Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-21
FROM o1IR0 AND HloLNITY.

I
A special dispatch to the Republican, dated
| Fort Henry, 18th, states that the gunboats
! Cones'ega, Tyler and Lexington returned from
the upper Tennessee last night.
! The boats went as far as Florence, Ala,
and we're received with the widest JOY along
the river. Old men cried like children at the
sight Of the stars and stripes, and invited the
officers and men Of the gunboats to their
houses, and told them that all they had was
at their disposal Large numbers were anx-
ious to enlist under the old flag, and the gun
boat Tyler brought down 2j0 men to fill up
the gunboats' crews. Our officers were as
sured that il they would wait few days
whole regiments could be raised. and IL the
government would give them arms to defend
themselves they could bring Tennessee back
into the Union in few months
They said that when the Appieton aud Bel
had been burned by the rebels to prevent
them falling into our hands, the railroad
bridge at Florence was not destroyed. A
quantity of papers were captured the
| Edsipor belonging to Lieut. Brown, late Of
the Federal navy. Among them were letters
/ from Lieut.. Maury, stating that submarine
batteries could not be used successfully in the
rapid streams Of the West. Everywhere the
people insisted upon loading the visitors with
presents, and the river is as safely navigable
to Florence, Ala, as the Ohio Blessings,
cheers, and the widest enthusiasm meeted
the gunboats everywhere. Numbers Of pro-
mnent men came forward and said should the
| Union army enter Tennessee So, 900 men were
ready and anxious to protect their homes, and
would at once cluster around the old flag
Under the laws commanding them to Join the
rebel army or lose their property they were
obliged to succumb in self-deiencc.
The officers of the gunboats say il is impos-
slble to doubt the genuinenes ofthe greetings
that everywhere met them. The rebel press
is wholly under the control of the politicians,
and does not represent the people The Sc
cesh element principally comprises the law
| less politicians, who overawe by violence the
| Union loving citizens.
At Savannah, Lieut.. Phelps learned that a
cavalry regiment was encamped about mile
distant He Immediately ordered a company
of 1870 marines, under Col. Jinen, to march
against them, but they fed in panic, leav-
everything. Their camp was burned, and a
a considerable quantity of arms and stores
was captured.
A special dispatch to the Commercial from
indianapolis says reliable information from
| Fort Henry states that 10000 troops we're at
l anu near lnht plhCe AT NOON, Ounudy, anu tnht
heavy reinforcements are constantly arriving.
A daily line of pickets has been establish
ed between Fort Henry and Cairo Nothing
during the war has been so prostrating to the
rebels as the late victory of the gunboat ex-
pedition mentioned above.
The Democrat learns that Commodore
Foo,e, with three gunboats, left Cairo for
Fort Donelson Tuesday night. Another was
expected to Join them at Paducah. In con-
sequence of the high water and unusually
rapid current in all the rivers, the fleet was
not expected to reach Fort Donelson until
Thursday morning. and it is presumed an at
tack will not be made until there is com
plete readiness on the part Of both the land
and naval forces,
Col. Oglesbury says, we came here to
take that Fort, and we don't intend to leave
until we do it,"
Gen. Halleck has assigned Gen. Grant to
the command of the district of West Tennes-
see and Gen. Sherman to the district of Cal
TO. Commanders of districts, divisions, brig
AIDES and posts, are directed to have an imme-
diate inspection of all their troops for the
discovery of stolen and contraband property
and fugitive slaves. General order No. 3, is
sued in 1861, will be strictly enforced, and
any officer who has permitted it to be violat-
ed by his command will be arrested, tried for
neglect Of duty and disobedience of orders.