The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-01-28

as is possible. We have thus far made three trips up
the Tennessee River to Eastport, with convoy, and
have had several skirInishes with the rebels. but no
general engagement, as they have no batteries, ana
three or four shells from our 80 Founders generally
disperse them.
The Tennessee is a narrow swift running stream,
and in some places the channel passes within = few
feet of the shore the rebels lie concealed in the cane
brake near the waters edge. and usually FIRE up at
US. They are so low down, and so near us. wa can
not dspTess our cannon TO reach them st the time.
but are obliged to pass them, and then shell the spot
from short range. As they sksda8de the moment
they FIRE, it is seldom We do them any damage. Our
presence. however, saved the town OF Paducah, Ky,
from destruction, as the rebels under Faulkner. a
notorious guerrilla leader. had advanced within two
miles of the place with 500 men, when We fortunately
made our appearance, much to the joy of the inhab-
itanis, both Secessionists and Union, as the guerrillas
make no distinction in their plumber. Faulkner had
previously sent word in TO the commander of the
post, who had only 200 Union troops. that he should
come in with the black flag in one hand and the
torch in the other. But our arrival sent him to the
right about.
%We are now at this place, having conveyed Is
large steamers safely here, and leave with % steam
ers on which all the material, men, and ordnance,
Alc u y liauSPcllCd ~ OiuhoOu y III nv -S
sissippi, IS miles below Cairo. The scene as I write
is magnificent, we are embarking 4 900 troops.
The day is perfectly beautiful. and the music of q
fine band, attached to the 17sth n. Y, and q drum
corps with the Zouaves. adds to the enjoyment of the
scene. We expect to get peppered away at going down
the river, as the rebels are all around. This post is
to be evacuated, and the mouth of the Tennessee
b~lockaded, aud all supplies prohibited. 1t was here
that General Sherman, a few weeks ago, crossed
with Is 200 men on his way to Chattanooga to REIN
force Grant. We have the State of Alabama on the
other side of the river, and pass through Kentucky,
Tennessee, and a part OF Mississippi on our way up1
Day before yesterday we passed the ruins of Fort
Henry, where the first battle was fought on this
river, a short distance above is Fort Iayman. which
surrendered 10 Grant on his taking Fort Henry.
Yesterday we passed Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh,
also famous in the history of this rebellion as the
scene Of a naval victory. Thousands of mounds,
where alike lay in their last slumber the Union
soldier and the foe, are ali that appear as mementoes
of the evil passions of our race, and the screech Of
the hawk, and growl of the wolf grated harshly on
our ears as in the dim twilight we steamed past
this great sepulchre. But | fear l weary you with
my long yarn. SO promising, should this meet a place
in your columns, to send you another occasionally as
incidents occur, and also to add a postscript if on our
"Trip uOWn VIII u convoy duylniUS Ol HOte snOulu
transpire, merely adding the writer's private expert
ence as to the feelings of the people along the river,
| will toind up.
M, with whom | have conversed of the resident
population of Kentucky, Tennessee. Mississippi and
Arkansas, are anxious for Il settlement Of the lcar,
and to come back under the old flag. Eren prison
ers, whom we have occasionally transported, acknowl-
edge the grand mistake made by commencing the
struggle. The only difficulty is. how shall peace be
made? The everlasting niger, an important item
Of property, they have made up their minds to sacri-
nee. In the words of q rebel Major, with whom |
conversed a few days ago, who at the time was a
prisoner in our hands, and who was n gentleman of
fine education and culture, who admi tied "the mig
ger is played out but what next ?-"How shall zee
honorably unite ourselves again to the old Union 20
" We are satisfied TO fight on, and de. II need be,
until this question IL ~ '~d t. tue @ati1f"o,i0u of ttc
South" OF course I, an humble individual, could
only accept the alternative. Uhat the solving of this
query will involve. is az much a mystery TO rne as it
is to Major -; but in the execution of the latter
and practical portion of it, every boy. man, and
officer, in the Mississippi fotilla, is equally tenacious
Of the honor of the North.
x cannot resist the impulse to mention in this con-
nection an anecdote illustrating the esprit de corps.
which animates the officers and men of our navy.
The facts of this incident are verified by our pilot,
Thomas Carroll, "a loyal Missourian, } 81 the time
feet pilot on the flag ship of Admiral Farragut. the
staunch old Hartford. AS the officer was a near
and dear relative OF one of the most esteemed ladies
of Honolulu, this little incident will, l trust. cause a
throb Of pride for the brave son Of her native land
in whose veins fowel the same blood rs in her own
Lieut.. Commander W lay Frustrated by fever,
each hour supposed to be his last by the watchful
mesSmates around him. \ necessity arose to shell a
rebel battery at Donalisonville, La, and TO use the
broadside as we'll as the 6ow guns. Admiral Farra'
gut, out OF regard to the feelings Of the dying gentle
man. co~untermanded the order. telling the signal
officer to signal the Bro0klyn, and CGyuga to en-
gage instead. Quite Intentionally the order to coun-
termand was overheard by the Lieut.. Commanding,
ucho gasps2, " Tell them to FIRE away boys, it will do
me good Shortly after he breathed his last.
Yours. J. C. s. +