Nebraska advertiser., 1862-02-20
Fr. Henry. Tenn. Feb. l.


The gunboat Tyler, Capt. Gwin, the
advance of the Alabama gunboat expe-
dition, has Just arrived.
The Conestoga and Lexington will ar
rive during the night with several prizes
in tow.
The two latter boats went to Florence
Ala, and the Connestoga went to East
port, Miss, % or 80 miles this side.
The officers of the boats bring the
most cheering news of the Union senti-
ment of southern Tennessee, and north
ern Mississippi and Alabama. The boats
we're received with the utmost enthusi-
asm on the entire route.
A fervent love for the Union still ex-
lists ! n this section. The Union people
here only need The protection of the arm
of the Government to raise in defense of
the Constitution under which they have
been born and reared, and under which
they desire to die.
AS the boats passed up the river, they
were greeted by men, women and chill
dren. Old men with grey hairs wept at
The sight of the stars and stripes; invited
the officers to their houses. and told them
all they had was at their disposal.
The gunboats filled out their crews
with Tennesseeans anxious to serve I'M
der the old flag.
The Tyler has alone about $50 men,
six of whom were members of a rebel
cavalry company, who had been drifted
into service.
Capt. Gwin was assured that if they
would wait a few days until they could
send out into the country, he could get a
boat load of men. Thousands are anx-
ious 10 enlist.
Not a shot was fired by the boats, eth
er in going up or returning, except one
which was fired from the Passport, which
was being converted into a gunboat. An
attempt was made by the rebels to scut-
tie this boat, but the COnestoga was too
quick for them, and captured her.
She is a fine and very fast steamer
Ten thousand dollars will complete her.
All her iron plating was Oh board
Two other boats, the Sallie Ward and
the Muscle. were captured. The Mus
Gle being overloaded, subsequently sunk.
The Eastport and Sallie Ward are in tow
of the ~gunboats.
The Steamers Sam. Kirkman, Linn
Boyd, julie Smith, Tim, Samuel Orr,
and Appleton Belle, were burned BY the
rebels, who were apprised of our ap-
proach by the Dunbar. The Smith had
three hundred pounds of powder, which
exploded with tremendous force, nearly
blowing the Connestoga, 800 feet from
her. out of the water.
The Durbar being very fast kept out
of the way, and running up a little riv-
ulet escaped.
Quite a quantity of rebel commissary
stores have been seized.
The officers of the Tyler say the Uni
on men along the river comprise the best
and weolthiest portion of the people.
A fearful reign of terror has existed
throughout that section. The people
have been deprived of all their arms
ever to their squirrel guns. The citizens
assured the gunboat officers that if the
government would provide them with
arms whole regiments of Union men
could be raised. Many who visited he
boats had Union flags.
At Savannah, Clifton, Passport, and
Florence. the boats tied up to the bank,
and the officers and men, without side
arms. mingle freely with the people.
There is no doubt Of the genuineness of
the sentiments expressed by the larger
portion OF the population.
One man who enlisted on the Tyler,
says he has not slept on his farm for a
month, being constantly pursued by the
rebels. who desired to press him into the
service.
Many others who enlised, had been
obliged to take an oath of allegiance to
the Confederate States. One man who
came down on boord the gunboats, said
he had been ducked twice in a pond near
his house, because he had refused to take
the oath. He had told them to "duck and
be damned }" and stood out to the last.
The railroad bridge at Florence was
destroyed.