The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-02-20
Trip of the Gunbonts mp the Tennessee.

!
! The gunboats Lexington, Conestoga 81 Tay-
lor, which went up the Tennessee River imme-
diately after the surrender of Fort Henry, rc-
turned on the 10Th After taking the Fort, they
gave chase to the rebel steamer Dunbar. Reach
! ing the bridge of the Memphis, GAINESVILLE and
| Louisville Railroad, WEIGH crosses this river "
miles above, our boats set fire to portion of it,
! took a quantity of stores, &c, and passed on
in chase of her. 1t is supposed she escaped by
running up some creek in the night.
Our gunboats went as far as Florence, Ala
bama, the head of navigation for large steamers,
being about $50 miles from Paducah. Every
where along the rver they were received with
astonishing welcome by the hume rous Union
! families in Southern Tennessee and Northern
Alabama, and at the little towns along the river,
the old flag was looked upon a red semer, and
hailed with shouts of joy AS an earnest, to
show that the sentiment was genuine, Capt
Gwin, of the Taylor, recruitedi3O'men for ser
vice on the gunboats, and says he can get az
many more recruits as would man the whole
feet These people have suffered much from the
oppression heaped upon them by the viainous
usurpations of these rebel v8ndas.
There are now in Tennessee, Mississippi and
Alabama, through all of which States our gun
boats have now passed. better Union men by
half than generally are found along the Ohio riV-
er. Many of tie people at Florence were,,s de-
more their protection, that they proposed to
give a bail to the officers of the gunboats but
as they were under orders, they could not remain
TO accept their cOurtesies. Wherever our beats
landed. the people, after the first fright and
when they became ASSURED that the gunboats
did not come to destroy, but to save, seemed to
have no means too extravagant TO express their
delight and JOY.
The rebels burnt all the steamers on the river
MID find Among ihasa burned he
steamers Lynn Boyd, Sam Or, Smith, Time
Sam Kirhham, Appleton aud Belle. Our gun
boats captured three Of their steamers, one of
which, the Eastport was being built for gun
boat, and not quite finished. The rebels tried to
scuttle her, but had not time enough to succeed
She was teken to Savannah, Tenn, and had on
board large quantity OF plate-iron for her com
pletion. Capt. Gwn says she will make spen-
did gunboat, and has the advantage of speed
The other boats taken were named Sally Woods
and the Muscle, the latter being loaded with lum-
ber--some 50, 900 feet
An encampment of 600 men under Col Crews,
which was recruiting a short distance back of
the town of Savannah, learning of our gunboats
having passed to Florence Immediately dispers-
ed. Our officers not being aware OF the exist
ence of his encampment when passing up, stop
ped there on their return, and Capt. Gwin, with
100 men, detachments from the three gunboats
accompanied dy Lieut.. Sbrk. with another off
Ger, marched out 70 the cncampment, which find
lug abandoned they set fire to. They captured
large quantity of Quartermastcr's and Com
missary stores, and $50 stand of arms. The
provi-ions were distributed among the destitute
Union men, IA was done AT several other points
where commissary stores were taken.
Calicoes are worth 81 per yard, and whiskey
81 81 per quart There is considerable suffer
ing among the population