The New South, 1862-03-15

to assert their rights. ?* The Mayor made a speeta, saying he was still Secession t?? the backbone. But," said he, " you see how it is; the game is tipafed we must either aurren der the* town or have it burft;d." Lieut Grow sends adispfech tedflag Officer Foote, from which we make the flowing extracts: 1'. S. (xUnboat TaAor, Cairo, Feb. 23,18C2. " Sir : I have re turn edit*) this place, after having gone up the Tennessee rivt4 as high as A'tulpvrl, Mis/I am happy to state that I jWc met with au incrtami Union sentiment in South ?nuessee *ud North Alabama. I saw few .Miseis^ppiau*. In Hardin, McNftry, Wayne, Decatur, ami a portion of Hardiiuan, all of which border upou tiie rivet, the Union soirtirnent is strong, and those wjio do hot express themselves openly loyal, are on* prevented by the fears of the military tyranny and coercion wldch is practiced by maruuding bands of gu$illa companies of cavalry. The glorious successes our anus'at Forts Henry and Donelson have been ukast beneficial to tli? Union cause throughout south anf west Tennessee and Alabama. Union men can mw begin to express their loyal sentiments without fdjr of beiug mobbed, especially along the banks of ?ku river. , i have gulisted nr'hiai1- Knfi i T Wn- ith f n'TTfrniff^flnaBi vi " From the direction of Murfrevsboro advices state i that the rebels concentrated at that place have been surrounded by Gen. Bucll's forces, so that none could escape. The Rebels offered to surrender the position to the j ~ ? ? 1 - -11 1 a.. I

tlCUIl lUkOj IAUIU#V 1(1 IUC \J A.JH'JJ D^vuv.11 kliviJ at Martinsburg by-Mr. Faulkner, ex-Minister to France, and occupant of Fort Lafayette. That ger.tlemaiifljiulhvn as a prditicul trimmer, has openly ac- , nounced tliat the secession gome is played out, and that all the people oi. the Upper Potomac agree wijji him in the sentiment: The rats are leaving the sink sinkingshij*. - ingshij*. sinkingshij*. ' Gen. Lander diet?.on tlie 2d hist., at PawPaw, m Western Virginia, ilia death at this junctifre is a dieaster. Ho-was a Native of Massachusetts and had been by profession sin engineer. lie served as aco>ouci under McCtellu^u the brilliant campaign which first made known to the world the superlative abilitu*<r of tbe CommandcrVpi-Chief, and was made a Brigadier in July. He received his death wound at Ldward's Perry; buFwTused at first to succumb to its influences. Gen. fields succeeds to his command. Gen. Lander was recently married to the distinguished actress, Miss JatS Davenport. ' .News fiNfm Rebel Sources Tlie Rebel news(tij?ers are gloo^f in tlm cxbeme* Tliey ackiH> wledgeJmU extent of their disasters, aboiy^' of desperation. The inaugural splurge of Jeff Davis is one of the most remarkable documents that ever emanated from what purported to be a government. He says in his opening sentence "events have demonstrated that the (Rebel) government has attempted more than it has power successfully to achieve"; In rl ......... i

aw the Rebels burning their waller quarters, anu removing their heavy guns on the bluffs. But the guru* hi the water batteries remain intact. He also saw a Urge force of cavalry drawn up ostentatiously on the bluffs, but 110 infantry was to be seen, as heretofore. The encampment seen in our armed reconuoisancc a few days since has been removed. Large tires were visible iti the town of Columbus, -uxl uj?oii the river banks below, indicating the destruction of the town, military stores, and equipments, A. II. FOOTE, Flag Officer." , It was believed that our forces would occupy the {?}ace on March 2d. The rebels were to fall back 011 sland No. 10 in the Mississippi River. tJeu. Buell has also telegraphed that Muifreesboro had been abandoned by the rebels, who were retreating along the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, tearing U]? the rails as they proceeded, thus rendering pursuit difficult. A great change is found to havo occurred already hi the political feeling iu Tenuesaoo, and the War "Department feels itself warranted in taking measures immediately to raise and arm volunteer troops in j that State. The important announcement is also! made by authority, that the Tennessee andCuinberUnd Rivers will be opened this week to free and un-1 restricted commerce, under the order of the SecretArv i?f t.hf? Treasure. This will trove a hint meas -

uig Uri/t'II IU iltOIIHIlv.) IIVIUVUII v. ...V . ... Mitchell's divisions, but, soon alter his arrival at the latter place, was joined by Crittenden's and Nelson's commands, who went up the Cumberland by steamer, llis force, allowing for garrisons at Bowling Green and other points occupied, can not be less than forty thousand troops. As our troops progress in Tennessee, wo hear the most gratifying evidences of the revival of Union feeling among the people. Tho left wing of Buell'8 array, under Gen. Thomas, by this time must be iu the vicinity of Kuoxville. The bearers of the rebel H;ig of truce, who met Commodore Foote and General Culloui, near Columbus, on thoj?$d inst., made a proposition for the evacuation jpf Columbus. This was referred to General lialleck. But the terms pressed were rejected by tiiat officer, and the answer despatched by the tiag of truce which went down froui Cuiro-on tho 24th. But since then Columbus has really been abandoned. Tho following dispatch received from Commodore Footo, dated Cairo, March 1, settles the matter: ** am Mid reports that Columbus is being evacuated, lie

mre of relief to the loyal people of Tennessee, who have been subjected to the greatest deprivations during the rebel occupation of the State. More than this, business messages have been received in" New York by telegraph from Nashville for <ho first time since early last summer; the Host Office i? taken possession of by the government; and the President has designated the lion. Andrew Johnson o be a Brigadier General, and he proceeds to Tonnes-' tee immediately, to open a military provisional government of Tennessee until the civil government shall be reconstructed. The rebel forces under Albert S. Johnston are being steadily pressed backward by Gen. Buell. Cotton to the value of $100,000 has fallen into our hands at Nashville, and the Treasnrv Department has taken measures to have it brought to New York. So the work goes bravely on. The Kebel army, in their retreat from Nashville, Wt behind 1000 of their sick and wounded. They destroyed the bridges and burned ail the steamboats Ming there but one, which escaped. The Texas soldiers fired the city in many places, but the citizens languished the flames. ?>

5U\ 3 lllill UIV UCUWW " uvoiii inv; ui uiV IJJCaii3 IU? the prosecution of a w.ir on so gigantic a sonic as that which it h is attained; calls the surrender at ltoauokw Island "deeply humiliating however imperfect may have been the prej>arutions for defence "; and in regard to Fort Donelson, hopes that "our losses have been exaggerated." He speaks bitterly of the enlistment plan and thiuks it probable that the war will continue through a series of years. The only Tiopc he has is that the Federal Government will not be able to support its extravagant expenditure. REMF.L STATEMENT OF THE DONELSON AFFAIR. "Our loss at the Fort Donelson tight of lour days is put down at 1000. The Yankee losa was 4U00. Foi t Donelson was surrendered on Sunday, the lt)tb, in accordance with the decision of a council of war hold tlio previous night. Gen. Buckner was left to make it known to Gen. Pillow and start. Gen. Fio.?d and eight hundred of his brigade went to (.larksvide on Sunday morning. Buekner remained. This . x " -i'. 1 \r. i ... i i _

Federal troops it tliey wouiu or auu? cu iu morvu ( out with the honors of war. General Buell refused to allow them these eondi-j tions, and demanded their unconditional surrender. : He notified them that he would allow two days for I consideration, and if the place was not surrendered at | the expiration of that period ho would open fire upon them. ARKANSAS. In this State General Curtis seems to be doing a i good deal of work that was hoped and promised from Gen. Lane and Gen. Hunter. He has got the i start of those ollicers, and is now only waiting for | supplies to push on more rapidly and energetically | than ever. He first runted Price at Sugar Creek, in Benton county; then drove him from Bentonville; | then yursued him to Cross Hollows, where he had | resolved to make a stand. Price, reinforced by Mo-, I Culloch, appears, however, to have thought better of I 1 * * 1 i I

V Uil XIV/ xi T H E W A Ii. TK.VyKS9?E \S1> KENTUCKY. Tho ktest news from the war is quite as welcome as any that has preceded it. The occujwtiun of Nashville by tho government forces is phteed beyond a doubt. Gen. Buell at the head of-a j?ortion of his command entered the city on the 2d inst. The rebel troops, ;dter committing all manner of drpiedutions ou public property, destroying railroad bridges, &e., toll back 011 Murfreesboru,ou the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, thirty-two miles southeast of the capital. It is thought they will avail themselves of tho luouutaiu j?asse.s in that neighborhood,and op]?ose tlic advance of our army into Northern -iJabama. Gen. Buell had with him in his advance irom Bowl?' *" Voolii'illrt 1UirtlATl?4 i\f Mofrwik's aud