Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-02-20
From the Memphis Avalanche, Feb. H., The Federal Invasion on-Steamboats De- stroyed-Return of the Gunboats

We had the pleasure of meeting Tn the city last night, several gentlemen who were employed on the steamboats in the Tennessee river, and who have furnished us detailed statement of the operations of the enemy on their recent trip. We have already stated that several steamboats, filled with provisions, ammunition, etc, passed the Tennessee river bridge 8 few hours after the capture of Fort Henry, and that they were pursued by the enemy's gun boats the next day From the information now at hand, we are enabled to furnish the following report of their operations.- About ten miles from the Tennessee river bridge the steamboat Y Sum Orr" in the Confederate service, and having on board the sick from Fort Henry, injured her wheel, and was compelled to transfer her passengers on the fleet steamer DunJar Il The next day the federal gunboats came up, when she was immediately set on fire She had seventeen hundred pounds of pow der and twenty seven submarine batteries, which made a terrific explosion. All her crgw were saved.
 VThe stcamboats Lynn Boyd,' Captain 'Smedley. and the Appleton Belle IcVCaptain Hoffman, were oveltaken by the tederals at tho mouth of Duck river, and were burnt by those on board.
 The steamboat Sal}ie Food, which has been laid up for months past at Chickasaw, was captured by the enemy. Chickasaw is about one mile from Eastport, and some of the federal officers are said to have gone ashore and made themselves very free with the inhabitants, protesting to be very friendly, and protesting that no one should be injured as long as no resistance was made.
 The steamboat Roj made good her es- cape up Five Mile Island, and was the only boat on that river that escaped.
 The steamboat Dunbar, which had the sick on board went to Florence and then mp Cypress creek, one mile and a half from the mouth of Passport, was pursued by the federals, and was finally sunk by her of fcers to prevent destruction by the federals
 The steamboat Eastpou, which was un- dergoing repairs for Confederate gunboat, was sunk by the men engaged on her, in sight of the federals, at Cerro Gordo, seven miles below Savannah, and fifty miles be- low Passport.
 When the federal gunboats got in sight of Florence, the steam boats Sum Kirhom, Capt Smedley, 2ime, Capt. Johnston, and Julius SmiM, Capt. Humphrey, were in port, and immediately preparations were made to burn all of them. The Time had on board about Sl00,0O worth of government stores, but before the federals could come up it was all in flames, com mon conflagration having put all these boats beyond the reach of the foe.
 The federals destroyed the Tuscumbia warehouse, but committed but few depre. dations at Florence. They went ashore and broke open the Confederate warehouse, and helped themselves to about 20, 900 pounds of salt meat. They also broke open 8 private warehouse, and were help ing themselves to the contents, when the proprietor, under flag of truce, went down and informed them that the proper ty was his; 1t was restored--the federal of feers stating that they were not there to interfere with private and individual rights, but simply to possess themselves of all the Confederate government stores. 1t is said that warehouse at Florence contained 1oO bales of cotton, but none of it was touched. It is said to be little singular that the federals, immediately on landing, went as straight to the Confederate govern mcnt warehouse as if they knew all about it.
 As already stated, the federal gunboats
 
 ed have made their report at headquarters before this. Whether they will return, and if so, how far they will go up, remains to be sceii. It seems to be generally con- ceded that their rscent trip was | sort of reconnaissance preparatory to an early re- turn to the same field of opsrations--a field which places them one hundred and