New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-20
THE EXPEDITION UP THE TENNESSEE
RIVER,

From the correspondence Of The Cincinnati Ga
-ets we s,lect the following interesting incidents Of
the expedition mp the Tennessee River on the 9th
inst. They all agree in stating that the tnion feel
ing was very strongly exhibited, and that The Union
boats met with little opposliion.
The Conestoga, beng in advance and pursuing
the Rebel gunboat. compelled the enemy to destroy
three of their craft which were loaded with military
stores.
The iir-t one fred by the Rebels, the Samuel Orr,
had on board a quantity OF submarine batteries,
which very soon exploded. The second Wa,
freighted with powder, cannon grape, balls Sc.
Fearing All explosion from the fired boats-there
were two of them Close together-Capt. Phelps had
stopped at distance Of 900 yards, but even then
the skylghts Of the Union boats broken BY the
concusson; the light upper deck WIS raised bodily.
doors were forced open and locks and fas,enings
everywhere broken. The whole river for u hall
mile round was completely beaten up by tho falling
fragments and the showers Of shot aud ball. The
houre Of Il reputed mon man was blown TO pieces.
II 10 suspected that there WISE some sueh design, in
landing The boats in front Of the doomed house.
At night on the 7th the flo,illa arrived NJ land
inQ in Hardin County, Tennessee, known rs Cerro
Gordo where they found the steamer Passport, being
converted int Il Rebel gunboat. Armed boas
crews Were Immediately sent on board. On reach
,pg her was found that she had been scuttled and
the ruction-pipes broken. These leaks wers soon
stopped 4 number Of rife shots were fired al the
Union boats but IA couple Of welldirected shells dir
persed the Rebels.
On examination Capt, Phelp. found tina, there
were large quantities of lumber prepared for filling
up the Easport that the vessel iteif 2su fee, III
length, was in excellent condition, and already half
ini-hed considerable quantity of the iron plating
was living on the bank, and everything at hand %
complete her. Lieut.. Gwin remained with the Jay =
or TO guard the prize, timber, &C., while the other
boats proceeded up the rver.
Soon after daylight ON the sth, they passed East
port and VI Chickasaw, further up near the State
line, seized the steamers Sallie Wood and Muscle,
the former laid up and the latter freghted with iron
destined for Richmond, for Rebel Use.
The fotia proceeded mp the river, entering the
State of Alabama aud ascending 10 Florence al the
foot Of the Muscle shoals. On coming sight Of the
by our men, bu, they We're immediately set on fire
by tho Rebels. Some shots were fired from the
opposite side Of tile river below. force VIVA
landed and considerable quantities of supplies
marked Fort Henry were secured from the
burning wrecks Some had been loaded aud stored
Our o,la took Possession Of much of these stores
M they could bring away, and destroyed tho re-
malnder large quantity Of iron plating, evident
ly intended for the Passport, found here also.
4 deputa,ion Of the cl,2ens Of Florence waited
upon Capt. Pheps, desiriDg that they might be made
able to quiet Tho fears OF their wives aud daughters
with assurance that they would not be moles,ed
ulso praying that the Captain would not destroy the
railroad bridge A for the first proposition, the
anxious fathers and husbands assured that the
tnioni-ts were neither ruifans nor envages, aud
that they were On IN errand Of protection 10 loyalty
and enforcement Of law. IA 10 the se'ohu propori-
on Capt. Phelps said that II the bridge were away
he could ascend no higher and mat coud posses,
20 far M he saw no military Importance, AZ IL SIMPLY
connected Florence with tue railroad on the south
bank Of the river.
Our brave command hal seized three Rebel steam
boa,s, one Of them hall dashed gunbost, ana bad