, 1862-02-27
REBEL ACCOUNT OF TIE DoINGs OF THE
GUNEOATS ON THE TENNESSEE.


We had the pleasure Of meeting in the city
last night, several gentlemen who were en-
ployed on the steamboats, in the Tennessee
river, and who have furnished us a detailed
statement Of the operations Of the enemy on
their recent trip We have already stated that
ammunition, &c, passed the Tennessee rivef
bridge, few hours after the capture of Fort
Henry, and that they we're pursued by the en-
emy's gunboats the next day. From the in
formation now at hand, We are enabled to fur
nish tue following report Of sheir operations:
bridge, the steamboat Sam Orr, in the Con
fcderate service, and having on board the sick
from Fort Henry, injured her wheel, aud was
compelled to transfer her passengers on tie
feet steamer Dunbar. The next day the Fed
eral gunboats came ap, When she was in1me-
diately set Oh fire. She had seventeen hun
dred pounds Of powder mud twenty. seven
submarine batteries, which made terrific
explosion. All her crew we1e saved.
The steamboats, Lynn Boyd, Capt: smedlcy,
and the Appleton Belle, Capt. Hoffman, were
oycrtakcn by the Tederals at the mouth Of
Duck River, and were burnt by those on
board.
The steamboat Sall;c Wood, which has been
laid or.tnonths past at Chckasaw, was cap
tured By the enemy. Chickazaw is about one
mic from Eastport, and Eonic of the Federal
officers are said to have gone ashore aud made
themselves very free with the Inhabitants, pro,
Tossing TO be very friendly, and protesting that
no one shonld be Injured as long as no resist
ancc was made.
The steamer Ro5b made good her escape up
Fire Mile Island, and was tac only boat on
that river that escaped.
The steamboat Dunbar, which had the sick
on bosrd, went to Florence and then up
Cypress Creek, orc mile aud 3 half from the
mouth of Eastport. Wss pursued by the Fed
eIa]s md was finally sunk BIZ her officers to
11reyent destination hV the Ft7crlfS.
The steamboat Eas! port, which was under
going fcpairs for 4 Confederate gun boat, was
sunk by the men engaged on her, in sisht Of
the Ftdcra's, at Cerro Gordo. seven miles be-
When the Federal gunboats got in sight Of
Florence, the steamboats, Sam Klr1maD, Capt,
| Sncdley; Time, Capt. Johnston, and Julius
Smith, Capt. Humphrey, were in port, and i'm
mcdiatelY preparations were made to buru all
Of them. The Time had On board about
| fore The Federals could come up-it was all in
| 1smes, common corfagration having put
all thcsc boats beyond the reach Of the foe
| Tie Federals destroyed the Tuscumhia ware
| house. but committed but few depredadons at
Florence. They went ashore aud broke open
the Confederate warehouse. AID helped them
t selves to about C, 600 pounds Of salt meat.
Tht : also broke open q private warehouse, and
| vert helping themselves to the contents, when
the proprietor, under flag Of truce, went
/
WAS his; it WAS restored-the Federal officer
| stating that they were not there to interfere
| with private and individual rights. but simply
to possess themselves OF all the Confederate
| Government etores. It is said that ware
! house at Florence contained 10 bales Of cot
| ton, but meme Of it was touched. It. is said to
be not little singular that the Federals, i'm
1nedlately On landing, went as straight to the
Confederate Government warehouse as If they
knew I'LL about 1t.
+ 1l1 rs o%..A 4f,aF a%.1 Inf
Florence on Sunday, and it is supposed have
| made their report st headquarters before this.
Whether they will return, and il SO, how far
{tey will so mp, remains TO be seen. It seems
10 be generally conceded that their recent trip
Was sozt of reconnaissance preparatory to
an carly return to the same field Of operations
a field which places them one hundred and
fifty Mnes below Memphis, and on the way to
Nashville They tried to make agood impres-
sion. pso!csscd auch friendship, aud cx-
pressed the hope that they should meet again.
In regard to Tie landing Of q cayalry force at
Savannah, there appears to be some conflict In
the ststemeEts. It is inserted that they did
land cagal1y force there; also, That they took
1t away with them when they returned; and
sEain, that Lincoln cavalry force was being
organized there. This last statement must be
nnfnundcd, IS Gel Crcws's Infantry regiment
waa lately recruited in tna. vicinity.
| RICHMOND MATTERS
Correspondence OF the N. Y. HeEald.l
BALr1MoEE, Feb 1a, 1e63.-By the steamer
from Fortress Monroe this rornin-, have
some ncws from Richmond up to tho 17lh
inst The confirmation Of tbs ne*s OF the
surrender Of Fort Dorelson (which was m,
1aorc<: thcre on Sunday reached that city on
Mend.y oy dispatch fro Il General Albert 8.
Johnston at Nashville It wss stx.cd At Rica-
| mond that On tho 18th orders wtro scnt to
| Gtbtra1 BccEn"r to evaeuate the position and
retire to Nashville. Du: it il rot certs1n that
! G.rc1al Erckncr ever received the orders.
general Brsurgsrd was for'ifyIns Nashville
although: the works At ClsFksvito aud she
great number Of troops there were expected
| to keep the UDfon fcsoex at bay ut th.t point
| II sEas sdx.u1cd n Eichmaad haHarar Ii y.