The New York Herald Newspaper, March 8, 1862, Page 3

THE RECENT ELECTIONS. The Union People Asking for Arms to Drive the Rebels from the State, THE UNION TROOPS IN NASHVILLE, Scenes and Incidents Under the Military Occupation. GOV. HARRIS AT MEMPHIS. Sketch of General Andrew Johnson, the New Union Military Gov- ernor of Tennessee. “Hail Columbia” and “Yankee Doodle” in Nashville. Rohel Official Report of the Battle at Fort Donelson, &e., —— Sr. Lows, March 7, 1862. A special despatch dated Cairo, 6th inst., says that Lieutenant Gwin, of the gunboat Tylor, reached there last night from the Tennessee river. ‘The enemy had not resumed their attempt to fortify Pittsburg landing. Lieutenant Gwin landed under a fing of truce, and was permitted to go a mile from the river before being stop- ped by the pickets of the enemy. ‘The object of Lioutenant Gwin was to obtain an ex- change of prisoners which had been taken last Saturday. On the morning after the engagement nine dead bodies and one hundred wounded were found in the encampment of the enemy, whith had been removed three miles from the river. Lieutenant Gwin thinks the loss of the rebels in the engagement was twenty killed and two hundred wound. ed. Their force engaged was 1,000 infantsy, 500 cavalry and six picees of artillery. At Corinth, Miss., eighteen miles from the Tennesseo river, the rebels have 1,500 to 2,000 troops. At'Henderson station, a mile from the Tennessee river, there were from one thousand to two thousand rebels. At Bear creek, seven miles back of Eastport, Miss., there wore from oight hundred to one thousand of the &&., &e, enemy. It was reported that the rebels were fortifying Chica- hewa. ‘The result of the recent election in Hardin and McNairy counties shows the strength of the Union sentiment in Southern Tennessce. The former gave 500 out of 1,000 ‘votes for the Union candidate, and the latter. 200 majori- ty out of 1,800 votes. Lieutenant Gwin says that the cry of the people is, (Send us arms and sufficient forces to protect us in or- ganizing, and we will drive the rebels out of Tennessee ourselves.’” A second visit to Columbus has revealed many facts of interest. Colonel Buford, who has made acomplete ex- amination of the earthworks, says they are six miles Jong.” Trade With Nashville, Tenn. Lovsvig, Ky., March 7, 1862. ‘The military rostrictions on trade between Northern ports and Nashville, Tenn., have been removed. “Hail Columbia” and ‘' Yankee Doodle.” lence more, I am happy to inform you, hear the pleasant sounds of ‘Hail Columbia’ and ‘Yankee Doo. die” in our midst; and I can tell you it was avery agreeable sight to the loyal people of this State to see the Stare and Stripes waving over the dome of our beautiful Btate Capitol, The Union troops throng our streets day and night. Evaxrmp, Tenn., opposite Nashville, 2?" Mareh 1, 1862. } The Arrival of the Union Troops and Possession Taken by Themof the City of Nashville—What Our Troops Have Succecded in Securing—The Destruction by the Rebels, dc. We have arrived at Edgefield, and before us lies Nash- ville, all communication with it having been cutoff by old flag floats above all, giving sécurity aug peace to the long enslaved inbabitants of the ‘Rock City.? General Buell has assumed the command in the field, and is at the head of thiscolumn, In a week he will Vave eon bela, sm anmey easel, all pape 0 oe wi under Genera) Grant, tq be hoped, ono act wah The cope ibility. ‘Does thie not ing climax to a brilliant campaign? The results undoubtedly magnificent. ‘The whole of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad is in our hands, a part of it uninjured. The great central point: eyance of the most important rail - roads in the State have fallen into our hands, and a large amount of the rolling stock of three of thom. The Chat- tanooga Kailroad bag beon destroyed, the rolling stock having been taken to Murfreestoro. It is fair to pre- the Tennersec and: Alabama Railroad But this destruction will ro- We can afford to i (Correspondence of the St. Louis epee NASHVILLE, Tenn. , Fob. 27, 1862. I left Clarksville on the steamer N. W. Thompson, in company with a portion of General Nelson's division. ‘There were some twenty boats, and we arrived on Mon- day, at three o'clock P.M. The Fight wing of the regi- ments or division was formed on square, and at four o’clook all the bands were playing national airs, and at Jeast ten thousand citizens were out to see ‘Lincoln's ‘Yankees.”’ It wasaglorioas sight. General Buell and staff were also here, but his division could not cross the river,as the rebels had burned the bridge,and they cculd not come over until yesterday. ‘The ing Srery attention from the doth sides. are in two semi- naries, Among tho ladies are Mrs. Ex-President Polk, Mrs. John Bell and daughter: Gcneral Grant, Genoral McCiernand, Colonel Wallace ‘and Captain Stewart, Ald de Camps to’ Genoral MoCler- nand, and Surgeon Brenton, the Medical Director, arrived thie morning, and if ever there was a pleavant timo it was on réciug them. General MeClornand and staff, on their arrival, visited the various hospitals, aud it was ® pleasant sight to ses the wounded grasp him by the hand, and to tbe words of encouragernont he addressed to them. General MecClernand has aise jast cause to be proud of his ihe that hag stood ¢9 aobiy by him at Bolmont an’ Fort Don- elvon. Bisiness a a genoral thing is being resumed by tho citizens since Meyor Cheatham sssned his proclamation, ant a better feeling exists among all classes of the - lation. General MeClernand called on the widow of Ex- President Polk, and she asked that he would protect the pag a mand rej L was grat 8 it was: "i of the federal arms to afford tion to all 'y As for the tomb of President Polk, it was @ national thonument, cherished Ueto and country. Hon, Wm. Polk, ex-member of tho federal Congress, —— Yeading citizens, also called on General MeCler- nand. ‘There is room to believe that thero is a large ma- ee" aad os ah lae sep cali here Union rrespondence of the St. Louis iblican. Tes uatwase, tanren 1,1 The rebel capital of Tennessee has grown woudrously juiet of late, and its pore Jose sullen than whon we rst entered. Contact with biae army cloth no longer seems contaminating, and if @ soldier is persevering jo the question line, can occasionally get an answer from Sir Citizen. One after another, they come slowly along the walk, universally wearing a black felt hat set down with is, the crown out ef crumpled brim hinting strongly ells beneath. One of those prophetic souls, an ‘old writer,’’ says the man- ner of wearing the head gear tells much that dwells in tha head, whether ‘tis joy or woe, There is none of that manly tread and eye flashing de- flanes the Southern papers have toll us to expect, and which Americans are eminently capable of showing whon their ca so is just. and the tron heel of oppression atten to ge nd them. The remaining inhabitants of Nasheilie lo Dot inda'ge in any of this, but go aout gicomy and taciurD, MOpINg (romM lore Lo store, seldom from their princely resi- hiding places algo, and stand in the doors ‘ ‘non-eommittal in speech or action. I noticed at one house @ group of children playing on them Pveautitul little Southerner, with dark and wealth of ringlets, who, as we passed; oki to front step, and, either accidgptally ca: 'y , exposed a small secession apron, the three bars and stars stamped upon it, while its owner, placing one seus a6 jet her nose, and her little finger against that of the r hand, went through that childish and grace- ful motion whose precise meaning has never yet been determined. Some say it expresses profound knowledge; others. und contempt. ‘If Nashville ever becomes Union, it will be when Gabriel turns final trumpeter,” exclaimed my soldier friend, who had witnessed the noseical display with as- tonishinent, and to whose bright buttons it was bei 2 Just afterwards we met a crowd of negroes on their way to the levee to view the troops and gunboats. Ask- ing one where he was going, he said, “To sce dem Unioners.” He had been in Fort Donelson. and was brought back by his master, who fled with Pillow. ‘I tell you what, sah,” said he, ‘Massa Linkum shoot dam straight; knocked the head off Parson Bigelow’s nigger clean as if cut with a knife. Lor now the kannerstir spikes did fly. Massa sed Linkum useda keg 0? nails h load.” And down the street they went with regu- lar plantation swagger, inercasing in number at every corner. So many, in the good old times gone by, have visited Nashville that they will remember a beautiful lawn just below the Court House, with one or two fine ehade trees upon it. Now the ground there is blackened with charred remains of some gun carriages and caisgons strewn around. They were burned by Floyd before he fled. Al- though bea eres artificial beauties of Nashville are destroyed, the natural ones remain generally unmarred. On the numerous fino estates surrounding, trees are bud- ding and grass springing forth, but no signs of care are visible. Fences remain down, garden borders washed away, while negroes, having no masters to superintend them, wander shiftlessly about, aud white laborers long ago were driven into Confedgrate service. ‘Never did a city present more evidences of rapid rain than Nashville doos, No money, except worthless scrip, few luxuries, no mail facilities, nor anything that makes Ife desirable in loyal places. ‘the merchants would long ago have been bankrupt had they attempted to pay their debts, When the war broke out thore were larg amounts of silyer and gold through the South. Now there is none, Those few that could amags it did, and immediately buried or hid their treasuré, having ao abiding faith in scrip, which passed and floated along the sha low channel of trade simply because there was nothing else. Genuine ‘‘shopping,” with a salesman anxious to sell his goods, has not, citizens assure me, been seen in Nash- ville for six months. The levee is also under water, and the Cumberland rushes in a flood along house wallson Front atreet. At present the citizens here are rejoicing in it quantities of bacon and army stores. These had besn gathered in from the surrounding country, giving in ex- change scrip, and when Nashville became threatened the whole was distributed to keep it from serving the enemy. Mrs. James K. Polk has an elegant residence near the city, and the remains of her husband, once President of the United States, are buried here. One of our generals had a short interview the other day with Mrs. Polk, and although their meeting was pleasant, as far as politeness could make it, no doubt remained of the lady's faith in the Southern cause. She took occasion to say that, although the people of the United States once made her husband President, the abolitionists did not do it. The members of the Legislature have many beautiful places here, which are empty, as those felicitous indivi- ‘duals stop at present in Memphis, The greatest blow to Nashville has been the destruction of its two fine bridges across the Cumberland. Of that I gavo full particulars in my last. Governor Harris’ words, when waited upon by the ci 8 and requested to re- frain from such vandalism, wei to this—hesitating to sacrifice two paltry pieces of timber for the cause. Go back and tell those who sent you that another word and their own roofs will be blazing above them,” As reiated to me by one of the committee, the outburst of the great bridge burner was spiced with ‘tall oaths,” conscientious Harris being no exception to the general rule a man goes by when mad. Although de- nouncing bitterly the conduct of their traitor ruler, the safferers, with a prospect that it may be years before the. structures will be replaced, still cling to a cause that is | ruiping them. 1 see by reports in on ¥. © papers that the enemy is affirmed to be at Murfr and surrounded by Gen. Buell’s forces. This is entirely false. There is every reason to believe that the rebel army will make no stand this side of Chattanooga, two hundred miles distant in Fast Tennessee, a point where they cannot be, for the present, at least, surrounded, and where thero is direct communication with Richmond and the extreme South. Numerous small bodies of rebels have been left behina to disguise the retreat of their main body, and are constant- Jy skirmishing with the Union pickets. The rebel force under Gen. » Now retreating upom Chattanooge, is forty thousand strong, but even eir friends, who suffered #0 severely from them as they fled through Nashville, say the fugitives are only a disorganized mob. Nashville will be permanently occu- pied by a sufficient force to bold itagainst any attempt at recapture. REBEL ACCOUNTS. Occ of Nashville. {From the At Ga.) Confederacy, March 2.) ‘We learn from an entirely reliable source that. there are about 8,900 of the enemy in Nashville, who are quar- tered in the Capitol and all the public buildings of the city, over all of which the Stars and Stripes are waving. ‘they are rapidly erecting fortifitations--guns, batteries, &c.—at every point of ‘on this side of the city. ‘The city appears almost literally deserted. Ladies are never seen upon the'streets, the inhabitants keep themaelves close. Neil S. Brown and several other prominent citizens have peen arrested. Governor Harris at Memp! {From the Memphis Appeal, Feb, 20. Governor Harris, of Tennessee, having taken the fcld reson, issued the following general orders on tho 19th February, from Executive headquarters at Memphis:— To ™: Muutu:— . The State of has been invaded by an ‘Tennessce that threatens the destruction of the rights and es ot meet and repel which you are required to cali ay once tothe field the whole effective force under command {haf is or can be armed which you will immediately organizt Qg march to the rendezvous hereafter designated. 2. You will make vigilant efforts to secure for the troojs under your command every available weapon ef defence that can be had. 3. The militia in the First division, from ug gouptes above and adjoining Kuox county, wilt rendey a city of Knoxville, The militia from the ccunties in this division south of Knoxville will rendezvous at Chatta- (a. The militia of the Second and Third divisions will rendezvous at Gen. A. §. Johnston's headquarters, The militia in the Fourth division, from the countios of Henry, Weakley, Gibson, Carroll, Benton, Decatur, Ger. din Lixaey Hardeman and Madison, wis reidezvous at fi ation, and tone F counties Mohs antelctens ei name Soeeetols scvingh }, Tho gener: rs wi mi te meats for the transportation to and the supply and sub- sistence of their commands at said rendezvous. All re- ceipts and ee by them for such purpose will be the part of the State, They will, by proper orders, squads into com. 5. Thorough and efficient drill and discipline of the forces must be enforced by all commanders. 6. and constant reports must be made by offl- cors ans ct Posts and dotachments tothe Commander-in-Chief. 7. R. C. Foster, of the county of Davidson, is inted Acting Major General for the Second division of Ten- hessee militia. 8. Edwin H. Ewing, of the county of Rutherford, is ge Acting Major General for the Third division of i= J Polk of she ity of is ted 9. jus J. coun! Acting Brigadier General for the Twenty-fourth’ brigade of Tennessee militia. 10. As rapidly as it can be done after proper arr: ments are , a8 ordered herein, the forces y called out will be removed to their respective rendezvour, ‘The Commander-in-Chief relies upon your activity and promptoess in the execution of this order. It is your attention to duty that will make efficient soldiers of your commands. By command of ISHAM G. 4 ‘W. C. Wurrmnoase, Adjutant General, The Battle of Fort Donclson. OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL PILLOW. orl bee the Atlanta ph J General Pillow took command of Fort Doneisan on Feb- ruary 8, and he says that he immediately set to work to improve its aefences. This was done under the super- vision of Major Gilmer, chief engineer of General A. 8. se staff, Before the works were io gels low states, General Floyd, his senior in , arrived, He then saye:—I had Brigadier General Buckner in command of the right wing, and Brigadier General Johnson in command of the left. By inary efforts we had barely got all the works in a defensible condi. won, when the encmy made an advance in force around and against the entire line of outer works. cpa ety GR an gun readers ae familiar “a on the 12th of which our OUR LINES CLOSING AROUND HIM. ‘The General continues thus:— M On the 14th inst, the enemy was busy throwing his pes Rt arm around us, oxtending his line of in- vestment enti wr Our position, and completely or the evoning of this we ascertain. ed that the enemy had received additional ments by steamboat. We were now surrounded by an immense force, said by prisoners to amount to fifty-two regiments, and overy road and possible avenue of de- parture was cut off, with the certainty that our sources of supply by the river would soon be cut off by the ene- my’s batteries placed upon the river above us, 1 of a “Gomnt eneery called At a council of the general ers, ‘by Goneral Floyd, it was unanimously determined to give the enemy battle next day at daylight, go as to cot open a route of exit for our troops to the interior of the country, and thus save ourarmy. Wehad knowl that prin- cipal portion of the enemy’s forces were massed in en- campment in front of our extreme left, commanding the two ronds leading into the interior, one of which we must take jn leaving our position, We knew that le had messed i ee an env force on the Union Ferry road fopposite the centr and anowber in front of the left of our rich wing, our left wing, His of his encampments, and on each tion a battery of fleld artillery, fron guns on carriages. ments on the and black jack, maki nouvre any consider: The plan of tack ed :, “and directed a agreed upon, Floyd, to be executed, was, that with the main body fe gerd of our left ane moat attack the ae = of the enemy, occupying and resting upon t to the Danie of the river, ae cenit bp rest’s brigade of cavalry; that Brigadier General Buckner, with the forces under his command, and defendin: the right of our line, should strike the enemy’s encampment and forces on the Winn’s Forry road; that the forces under Colonel Heiman should hold his position, and that each command should leave in the trenches troops to hold them. WHAT PILLOW COUNTED UPON DOING. In this order of battle it was easy to be scen that if my attack was successful, and the enemy routed, that his retreat would be along his line of inycetment toward the ‘Winn’s Ferry road, and thence toward his reserve at the gunboats below. other words, my success would roll the enemy’s force in retreat over upon Gen. Buckner, when, by his attack in front and rear, we could cut up . the enemy and put him completely to rout. Accordingly, dispositions were made to attack the enemy. At five o'clock A. M., of the 15th, I moved out of my position to eugage him, In less than half an hour our forces were engaged. He was prepared to meet me in advance of his encampment, and he did meet me before! had assumed line of battle, and while I was moving against him without any formation for the ongagement, For the first half hour of the engagement I was much embarrassed in getting the command in position pro- perly to meet the foe. Having extricated myself from the pesition, and fairly engaged him, we fought him for nearly two hours before 1 made any decided advance upon him, He contested this fleld most stubborniy. ¢ loss of both armies at this portion of the fleld was heavy; the enemy's particularly, as I discovered by riding over the fleld, after the battle, with Genoral Floyd. The enemy having been forced to yield this portion of the field, retired slowly towards tle Winn’s Ferry road Buckner’s point of attack. He did not retreat. but fell back fighting us, contesting every inch of ground. ‘The tight was hotly and stubbornly contested on both sides, and it consumed the day till twelve o'clock to drive him back as far ag the centre, where General Buck- ner’s command was to flank him. While my command was advancing and slowly driving him. I was anxiously expecting to hear General Buckner’s command open fire in his rear, which, not taking place, I feared some mis- apprehension of orders, and came from the feld of battle within the works to learn what was the matter. I there found the command of General Buckner massed behind the ridge within the work, taking shelter from the ene- my’s artillery cn the Winn road, it having been forced to retire before the battery, as I learnedfrom him. My force was still slowly advancing, driving the enemy towards the battery. I directed General Buckner imme- diately to move his command round to the rear of the battery, turning its loft, keeping in the hollow, and attack and carry it. . ° Before this movement was executed, my force, form- ing the attacking party on the right, with Forrest's regi- ment (cavalry), eee: charged the battery, supported by a body of infantry, ving itand forcing the battery fas ng one six Legs of Page nnd brass and wo twenty-four pound iron guns. ‘suing the enemy falling back from this position, Gendral Buckner's forces became united with mine, and engaged the onem: in hot contest of nearly au hour with largo forces of f1 troops that had now met us. This position of the enemy being carried by our joint forces, I led off further pur- sujt after sevgn and a half hours’ of continuous and bloody conflict. After tho troops were called off, orders were immediately given to the different commands to form and retire to’ their original positions in the in- trenchments. STORMING OF BUCKNER'S INTRENCHMENTS, The operations of the day had forced the entire com- mand of the enemy around to our right wing and in° front of General Buckner’s position in the intrenchments, and when his command reached his position ho found the enemy rapidly advancing to take ion of this por- tion of the work. He had astubborn conflict, lasting one and a haif hour, to regain it, and the enemy actually got possession of the extreme right of his position, and held it so firmly that he could not dislodge him. The position thus gained by the enemy was a most commanding one, being immediately in the rear of our river battery an field work for its protection. From it he could readily turn the intrenched work occupied by General Buckner, and — meray font or advance ha cover of an intervening ri irectly upon our battery and field work. While he held this position it was tuanifest wo could not hold the main work or battery. ‘TBE CONDITION OF THE TROOPS ON SATURDAY. Such was the’condition of the armies at fall, after nine hours of conflict on the 16th inst. , in which our loss was severe, leaving not less than 5,000 of the enemy dead aud,wounded on the field. We left upon the field’ nearly all his wounded, because we could not remove them. We left his dead unburied, because we could not Such conflict and courage has, perhaps, never before occurred upon this continent. We took about three hun- dred prisoners and a large number of arms. We bad fought this battle to open the way for our army and re- lieve us from au investment which would necessarily re- ee famine. Wo had occupied cu prom ‘fo leave, after, taking in the Jed coul ve, r ia wounded aud dead, the enemy had again in the night an immense force of fresh t and reoccupied his original position in the line of investment, inpostrme aioe hoe ange prot te troops, _ s proportion PB t! ai y ive days, to snow, slect, mud and ice fwases, wtanoat shelter and without adequate covering, and without sleep, hag depart tree namie fe mm yd FLOYD, PILLOW AND BU 5 In this condition the officers heid a consultation to determine what they should do. General Buckner gave it as bis decided opinion that he could not hold his Pporition one half an hour against an assault of the ene- my, the enemy would next = morn at daylight. The then made by undersigned to again through the enemy's line and cut our way out. General Buckner ‘said his command was 80 worn out and cut to pieces and demoralized, that he could not make another fight; that it would cost the command three-quarters of its present numbers to cut its way through, and it was wrong to sacrifice three-quarters of a command to save one-quar- ter; that no oficer had a right to cause such a sacrifice. Gen. Floyd and Major Gilmer ] understood to concur in this opinion. pressed the opinion that we could hola out another day,and in that time we could got steamboats and set the command over the river, and probably save a large portion of it. To this General Buckner replied that the enemy would certainly attack him ai daylight, and that he could not hold his position half an hour. The alternative of the fee Aloe was ® surrender of their position and command. General Floyd said that be would neither surrender the fommnend ‘wyuia née surrender nimeSt «prisoner. 1 hadt ant caeoseae General Beckuer said he was falisfied nothing else could be done, and that, there- “fore, he would surrender i pnces in command. ral Floyd said that he would turn Over the command to him if he could be allowed to withdraw hie command; to this General Backner consented. Thereupon General Floyd \arhed the command over to me, I passing it instantly to General Buckner, saying | weuld neither surrender the command nor mysel Colonel For- rest to cut his way out. ircumstances, General Bu COS] u |, and sent a flag of truce to the éneiny for an armistice of six hours to for terms of capitulation. Before this flag and communication were delivered | retired from the gar- rigon. Speech of General Pillow on the Battle at Fort Donelson. ‘Tho Memphis papers of the 26th ult. say that General Pillow, a tones 2 an Lal pan! bmi a short, inte- Testis juent 8 L) explain! Creumatances of tho battle of Fort. bonelson adit. caper g a He rx ae Tennesseeans to rush to arms, would sustain on other fields. He said the was by Gen. body of 1, Sour inde- ee ae achieved as certainly as he then ad- ‘the aud! ence. The Appeal says the speech of General Pillow evinced the sane courageous aud featlees spirit which he has al- waye exhibited in the fleld—that of invincibility. which has befallen the confederacy. the lines of General Jobnstom, and caused him to retreat, No General has acquitted himself with more skill and honor than has General Pillow, He fought numbers pon ae own, and Le gallant ir rear tor! charged upon those the cool assurance of ‘‘Napoloon’s Old Guard.” It is said that hen riiculars of the fight, ‘that Goneral ‘this continent.’” illow had fought the greatest battie of His courage no one questions, and his energy is as untir- ing as his aspirations aro high. Sketch of the Hon. Andrew Johnson, Military Governor of Tennessee. ‘Wednesday we announced tho appointment of the above named gentleman as Military Governor of Tennessee, with all the powers, duties and functions pertaining to that office, during the pleasure of the President, or untii the loyal inhabitants of that State shall organize a civil government, in accordance with the constitution of the United States. The present government of Tennessee Veing a usurpation, every proper encouragement will, through the military government, be given to the loyal people to assume its control. The designation of Gene- ral Johnson for that position is considered by everybody ‘as eminently proper, both in view of his peculiar fitness for the office and of his great popularity amotg all loyal people, besides his devotion to his own State. The Go- vernor, by the acceptance of the office, necessarily va- cates his position as Senator, The term for which ho wag elected will not expire till March next. ‘The atti which the Hon. Andrew Johnson has always assumed in the politics of the country has justly commanded the admiration of true patriots, and of al! who admire (hat Kind of motel courage that causes a man to forego all selfish promptings, and sacrifice him- ORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1862—TRIPLE SHEET. ‘Deing oncamped on the bankof | ing out of the present rebellion he was the idol of the | much for it in the way of defences. The city is situated | Committee of the Whole upon General Fremont Southern democracy; and had he permitted himself to | immediatelybelow the mouth of Wolf river, on thefourth float upon the wave of secession and treason there 1s not a doubt but that he would have been placed at the head of that revolutionary government, the Southern confede- racy. But his devotion to his country—his whole coun- try—impelled him to sever the bonds that connected him with @ people whom he had for so long a period led and controlled , but who were snatched from bis influence by the demon of treason. These people he could stil! haye wielded could his potent voice have reached them, but the monster of intolerance closed her jaws upon him. He was not permitted in Middle and West Tennessee to ad- dress the people. Had he attempted it amob would have been ready, not only to stop his voice, but to take his life, Too well the leaders of rebellion in Tennessee knew his power over the people, and they were conscious that if he were permitted to make public speeches the people would rally around him as the ancient clans of Scotland did around their highland chiefs—that he’could preserve Tennesgeo from their fatal fangs, and that the foul monster of treason would Lave to go howling to @ more genial clime, He stood firm, and yet stauds firm, #8 @ monument of loyalty and devotion to his country, while many of his cotemporaneous political lights bave been forever extinguished and enshrouded in the per- Petual night of treason. Among his old political friends he saw Isham G, Harris, the late Goyernor of Tennessee; A. 0. P, Nicholson, his colleague in the United States Senate; Andrew Ewing, Langdon C. Haynes and a host of others fall into the gecession pit. Of his politieal oppo- nents he saw E. H. Ewing, G. A. Henry, tho ‘eagle orator,’ his opponent the first time he was elected Gov- ernor of Tennesece, and who raid, in the Bell and Everett Convention in Baltimore, that he wished he might be struck blind before be ever should ree the Union dissolved; and even Bell, whose wisdom had shone as a beacon light to the nation for more than a quarter of a century, cower be- fore the monster seceesion. But he, amid all this wreck, stood as firm as the eternal rocks, keeping the glorious Union and the constitution of our fathers ever in view, and making them the polar star to which he steered amid the mighty convulsions and upheavings which beset him on every side; and he now appears upon the world’s great stage as a living witness that public virtue and unselfish patriotism are not oxtinct even in those States that have inaugurated this unholy war. While the names of many who formerly shone in the same sphere with him will be buried beneath a mausoleum of infamy, to which they will go down ‘‘unwept, unhonored and unsung,” bis will shine like the bright star of the morning, and be honored by generations yet unborn. The Hon. Andrew Johngon was elected to the United States Senate by the Legislature of Tennesceo in the year 1857, in place of Governor Jones, who was a whig. His whole career has been marked with singular good for- tune, and his rise and success in public life very remark- able. About tnirty years ago he was a journeyman tai- lor, at Laurens Court House, South Carolina, working with Mr. Denton, of that place. When eighteen years old ho could neither read nor write. He moved toGreen- ville, Tennessee, on foot, where he opened a shop asa tailor, joined a debating club, made epeeches and showed talent. He was elected, in a few years, a member of the Legislature, then a member of Congress, where he served many years. Not long efter he was elected Governor of the State of Tennessee, and afterwards United States Senator. Whilst working at Laurens Court House as journeyman tailor, he fell in love witn a girl inthe neighborhood and courted her. Governor Johnson tells the story himself. The young lady saw something more in Andy than her mother was able to discern. She engaged herself to him, provided he could get her mother’s con- sent. Andy went one Sunday to spoak to the old lady. His heart failed him till towards night, when he mustered up courago and popped the question to the mother. He says she broke out on him in a most terrible tirade of abuse, and said, ‘You trifling, worthless vagabond, do you sup. pore Iam going to let my daughter marry a wandering journeyman tailor?- I know what you want; you are too lazy to work, and you areaftor my property.” The Governor said the old woman had four children and three negroes. This was her fortune. In utter de spair, Andy returned to the village mortified and crestfallen. He determined to quit tho placo and. forget his love, after meeting with such scorn and con- tempt from the mother. It sometimes happens that young girls have adeeper insight into character than their parents. It was the case,as Col, Benton acknowl- edged, with Jessie, when she ran off with Col. Fremont and got married, very much against the wishes of her father and mother. But Miss W*** did not have the samo self-will, or the same abiding confidence in her Judgment and love that Mies Benton hac. She was afraid to encounter that indignation and towering temper which had so effectually cowed Andy. We donot know, however, that Andy had courage enough to make the proposition to run off with her. If he did, it was re- jected. How different would have veon her fate if Miss ‘Weee had taken courage and encountered the frowns of her mother. Instead of being the wife of some poor, plod- ding, unknown man, as she probably is, she would have been the wife of a Governor and United States Senator, the mistrers of ceremonies at Nashville, and a conspicu- ous member of the gay and fashiovable society of Wash- ington, as well as the confidential partner of a man who, above all the others of the seceding States, has deserved 80 well and been s0 much honored at the hands ofa grateful country. The Genera! is now about fifty years of age. Governor Johnson leaves to-day for Nashyille, and will immediately publish an address, calling a General Conven- tion to establish a now State government. The President has clothed him with ample power to use all the neces- sary military authority of the national governmont to garry out the policy and enforce the national laws, The Rebel Defences Below Columbus. Between Columbus and Memphis the rebels have erected no lest {han five somewhat formidable fortifica- tione, A strong water battcry, mounting twelve 32°and 42 , at Hickman, was erected to protect the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, coonecting at Union City with the Mobile and Ohio, abd at McKonzle, fifty miles southeast, with the Memphis and Ohio Rail- roads. But the same neeessity which demanded the evacuation of Columbus applies with equal force to Hick- map. Island Number Ten, forty-five miles below Columbus, the probability of a stand being made at this island, end ented an dogma See entueky Ml - excue bee benered and Pillow, and one bundred and eighty-five above Memphis. It com- pletely commands the ae i river Sic etaee be s0 fortified guns made Sapreguante As it is demon- strongest fortification in the possession of the rebels above Memphis is Fort Randoiph, sixty miles above Memphis, and one hundred and eighty-eight below Cairo. ‘This is a very strong position. It is built upon the third Chickasaw bluff, more than one hundred feet above the river, and immediately south of Island No. 34, the lower part of which commands the three mouths of the Hatchie river, « stream (navigable at good stages) that empties into the Mississippi just above the town of Randolph, at the upper edge of the bluffs. ‘These bluff form natural parapets for batteries, and command a view of the Mississippi river for six miles each way. By silencing whatever guns may be placed on the island, iron-clad boate, in the present condition of the Lower Mississippi, might enter the northern mouth of the Hatchie out of the range of Fort Randolph. The town of Randolph, noar which the fort stands, consists of half a dozen or so dilapidated frame houses, and is approached in the rear by several guod roads, but the country behind it being full of ravines and: gorges is capable of being fortified to an almost indefinite extent. ‘The position, however, is of no manner of use or benelit, except to dispute the navigation of th river. Tt has no railroad communications, and, as an army stationed there would have to depend on the river exclusively for tho treneportation of supplies, it would not require long to starve it out, telf wpon the altar of his country. Previous to the break. Memphis bas been strongly fortified, Nature has done Chickasaw bluff, from thirty to forty feet above high water mark; Extending in front is a beautiful terrace or esplanade, nearly a thousand feet wide, forming a glacis of sufficient compass to accommodate a large army facing ‘the landing. Heavy cannon have been mounted upon the most eligible sites about the city, and the exposed por- tions greatly strengthened by skilful engineers, But the same military necessity which required the evacuation of Bowling Green and Nashville will in time compel the rebel troops to withdraw from Memphis. It can be approached from the Tennessee river by two lines of railroad. We look for its speedy occupation by federal troops, but not until after one bloody and hotly contested battle, Departure of Gov. Johnson and Suite for Tennessee. Continual Cannonading on the Lower Potomac. Destruction of Three Rebel Vessels and Their Cargoes on the South Carolina Coast. Debate on General Fremont’s Conduct of the War in the West. Speeches of Messrs. Blair and Colfax in the House. Passage of the Cotton Cultivation Bill in the Senate. &., &e, ‘Wasnrxatoy, March 7, 1862. DEPARTURE OF GOVERNOR JOHNSON AND SUITE FOR TENNESSEE. Governor Andrew Johnson, accompanied by his Colonel, Robert Johnson, William A. Browning, Secretary, &c., Hon. Horace Maynard, and Hon. Emerson Etheridge, Clerk of the House, left Washington this afternoon for Nashville, via Harrisburg, Pittsburg. Cincinnati and Louisville. WHAT I8 THOUGHT OF THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ON EMANCIPATION. “- The excitement in regard to the President’s special Message increasce. Some of the ultras regard it as a step in the right direction—that ie, in their direction; and some of the most conservative hail it as the expres- sion of the opinion, uttered a long time ago by the Pre- sident, that he should, under all circumstances, sacredly observe the guardhtees of the constitution for all rights of citizens of all the States, and that he would never approve any legislation that looked to the emancipation of the slaves against the will of the people of the States, and in derogation of their rights. - The Moseage has takenall parties by surprise. Ama. jority of the Senators and Representatives are unpre- pared to exprees themselves upon it. All are afraid of it, and all are afraid to oppose it. The radicals look blank, and while thoy claim there is in it a concession to them, they aro proparing cautiously to oppose it. The conservatives, on the other hand, are anxious to sustain the policy communicated by the President, but they fear that they may be entrapped in some departure from their chosen position. In this predicament the Presi- dent’s Message must sleep in the committee room unti! gentlemen have made up their minds in regard to the matter. AFFAIRS ALONG THE MILITARY LINE OF THE POTO- &e., mac. Intelligence from every part of the military line of the Potomac to-day reports nothing of material interest. CONDITION OF THE ROADS IN VIRGINIA. ‘The pleasant weather of the last forty-eight hours bas dried the roads so much that they vromise to be in good condition in a day or two. BRISK CANNONADING ON THE LOWER POTOMAC. At four o’clock yesterday morning the Freeborn, Satel- lite, Island Belle and the Resolute opened fire on the line of batteries extending from opposite Liverpool Point to Boyd's Hole, ineluding three at Aquia Creek. A number of shells were thrown in, but with what effect could not be ascertained in the prevailing darkness. The rebels returned the fire, but without striking any of our vessels. Between ten and eleven o’clock A. M., while we lay off Blackstone’s Island, heavy cannopading was heard from above. On reaching Wade’s Bay in the evening we as- certained that the Island Belle and the Satellite had again opened fire on the railroad depot and some trains of cars filled with rebel troops that were constantly arriving from Fredericksburg. The depot was riddled by the shot and shell. The enemy returned the fire from a bat tery on the water line and another on a hill a little back. Their shots fell thickly around the vessels, but not one of them took effect. e Tho troops at Aquia Creek were constantly receiving reinforcements. At tho first bombardment the rebels beat the long roll in evident expectation of a landing, ‘but as matters turned out, they wore more frightened than hurt. Early this morning the Stepping Stones came up from below, having supplied all the vessels of the Second and Third divisions, She ran past all the batteries without eliciting a shot. About nine o'clock the batteries at Cockpit Point and Shipping Point opened fire on Professor Lowe's balloon, when in the air near Budd’s Ferry. The fre was retura- d from the Maryland shore. The balloon was not hit, and Iam unable to say whether apy damage was done on either side. COMMODORE FOOTE'S REPORT OF THR EXPEDITION TO PITTSBURG. The Navy Department has received full despatche® from Commodore Foote concerning the recent expedition to Pittsburg, near the Mississippi line,a synopsis of which has already been published. It appears that dur. ing the action the gunboats Lexington end Taylor ex- pended forty-five eight-inch shells, twenty-five six-inch sholls and sixteen stand of grape. Several of the rebels were seen to fall, but the full extent of the damage to them could not be ascertained. THREE REBUL VESSELS AND THEIR CARGOES DE- STROYED ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST, ‘The following official report describes the recent de. struction, by a Union blockading ship, of three rebel vessels and their cargoess— Unstrep States Bank Resrims, Orr Burr's Bay, 8. C., Feb. 15, “sta, } Sin—I have the honor to report that, on the 13th inst. About eleven o'clock A. M., we discovered a verso ashore on a shoal in Ball’s Pay. Isent two armed boats Write nar of “On boarding thoy found het to be a vary ida thless craft, without a cargo, and only four nogross on board. While on board the sloop = dis: covered three vessels lying at anchor within tho shyals, corey laden with rice, &o. anptver afmed boats with stewctions to.cut these vee with: ins ven: them. There not bei wind following are the destroyed with thelr cargoos, which consisted of rice, for the city of Charleston:— Sloop Eitisto bushels of rice, sunk. og neti ey bushels of rice, sunk. Theodore Stoney, call your attention to the same. Frclosed I transmit the papers of the destroyed vos- sels. Iam, sir, very respecttully hairs obedient servant, WARD CONROY, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant commanding. Commander J. G. Parrot, commanding United States steamer Augusta, Blockading squadron, off Charleston, 8.0. THE DERATR IN THR HOUR ON GENERAL FREMONT'S CAMPAIGN, Colonel Blair, of Missouri, made a speech to-day in campaign in the West, in which he exposed mercilessly the mistakes and inefficiency of that gentleman. Mr, Colfax replied vivaciously and vehemently, and convinc- ed his auditors in the galleries that he believed Fremont equal to a Moses, George Washington apd Napoleon Bona- parte combined in one man. Mr. Colfax delivered the greater part of his speech toathin house. Many of the members took but little interest in the Fremont scheme, ‘and many others deem it unnecessary to waste the time of the House in attempting to repair the fortunes of the fallen General. ARMY APPOINTMENTS CONFIRMED, REJECTED AND LAID OVER BY THE SENATE. ‘The Sonate to-day confirmed the following 8 Brigadier Generals of Volunteers:— Major Lawrence Gralam, of the Second cavalry. Fitgjobn Porter. Lovell H. Rousseau Eleazer Paine, of Iliuois, Wm. A. Richardson, of Ninois. Daniel Butterfield, of New York. W. T. Ward, of Kentucky. Major George Sykes, of the Thirteenth infantry. Captain David 8. Stanley, of the Tenth cavalry. Thomas A. Davies , of New York. Colonel Philip St. George Cooke, of the Second cavalry. Captain Joseph B, Plummer, of the First regiment of infantry, for gallant conduct at Springfield and Frederick- town, Missouri. ‘The Senate also confirmed Henry Van Rensselaer to be an Inspector General, with the rank of Colonel, and Tho- mas Hillhouse, of New York, to be an Assistant Adju- tant General of Volunteers, with the rank of Major; Ed- ward W. Martindale, as Commissary of Subsistence, and Robt. P. Dodge, as Assistant Paymaster. In Executive session of the Senate yesterday, the fol- lowing nominations were rejected:— ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERALS, WITH THR RANK OF CAITAIN. Tappan Wright, Chas. Mundee, of Kansas; John Mur- ray, of New York; Frederick Harvey, of Pennsylvania; Chas. Stewart, of Maryland. COMMISGARY OF SUBSISTENCE, WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. Jobn Clark, of Massachusetts, ADDITIONAL PAYMASTER. ‘Wm. C. Barney, of Now York; Jas, W. Schaumberg, of Pennsylvania; Wm.H. Ritter, of New York; C. R. Saun- ders, of California. The following nominations were laid over for further consideration :— ADJOTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT—ASSIBTANT ADJUTANT GENERALS, WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. Nathan Reeve, of Michigan; John Pound, of New fork; Andrew C. Kemper, of Ohio; John P. Fenckle Mier, of Now Jersey; W. P. Prentice, of New York. COMMISSARY OF SURSISTRNCE, WITH THR RANE OF CAPTAIN. W. W. Leland, of New York. ADDITIONAL PAYMASTERS. Isaac N. Pumphrey, Zebina C. Pangborn, of Massachu- setts; Truman C. Wright, of Wisconsin; John J. Patter- son, of Pennsylvania. EXAMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR NAVAL SURGEONS. The Naval Medical Board, which is to convene at Phila- delpbia on the 17th inst., is intended to examine, not modical cadets, but candidates for Assistant Surgeons in the Navy. There are at present several vacancies. Ap- plications will be received by the Secretary of the Navy. ‘The terms of the application have been stated. An op- portunity is thus afforded for a number of young saw- bones to attach themselves to the medical corps of the navy. For Report of Congressional Proceedings see Seventh Page. ri FROM GEN. BANKS’ ARMY Cuartestown, Va., March 7, 1862 Nothing of importance, in a military point of view, has transpired since the last despatch. Some transitions of troops have taken place, but nothing to indicate acy ‘especial movement, , Last night a mistake occurred on an outpost station, re- sulting in wounding a cavalry man and the killing of two horses, The affair was magnified by the rebels into the capture of four companies of Colonel Maulsby’s Maryland regiment, jand such interpretation caused considerable’ elation in Southern circles. Rumors having been current here that Colonel Geary was surrounded and cut to pieces, it is but fair to say that he bas not been able to come up to and test bis strength with any enemy. ’, y Cmanzsrown, March 1—P. Mu. Nothing of special interest has transpired here to-day, ‘nor at the outposts. The reconstruction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and bridge is rapidly progressing. Colonel Terry, of the Fifth Connecticut regiment, hap been appointed Brigadier General. Bowasn Hr, Va., Mareb 7, 1862. The country between here and Winchester is infested with the enemy's pickets, who at times approach near our lines, but no general encounter has taken place. Straggling parties of the enemy, returning from the upper counties, are sometimes entrapped by our treope. Scene of Operations of General Banks. u NEWS i iy i f= 2 z : asingic ms, our army. rms is in the Southern army. The pole inform me that the rebels were in the habit of pressing all the wa) |, horses, hay and provisions they sould carry off, ere Word not wagons enough left oven to haul a aufiiclout quantit, ly this villag “ ment nee try to supply this village. Even was Stthe Kou, and, in short, they hada seanty supply of provisions, and this was all they coukl be aaid to possess: besides their lives and homes and the clothes they w: Shch was the condition of Char.estown before its covu- pation, ase a