The New York herald., 1862-02-21

completely ''beaten up by the falling fragments, and
the shower Of shot, grape, balls, &c. The house Of
reported Union man blown TO pieces and it s sus
pected there was design in landing the boats In front
OF the doomed home. The Lexington having fallen
behind, and being without pilot on board, concluded
to wait for both Of the boats TO come up Joined by
them, proceeded up the river. Lieutenant Command
ing Gwn had destroyed some OF the rese work OF tue
end of the bridge burning with them lots of camp equi
page j. n. Brown formerly lieutenant in the navy,
signing himself C. s. N had fled with such precpi
ation as TO leave his papers behind These Lieutenant
Commanding Gwin brought away, aud send Thorn 10
you as they give official history of the rebel floating
preparations the Mississippi, Cumberland and Ten
nessee Lieutenant Brown had charge OF the colsr,c-
tion OF gunboats.
AT nj ght on the eth we arrived at landing n Hardin
county, Tennessee. known Cerro Gordo. where
found the steamer Estport being converted into gun
boat. Armed boat crews were Immediately sent ON
board and search mado for means Of destruction thai
might have been devised She had been scutted and
the suction pipes broken. These leaks were soon stop
ped. number Of rifle shots were fired at vessels,
but couple OF shells dispersed the rebels On oxaDla
tion found that there large quantities Of timber
and lumber prepared for fitting up the Eastport that the
vessel sclt-sOme two hundred aud eighty feet long
was in excellent condition and already half llnishel;
considerable OF the plating designed for her lying
the bank, and everything at hand to complete her.
therefore directed Lieutenant Commanding Gwn %
main with the Taylor TO guard The prize and to Load The
lumber, g., whe the Lexington aud Concstoga should
Soon after daylight on the sth we passed Eastport
Miss and at Chckasaw fmther up near the state line,
seized two steamers, the Salle Wood aud Muscletle
former laid up and the latter lreighied with ron des
tined for Richmond and for rebel use. We then pro-
Cerded on the river, entering the state OF Alabama,
and ascending to Florence, at the foot OF the Muscle
shoals. On coming n sight OF the town three steamers
discovered. which were immediately set on hrc by
the rebels Some shots fired from the opposite side
OF the river below. force was landed, and considera
bic quantities Of supplies marked EFFORT Henry were
socuredfrom the burning wrecks. Some had landed
and stored These ] seized, putting such as could
bring vessels and destroying the remainder
No ta,s other craft could be found. found, also,
OF the iron and plating intended for the Easport
Adcputaon OF citizens OF Florence waited upon me,
first desiring that they might be made able to quiet tho
fears OF their wives and daughters with assurances from
me that they would not be moested; and secondly,
praying that would not destroy their railroad bridge
nor sayagos and that we wero there to protect from
violence and to enforce the law and with reference
the second that the bridge were away we could ascend
no higher, and that 10 could possess no military inn
poriance, so far as ] saw, as IL simply connected
Florence itself with the railroad on thesouh bank Of The
river.
We had seized three Of their steamers one the halr
finished gunboat and had forced the rebels TO burn six
others loaded with supplies, andher loss with that of
the freight is heavy blow to the enemy. Two boats are
stl known TO be on the Tennessee and doubtless
hidden in some OF the creeks, where shall be able TO
ind them when there Is time for the search We
returned the night of the Sth 10 whore the khsport
lay The OF the Taylor had already gotten board
Of the prize an immense amount OF lumber, sc.
The Of the three boats set to work TO finish
the undertaking, and We have brought away probably
$50 600 feet Of the best quality of ship aud building unI
her all the iron, machinery spikes, plating nails Sc. be.
longing 10 the rebel gnboats. and caused the mill
destroyed, whore the lumber had been sawed.
Lieutenant Commanding Gwn had, in our absence,
listed twenty-five Tennssseans, who gave inornia
ton Of the cncamIment Of Colonel Drew rebel regiment
at savannah, Tennessee. porNon OF the six seven
hundred men known to be pressed men and all were
badly armed After consultation with IieGtenans Com
maudirg Gwin and Shrk. determined TO make land
attack upon the cncampmcnt. Lieutenant Commanding
shrk with thirty rienon came on board the Concstoga
leaving his vessel 20 guard the Easport, and,
panied by tho Taylor proceeded TO that place. pre-
pared to land one hundred and thirty riHemen aud a
tweivepounder rled howtzor. Lieutenant Commanding
Gwin took command Of this force when landed bit had
tho modification TO find the camp deserted.
The rebels had fed at O'Clock in the night leaving
considerable quantities OF arms clothing, Vhoes camp
utensils provisions implements Sc, ali OF which we're
secured destroyed and their winter quarters Of log
huts burned. lseizcd also large mail bag and
send you the letters giving military Information 1ho
gunboats were then dropped down to a point where
arms gathered under the rebel prcrs law,' had been
stored and armed party, under Second Master oudy
of the Taylor succeeded in seizng about seventy ros
and fowlng pieces Returning 10 Ccrro Gordo We took
the Eastport, Saio Wood and Muscle tow and came
down the river TO tho railroad crossing. The Muscle
sprang aeak and all efforts falling to prevent her sink
ing we forced 70 abandon her AMI with her a CON
siderable quantity Of nne lumber We are having trouble
in getting through the draw of the bridge here.
now como to the, TO me, most interesting portion OF
this report which cas- already become lengthy but
you will find some for this the fact
that IL embraces history OF laborsand movements day
night from the 9Th TO the 10th OF the month all Of
which details deem proper to give you. We have
with tho most gratifying proofs Of loyalty every.
where Tennessee and In the portions OF
Msssissipp and Alabama we visited Most affect
ing instances greeted almost hourly. Men. wo-
men and children several gathered in crowds OF
hndreds shouted their welcome and hailed their ma.
tcnal Gag with enthusiasm there msraking IL
geauine and heartiet These people brayod every
might once more be enjoyed, and they have experienced
a. they related every possible form Of persecution Tears
flowed freely down the choks Of men as wol Of
men and there wete those who had fought under tho
stars Stripes at Moutric w in this manner tcsti
hrd 10 their 10y.
This display of feeling and sense Of 'sdness sue