Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-02-20
THE "sTARs AND STRIPES
HAILED WITH TEARS OF JOY
ESQ Union Recruits Accepted
Boats taken and Destroyed
ARMS AND STORES CAPTURED.
CINCINNATI, Feb. II, 1869.

CINCINNATI, Feb. IL, 1862.
Special dispatches to the Gazette and
Commercial, dated Fort Henry, 10th inst.
petition up the Tennessee River:
After the capture of Fort Henry, the
Lexington, Conestoga, and Tyler gave chase
to the rebel steamer Dunbar, and on reach
ing the Memphis and Louisville Railroad
bridge, set fire to a portion oft, and captured
some stores, &c. They then passed on in
chase of the Dunbar, but did no. overtake
her. 1t is supposed that she escaped by
running up some creek.
During the night the gunboats went to
Florence, Alabama, the head of navigation,
and $50 miles from Paducah. Everywhere
along the river they were received with as
tonishing welcome by numerous Union fam
lilies in Southern Tennessee and Northern
Alabama, and at the towns along the river
the old flag was looked upon as a redeemer,
and hailed with shouts of joy.
Capt. Gwynn of the Tyler has recruited
thirty men for service on the gunboats, and
says he can get enough for the whole fleet.
The people of Florence are so delighted
at finding the Stars and Stripes once more
giving protection to them, that they were
prepared to give o grand ball to the officers
of the gunboats, but they could not remain
to accept of their courtesies.
Wherever our boats landed, and the peo.
pie became assured that we did not conn to
destroy but to save, they seemed to have no
means too extravagant to express their de-
light and joy.
Our gunboats captured four steamers, in
Guiding one unfinished gunboat, and burned
seven others.
They captured a large quantity of stores
and $50 stand OF arms.
One boat goes up the river this morn
ing.
The weather is improving, and the roads
drying.
The Commercial says hat our army in
Central Kentucky is in motion. Gen. Mel
SON division il marching along the Glasgow
turnpike. General Mitchell's division had
taking the advance OF the main column to
Bowling Green.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 12, 1862.
A special dispatch to the Republican,
dated Fort Henry, 18th inst, states that the
guIboats Conestoga, Tyler, and Lexington
returned from the Upper Tennessee last
night.
The boats went as far as Florence, Ala.
bama, and were 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 all they had was al
their disposal.
Large numbers were anxious to enlist un
der the old fng, and the Tyler brought dow
$50 men to fill up the gunboats' crews.
Our officers were assured that if they
would wait a few days whole regiments coulC
be raised, and if the Government would give
u them arms to defend themselves they coulc
bring Tennessee back into the Unionin a few
months.
They said that, when the Secession ordi
nance was passed, armed men stood at tn,
polls, and everything went as certain poll
%ticians said. s.
At Savannah, Eastport, and Florence
the officers and men Of our gunboats wen
I ashore without arms, and mingled freel,
, with the people.
The Union men along the river comprise
: the wealthiest h best portion of the inhabi
tants, large numbers of whom have Ameri
can flags.
Not a gun was fired, either going or com
. ing.
! The rebel gun boats Passport, Sallie Ward
and Muscle, only partially finished, wer,
captured, and ale here. The Eastport hat
8 $50, 900 feet-of lumber on board, and tn,
Q Ward had a quantity Of iron plating.
r The steamers Sam. Kirkman, Linn Boyd
5 Julia Smith, Sam. Orr, Appleton, and Bell
0 had been burned by rebels to prevent then
n from falling into our hands.
The Railroad Bridge at Florence was no
: destroyed.
o A quantity of papers were captured o.
the Eastport, belonging to- Lieut.. Brown
1 late Of the Federal Navy. Among then
. were letters from Maury, stating that sub
marine batteries could not be used success
fully in the rapid streams Of the West,
One hundred and fifty hogsheads Of tobac
co, and a quantity Of other freights, will b
brought down from the mouth Of Sand
River tomorrow.
A daily line of packets has been establish
ed between Fort Henry and Cairo.
Nothing during the wal has been so pro'
a trating to the rebels as the late victory O
the gunboat expedition mentioned above.