The Shasta courier., 1862-03-01
Union Sentiment in the south.

The telegraphic intelligence published .
few days ago, relative TO the Union senti-
ment in West Tennessee, as exhibited on the
arrival of the gun boats is fully confirmed
A St. Louis dispatch of February 18th, has
the following on the subject:
A Fort Henry correspondent of the Mis-.
souri, Republican says the late gun boat ex-
ped ton up the Tennessee river was greeted
everywhere with the widest enthEsiasm.-
Prominent men came to the boats and said
should Union army come into Tennessee,
| SO, ,90e mee- were Fexey anfl sses,a cluster
around it. Officers of the gunb3Ats say it is
impossible to doubt ths genuineness Of the
greetings The rebel press was wholly un-
der the control of the politicians, and don't
speak the peoples feelings. The secession
element was principally composed of the law
less portions of the community, and overawed
by its violence the order and the Union low
ing citizens:
The following paragraph, from late
Eastern paper, is of interest in this connec-
ton:
The testimony of Mr.. Ely, just released
from Richmond Jail, where he was visited
by crowds of the Southern people of all
classes and conditions. is worthy of especial
notice. He asserts that in that city, the
capital of jeff Davis dominions, and from
the first distinguished for its secession feel
ings, there is strong Union sentiment among
large portion of its population. Were the
Federal army before Richmond, hundreds of
homes would be seen with the stars and
stripes flying over them. Under these cir
cumstances, Mr.. Ely had abundant oppor-
tunity for forming correct opinion on pub
lie sentiment while his statements will be
received with a different degree of confidence
from those of some irresponsible I" contra
band" or deserter from the rebel army. If
such be the case in Richmond. what may
we expect public feeling to be in North Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Texas, with the highest re-
gions of the cotton States? But, for the
time being Unionists are kept under by the
lack of arms, resources and unity among
themselves while the anemy is armed to the
teeth, and desperate from coneious guilt and
meritsa punishment.
Another Eastern paper,.in giving soEe
of the incidents related by prisoners who
were confined at Richmond, and referring to
acts of cruelty practiced on them says:
But there is, for the honor of human tr, a
brighter side also. The prisoners all concur
in the statement that they were occasionally
visited by ladies, who never failed to leave
behind some token of their sangel visits" !"
They brought tIeiA cakes, jellies and other
delicacies and af.en when the stern senti-
nels would retuse then, admission they
would seizs the presented bayonet with
their little hands, turn it aside. and, thus
eluding the guard, make their visit Other
ladies, in riding past in their carriages,
threw boquets of FLOWERS in at the windows.
One lady, with two beautiful daughters. is
particularly mentioned as having been kind
to the prisoners. Some of the prisoners, un-
der a guard, were allowed to go to a spring
for water. The guard remaining at some
distance, women would occasionally meet
them at the spring. One of these women
told them that she had Union flag con-
cealed in her house. and that if the Union
troops came to Richmond she would display
it from her housetop