schooner to proceed than to contest her passage.

In this new order it is observed, 'that should any vessel having any of the before-mentioned articles on board and being conveyed by an armed force, attempt to pass, and a council of war be held, that if one of the officers is for opposing their passing, they shall do so,' from which we may calculate that the passage will be warmly contested.

We deem it unnecessary to call the attention of government to this subject, as we claim the free and undisturbed navigation of the Mobile river, and as we expect to see it asserted in a short time, not by proclamations but by cannon.

In addition to the troops lately sent from Mobile to take possession of Dolphin Island, which is included in the Pascagoula parish, we understand that a party will be sent in a few days to retake possession of all that part of country lying between Mobile bay and the Perdido river which is also included in the parish. As we have once taken possession of it we cannot for a moment believe that Governor Claiborne will suffer the Spaniards to exercise any jurisdiction over the same.