The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1862-02-22
cocsposasoe- of'bs Mem his Appeal
RKoA rHx TENNESSEE RIVER

that my object in writing is simply and
exclusively to throw some light npon
the late Tennessee river campaign by
the Federal gunboa,s, the whole of which
witnessed, and | shall speak only Of
things which have come under my own
personal observation
Tho Dunbar, Capt Gus Fowler, was
at Fort Henry on Thursday morning
when the battle took place She took a
station milc up the river and witness.
ed the fight The firing commenced at
half past twelve o'clock, and was very
heavy on both sides for about an hour
five gunboats were engaged, and poured
shells and sho, into the Fort At half
past one the firing ceased on both sides.
four gunboats laid at anchor abreast Of
the Fort half way IN the river, and one
apparently disabled, Hoated TO the oppo-
site bank, where she laid in distress
Ia few minutes clouds of smoke and
steam were seen coming up the river,
announcing a fresh arrival Of gunboats
or transports, and the Dunbar left for
the bridge be made the trip in two
hours, gave the alarm, and shortly after.
yvard4 our irauauprt atr,mpra Tiun
Samnc, Orr Annin,on Rollo ,n1 t;nn
Dovd nls, arrived Arrarao,,on,s ,,aro
madc.omidst yrca, rnrrna;nr a.. r.mnyo
thc hospi,nl r,mnissnrv atarcs and
other government md nyiyoto nrn,erfy
then at DapvilIc all nrwbicL 49, la
aboard of the different boats, and the
small fleet started up stream as soon as
ready The Dunbar being n Government
boat remained at the briJge the c,p,nip
determined mot In lc,ve eycon, pran
orders from the pr,p.r ,utboritias nm.
less chased bv he .,unboats ol the enc.
nv Scntincli were placed ON the bridge.
the military commanders of the small
force left nj the bridge taking all prom.
or steps to prevent surprise. and save
their command from capture by the enc.
my, and special train standing ready
to start at moments notice fur Paris
station At that time the Alfred Robb
came in from above. after information,
aud Immediately put back again. At six
o'clock in the evening, two gunboats
hove in sight, the military force fred IF
their guns and retrcatcd. the Dunbar
put ont Only a half mile in advance OF
the guubOats. A shell fred at Tia. al.
uounccd 10 us that the chase had com.
mcuccd. and. before we could get out Of
Slght or range OF the Connestoga' eight
proximity II our boat. We cscaprd how.
ever ana 'hc l'uhdar new IKE a deer
before a PACK 81 hounds giving warning
10 All points ai'hG ire river up TO flof
'hc'' A,a'alna' N"t anl, 10 escape ihc
chase Tue sam VII was hfst auahuohei
ny H't ere" ana SCI "h nle oS tneu
next tne Lynn ho{d ana AFF''l9h he'i'
were devoted To the names ~ lAe own
'It mex "ur gHno'A'' Tue EAs tP9,lt
au'ut NAN way uhIshcd was stultltd III
40 feet water ty : - We or
rived in Florence At eight o'clock on FIJI
day night, aud found at the landing
seyera, companies Of Alabama voluu
tccrs with large lot Of army stores
Everything WAS removed up town that
night and placed on q train and run 70
Tuscumhia During the night the Sam
kirkman and Time came In. having made
their escape from thq chase. At half
past eight o'clock on Saturday morning
"a dispatch was received in Florence
from General Johnston. az Bowling
Green, commanding span OF tho Flor.
cnce bridge To be cut IN order to let all
boats escape The boats that were then
IN Florence could have been saved rs
that measure were TIE Dunbar, julius
smith Time and sam. kirkham but
although the Florence bridge serves only