The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-21
GOOD NEWS FROM THE
Tennessee River Expedition.

IL, says the gunboats Ccnestoga, Tyler, and
Lexington, returned from the Upper Ten
nessee last night.
The boats went as far as Florence, Ala.
bama, and were received with the widest
joy by the people along the river.
Old men cried like children at the sight
of the Stars and Stripes, and invited Off
GERS and men into their houses, and told
them that all they had was at their dis.
posal.
Large numbers were anxious to enlist
under the OLD FLAG, and the Tyler
brought down $50 to fill up the gunboat
crews.
Our officers were assured if they would
wait few days, whole regiments could be
raised, and if the Government would give
them arms to defend themselves they could
bri0g Tennessee back to the Union in few
months.
They said when the secession ordinance
was passed, armed men stood at the polls,
and everything went as certain politicians
said.
At Savannah, Clifton, PASSPORT, and
Florence, the officers and men of our boats
went ashore without arms, and mingled
freely with the people.
The Union men along the river, CONS
prislng the wealthiest and best portion OF
the inhabitants, have large numbers of
American Flags.
Not gun was fired, either going or
coming.
The rebel gunboats Eastport, Sallie
Ward, and Muscle, only partially finished,
were captured and are here.
The Eastport had 100000 feet of lumber
on board, and the Ward had a quantity of
iron plating.
Steamers Sam Kirkman, Lynn Boyd,
Julia Smith, Sam Orr, Appleton and Belle
we're burned by the reoels to prevent them
from falling into our hands.
The Railroad bridge at Florence was not
destroyed.
A quantity of papers were captured on
the Passport belonging to Lieut.. Brown,
late of the federal navy. Among them
were letters from Lieut.. Maury, stating
that submarine batteries could not be sue
cessfully used in the rapid streams of the
West.
$50 hogsheads of tobacco, and a quanti>
ty of other freight will be brought down
from the mouth of the Sandy river to.mor-
row.
A daily line of packets has been estab.
lisbed between Fort Henry and Cairo.
Nothing during the war has been 60
prostrating to the rebels as the late victory,
and gun boat expedition above named.
A special dispatch from Cairo to the
Democrat, says Commander Foote has just
received dispatches from Captain Phelps
of the gun boat COnestoga, announcing the
return OF the gun boat Expedition up the
Tennessee river.
Alter capturing q new rebel gun boat,
and destroying all other rebel boats on the
river as far as Florence, Alabama.
THE GOOD NEWS CONFIRMED.
ST.. LOUIS. Feb. l2.-Oficial dispatches
from Lieut.. Phelps commanding gun boat
Connestoga, received at Headquarters here,
confirm previous reports of the Tennessee
river expedition. The steamers burned by
the rebels were laden with military stores.
Two hundred stand OF arms, and consid-
cradle quantity of clothing stores were cap-
tured and the epcampment of Col. Crews
at Savannah destroyed. Lieut.. Phelps also
reports finding the Union sentiment very
strong along the river.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. l3.--The Republicans
Fort Henry correspondent gives further
particulars of the Tennessee river expedi.
ton.
Everywhere the people insisted upon
loading their visitors with presents, and as
far as Florence the river can be navigated
almost as safely as the Ohio.
Blessings, cheers and the widest enthusi.
asm greeted the gunboats everywhere.
Numbers of prominent men came for.
ward AID said should the Union army enter
Tennessee, $4,000 men were ready and aux.
ious to protect their homes and would at
once cluster around il.
Under the laws commanding them to join
the rebel army or lose their property, they
were Obliged to succumb n self-defence.
The officers of the gunboats say it is
impossible to doubt the genuineness of the
greetings that everywhere met them. The
rebel press is wholly under the control Of
the politicians, and don't speak the peoples
feelings.
The secession element is principally COM
posed of the lawless portions of the COM
munity, who overawe by violence the order
loving Union citizens.
At Savannah Lieut.. Phelps learned that
rebel cavalry regiment was encamped
about mile distant. He Immediately
ordered company OF marines, under Col.
Givens, to march against them, but the
rebels hearing of the movement, fed in
panic, leaving everything behind them.-
Their camp was burned, and considerable
quantity of arms and stores were CAPS
tured.
Only one steamer, the Dunbar, now floats
on the Upper Tennessee.
The Appleton Belle had 1000 pounds of
powder on board, and when fired, had been
purposely anchored opposite the fine resi-
dence of Judge Crevatt, noted loyalist,
which was completely shattered by the ex-
plosion.
The partially finished rebel gunboat East
port, is fine and fast steamer, $50 feet
long, very staunch, and constructed to be
rendered shot proof, by compressed bales of
cotton and iron plates.
The steamer Illinois brought down q
quantity of tobacco yesterday from Paris.
A large quantity of pig iron near there will