The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1862-03-15
II H E w A r.
TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY.

az any that has preceded 1t. The Occumtfohoi Vi 1>as
yille by the government forces is placed beyond Il
doubt Gen. Buell. at the head of'a portion OF ms
command entered the city on the I'd inst Inc repei
trooi,s after committing all manner of depi euatlons
on public property, destroying railroad BRIDGES &c.,
fell back un Murfreesboroo on the Nashville ana Clia-
tspooga Railroad, thirty-two miles southeast OF the
capital 1t is thought they will avail themselves OF
the mountain passes in that ncghb0rhoO, and oppose
the advance of our army into Northern Alabama
Gen. Buell. had with him in his advance from Bowl,
ING Green to Nashville, portions of NcCook's and
Mtchcs divisions but, soon after his arrival ut tne
latter place. was Joined by Crittendens and Nelson's
commands, who went up the Cumberland by steamer.
His force, allowing for garrisons at Bowling Green
and other points occupied, can not be less than forty
thousand troops. AS our troops progress in Tennes-
see We hear the most gratifying evidences OF the re-
vlval of Union feeling among the people. The lett
wing of Buell's army, under Gen. Thomas, BY this
time must be in the vicinity of Knoxville.
The bearers of the rebel flag of truce, who met
Commodore Foote and General Culom, near Celun-
bus ON the 23d inst made proposition for the evac-
uaton of columbus. This was referred to General
ualleck. But the terms proposed were rejected by
that officer and the despatched by the flag OF
truce which went down from Cairo on the 24th.
But since then Columbus has really been abandoned.
The following dispatch received from Commodore
Foote dated Cairo, March l. settles the matter: -
LEM. Commanding Phslgs e ssEith a aax St
and reports that Columbus is being evacuated. He
saw the Rebels burning their winter quarters, and re-
moving their heavy guns Oh the bluffs. But the guns
IN the water batteries remain intact He also saw
large force Of cavalry drawn up ostentaousy on the
bluffs but infantry to be seen as heretofore
The encampment seen in our armed reconnaissance
few DAYS since has been removed. Large fires were
visible in the town of Columbus and upon the river
banks below indicating the destruction of the town,
military stores and equipments,
4. If. FO0TE, Flag Officer"
II was believed that our forces would occupy the
,asce on March ID The rebels were to fall back on
Island No. 10 in the Mississippi River.
Gen. Buell. has also telcgraphed that Murfreesboro
had been abandoned by the rebels who were retreatlng
along the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad tearing
up the rails as they proceeded thus rendering pursuit
difficult.
A great change is found to have occurred already
IN the political feeling in Tennessee, and the War
Department feels itself warranted in taking measures
immediately to raise and arm volunteer troops III
that State. The important announcement is also
made bv authority, that the Tennessee and Cumber
land Rivers will be opened this week to free and
restricted commerce, under the order of the Sccre
tary of the Treasury. This will prove just meas
sre of relief to the loyal people Of Tennessee, who
have been subjected to the greatest dcprvatonS dur
hg the rebel occupation of the State.
More than this business messages have been recev-
ed in New York by telegraph from Nashville for
the first time since early last summer the Post Office
is taken possession of by the government; and the
President has designated the Hon. Andrew Johnson
10 be Brigadier General and he proceeds to Tennes
sce Immediately, to open a military provisional gov
ernment of Tennessee until the civil government shall
be reconstructed.
The rebel forces under Albert S. Johnston are be-
ing steadily pressed backward by Gen. Buell. Cotton
to the value Of 100000 has fallen into our hands at
Nashville, and the Treasury Department has taken
measures to have it brought to New York. So the
work goes bravely on.
The Rebel army, in their retreat from Nashville,
left behind 1900 of their sick and wounded. They
destroyed the bridges and burned all the steamboats,
king there but one, which escaped. The Texas SOL
diers fired the city in many places but the citizens
sxtnguished the flames.