The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-06

From the Cincinnati Commercial
No boro x,o.x, loto 81

From the Cincinnati Commercial.
We have very late and perfectly trust
worthy information direct from East 1en>
nessee, and indirectly from other portions
OF the South. We shall not particularize
the channels through which this informa-
tion 10 received, but give our word that we
know them to be worthy the most absolute
confidence
The Union men of East Tennessee were
never more loyal and hopeful than now.
They stand dauntless and incorruptible, and
if there is any change they are becoming
more ardent and confident in the good cause
of national unity and free government,
which they regard as one and inseparable,
now and forever. The secessionists whisper
that their attempted revolution must end in
O failure.
1t is true, as rumored for few days, that
there are camps of Union men in Tennes
see, twelve hundred in one, and seven hun
dred in another, each man with his rifle and
pound of powder, and a corresponding
quantity of balls, and regarding his powder
as far more precious than gold. In the late
bridge burning three important bridges in
Tennessee and two in Georgia were entire,
ly destroyed, and two or three Others great,
ly damaged. The roads were 10 bad order
before the bridges were burned, and the
rolling stock is in bad condition. 1t will
be impossible for the road to be so far re-
paired as to permit the passage OF trains
10 less than month. The loyal East Ten
nes:eeans were hourly expecting federal
army to force its way through Cumberland
Gap, and, if a vigorous advance had been
made there, the capture of Zollikoiftr's ar
my would have been absolut ly certain.
Not man could have escaped. Zol ikot-
fer's effective force 10 Kentucky has not at
any tina exceeded seven thousand men, and
he cannot now muster six thousand. The
number OF secesh troops guarding the East
Tennessee railroad when the bridges were
burned was less than eight huHdred.
If after the battle of Wildcat our troops
had pushed vigorously forward, the loyal
East Tennesseans would hare taken possess
SIGN of the Railroad, and held it for their
own use instead of destroying it; and they
would have taken large amount OF pro-
visions and military stores cole ted at
Knoxville and other points, for the use OF
the rebel army. The falling back of the
Cumberland Gap Expedition will have q
most distressing effect, and will probably
Cause the ruin of many OF those who aave
committed themselves in arms aga nst the
JED. Davis despotism. At the very time
when the devoted UniOnists were expecting
to see the bayouets of the United States
troops g!itteriGg in the passes OF their
| mountains, they will hear of the disastrous
march away from them, which has already
been described at length in these columns.
The sturd loyalty of the East Tenness
seean> appears il the returns OF the recent
Confederate election for President and Vice
President and members Of Congress. In
Roane county, where two thousand votes
are usually given, less than three hundred
and fifty were polled. John Baxter Sub
mission Union man, THAT is, one who is in
favor of the Union, but looks upon the re :
bellion as an accomplished tact,) run for
the Confederate Congress in Maynard 8
district, thinking the Unionists would sup
port anu elect him, rather than permit the
! election OF an ultra SecessiOnist. The Un
ion men had about eight thousand MAORI
ty 10 the district, bat refused to vote, and
the SecessionlSts had very small, but
nearly unanimous vote. La Knox county,
where the Union men had three thousand
two hundred votes, Baxter, the Submis-
sionist, received bat eighty votes. The
Union men would have nothing to do with
the election, but treated it with contempt.
In many places, the polls were not opened,
and in some whole counties not vote was
cast.
lhe lines between the Union men and the
Secesh are very sharply drawn. Every
man knows whom he may trust and whom
he must dstrust. The devotion OF the
Union people to the government is unaiter
! able, and many touching proofs OF 1t are
given. We are told OF men more than sew
enty years of age, acting as guides on the
mountains IN the night Tor those whom
they knew to be the friends OF the govern
ment The women will not take money tor
any assistance they may render the Union
men. CASES are mentioned lii which poor
women whose husbands are eXiles, have with
tears ~ their eyes refused to touch gold OF
Tered ana urged upon them Tor provisions
furnished those who were laoorlng III the
Cause of the Uni0n. One lldy who was
reused at midnight TO prepare mel tor a
party OF Union men, MAS toid, IN order 10
induce her to accept gold piece as com
pensa lion Tor her trouble, thai the goid was
not irom their own pockets bat from tn
treasury OF the United States. She burst
into tears and refused to accept it more ear
lestIy tuau eveI saying she could not take
tie u3uey OF the government ior any poor
service she could render. This )oor
woman's husband and sons were exies.
Are these people to be abandoned to their
enemies now 10 the hour OF their utmost
need
There is undoubtedly powerful reaction
in North Carolina against the disuniOnists.
1t would not be surprising to hear, at any
time of most determined Union movement
ID that quarter. The Union men of North
Carolina and north Alabama arc in com
munication with those of East Tennessee.
Very few troops were sent to Virginia
during the autumn months. The last de-
tachments that went forward over the Ten
nessee railroad was body of eight hun.
dred Georgians, who bad been without
! 4