twenty thousand on Sunday week, when the gunboat fleet came down the river, and was prevented by a flag of truce from reconnoitring or attacking. They were under the impression then that they could not resist an attack from the gunboats, and I have the authority of a deserter from their ranks for saying that they would have fled rather than fought. What was the object or what the result of the flag of truce I do not know. The evacuation of the place commenced a week ago to-day. It was carried on rapidly. Every wagon within miles around was impressed to transport stores and ammunition to the dépôt of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad—a distance of about three miles. Civilians were entirely excluded from the camp on and after the twenty-fifth ult. Gen. Polk left Columbus on Thursday, the twenty-seventh, for some point South, supposed to be New-Orleans. down." She informed us further that the rebels had forcibly taken her husband to the South. The reason was because he was well acquainted with their many faults and foibles, and they feared he might narrate his experience, derived from a lengthy residence among them, to the Federal officers. They decoyed him into their camp on Sunday morning, and forced him away on the cars on Sunday night. Mr. Sharpe is an old citizen of Columbus, a wealthy and highly respectable citizen. He is a lawyer by profession, and has held several public offices. The rebels did not burn the dépôt of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, nor did they destroy the track in the vicinity of Columbus. They left in too great haste to do any damage to this end of the road. I believe they destroyed a culvert or two beyond Moscow-about twenty miles from this place. The first thing that met the Federal eye on entering the camp to-day was an effigy marked, "Bill Seward the d-d Abolitionist." Not far distant from this was a similar representative of "Tilghman the traitor," and a third one of "Floyd the runaway." Trophies are numerous about town. There are no shot-guns or rifles to be had, however. They were all carried off, being rather scarce in the South just now. By Sunday last all the infantry had gone. Gen. Cheatham then departed, leaving the fort in charge of about one thousand three hundred cavalry, with instructions to burn the camp and fly on the approach of the Federals. This last command left on Monday morning, having destroyed everything on the previous night. They set fire to all the stables, and burned eighteen thousand bushels of corn, and about five thousand tons of hay. They also burned a quantity of stores which had been left behind by the evacuators for want of transporta-pounders-that had been thrown down the rivertion. The troops that left Columbus went to three different places--one third to Jackson, Tenn., one third to Island No. Ten, and the remainder started to Nashville, but where they went to I am not informed. We counted fourteen guns-mostly thirty-twobank, but were not submerged. There are a few good gun-carriages in the fort. The gunboat St. Louis and two mortar-boats have been left here to protect the, town from attack by river. I suppose a few regiments of infantry and artillery will be sent down to-morrow. Com. Foote, with the gunboats Cincinnati, Carondelet, Louisville, and Pittsburgh has gone to Cairo. MACK. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. A correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer gives the following account of the occupation : COLUMBUS, KY., March 4, via Cairo. The town of Columbus is a small, unimportant place, with a population, in its palmiest days, of about one thousand inhabitants. As the terminus of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, it has a business significance that would not otherwise belong to it. It is situated in a low, flat ground, and for mud and dirt of its thoroughfares resembles Cairo. There are four large brick buildings in the townone of them a hotel, whose principal patronage Columbus, which is the strongest rebel posiwas that of railroad-passengers. We found near-tion in the Valley of the Mississippi, has been ly every house vacant to-day. The people were evacuated, burnt, and otherwise destroyed. So driven off last summer when the rebels took pos- incensed were the rebels that they spared nothing session of the hills. There are no provisions to in their work of destruction except a portion of be had for miles around-the "Southerners" hav- private property. ing depleted every farmer of his produce, without giving him even confederate scrip therefor. There are a few stores scattered through the streets, but they are all closed-the Davisites having "cleaned them out" also. Altogether, Columbus is one of the poorest and gloomiest towns I have come across, even in the benighted regions of Secessia. I believe the only woman I met in my rambles through this metropolis to-day was a Mrs. Sharpe, wife of the Ex-Mayor of the city. for Columbus is nothing short of a Southern city. Mrs. Sharpe, on seeing the Federal soldiers in the streets, addressed one of the officers, remarking that she hoped "the Union men would not desert her, as she had stuck up for the Union cause while the secession soldiers threatened to tear her house The evacuation commenced on Thursday last, but all the rebels did not leave until a late hour yesterday afternoon. The torch of the incendiary was first applied on Friday, and the conflagration raged with great fury until Sunday. Even now large portions of the enemy's barracks, magazines, and other quarters are still burning, sending up heavy clouds of smoke and ashes. The rebels did not destroy the fortifications, which have cost them so much labor, but left them unmolested. Everything which they could not carry away with them they either burnt or threw into the river. A great many cannon of the most effective range have been dismantled and sunk in the river. In one place I saw five heavy guns, and in another seven, which had been thrown from a high bluff on the bank of a river. But in their descent they had been stopped by the trees which overhang the stream below. It is as yet impossible to ascertain how many cannon the rebels have thrown into the Mississippi, supposing that in so doing they would render them useless to us. Lieut.-Col. Hogg, of the Second Illinois cavalry, from Paducah, in company with two hundred and fifty men, was the first to enter the enemy's works at five o'clock yesterday afternoon. what other destruction was accomplished is not yet known. A lady resident informs me that the troops who left by the river were destined for Island Number Ten, thirty miles below, and for NewMadrid, forty miles distant. The capture of Fort Donelson and occupation of Nashville had disheartened them; and the men, becoming demoralized and reckless, said they would soon be surrounded and starved out, and they would no longer obey the commands of their superiors. Gen. Polk and the officers generally had become unpopular, because, as the troops remarked, they had done nothing but fortify. The town had been fired several times, and was only saved by the untiring exertions and the constant vigilance of the officers, who feared that their demoralized condition would thus be made known to the Union troops. Our gunboats and transports reached this place at eight o'clock to-day; but the officers not knowing that the position had been evacuated and occupied by our troops, the gunboats were cleared for action and moved down the river in line of battle. Although there were no guns in the water-batteries, still the gun-carriages which remained presented a similar appearance to mounted guns. As soon as the "Stars and Stripes' Ex-Mayor Sharpe was suspected of treason to were discovered on the rebel works the crews of the so-called Southern confederacy, and was the different gunboats gave hearty cheers, which seized before they left and carried off a prisoner, were answered with a will from the fortifications. without being allowed even to address a parting The transports were then signaled to come down word to his wife. Yesterday morning a force of the river, and our troops were soon in the works.rebel cavalry returned and captured twenty Union The fortified works are very extensive, as they reach from the iron-banks above the town round to the chalk bluffs below, probably four miles in extent. Every prominent bluff on the river and around the town is fortified. The rebels entirely destroyed their barracks, commissary and quartermaster's stores, and in one lot burned six thousand bushels of corn. One building, containing a large quantity of bacon, being very much soaked with water, would not burn, and a lady told me that when the rebels found they could not destroy this bacon by fire, they sprinkled poison over it. The massive chain which the enemy had stretched across the Mississippi still remains, although the Missouri end is in the bottom of the river. The shore is strewn with the greatest quantity of torpedoes and anchors. The large magazine is still on fire, but whether or not all the powder has been removed, is not known. But few persons remain in the town, and those only who have not heretofore taken sides in favor or against secession. The remainder, from three to five hundred in number, have fled, leaving their houses and stores, where not destroyed, open. men, who had come to town, knowing it to have been evacuated by the rebels, and expecting to find our troops in possession. Strong guards have been detailed, and private property under which head may be mentioned large quantities of sugar, molasses, flour, and grain, etc. - will be protected. It is suspected this property belongs to the rebel army, and if it proves true, will be seized by the Government. Doc. 74. A PEACEFUL EXPEDITION TO PORT DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES. THE first missionary expedition to propagate industry, religion, and education among the contrabands at Hilton Head, as well as to encourage agriculture and like useful measures, sailed from New-York City March third, 1862. It is composed of some sixty persons, about fifteen of whom are ladies. Mr. Edward L. Pierce, the Government agent, in charge of the plantations and contrabands at Port Royal, is to be the directing genius of this association; and from the ex There were, at the time of the evacuation, nine-perience he has already gained, the selection of teen thousand troops in and around the place, the entire force commanded by Gen. (Bishop) Polk. Gens. Cheatham and Pillow were in command of brigades. Gen. Beauregard was not here, but was hourly expected, having been delayed by sickness. The rebels, when they evacuated Columbus, not only went by railroad, but also availed themselves of the facilities offered by twenty transports. The railroad-track was torn up for six miles, and the bridges burned. Where the railroad crosses the Ohio River the bridge was burnt, but that gentleman for the position is considered very judicious. The duty of the men, who include persons of about every trade and business, will be to take charge of the abandoned estates of the chivalry, and to direct the labors of the negroes, who are to be employed in such agricultural pursuits as the cultivation of cotton and the raising of necessary vegetables for the use of the army. The ladies go with the intention of establishing an industrial school, under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. French, of this city. Among the ladies we should mention the name of Mrs. Harlan, wife of the United States Senator from Iowa. Doc. 75. The following is a list of the names of those who proceed to Port Royal as active participants ENGAGEMENT NEAR NEW-MADRID, MO. in the operations of the society: It will thus be seen that the persons composing the expedition do not come from one locality, but hail from Washington, New-York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other places. Some go as volunteers, but the bulk proceed under the auspices of the National Freedman's Relief Association of this city, and the Educational Commission in Boston. Each member was obliged to take the following oath of allegiance before being finally accepted: I, do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign; that I will bear true and faithful allegiance and loyalty to the same, any allegiance, resolution, or law of any State convention to the contrary notwithstanding. And further, that I do this with a full determination and pledge to perform it, without any mental reservation whatever; and further, that I will faithfully perform all the duties which may be required of me by law. So help me God. The Atlantic, which conveys the expedition, takes out with her a large cargo, consisting of army stores, agricultural implements, seeds, clothing, sewing-machines, and numerous contributions toward the success of the object. GENERAL HALLECK'S DESPATCH. ST. LOUIS, March 8, Ir is officially reported that Jeff. Thompson, with a large force of cavalry and artillery, came North from New-Madrid. Our forces advanced from Bird's Point, and met his force at Sykestown. He was pursued into the swamps by the cavalry of Gen. Hamilton and Col. Morgan's brigade, and three pieces of artillery captured. Gen. Pope pursued another detachment south, capturing three more pieces of artillery, one captain, one lieutenant, and a number of privates. H. W. HALLECK, CINCINNATI "COMMERCIAL" ACCOUNT. ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, NEAR Marching orders were issued on Thursday night, and on Friday morning, February twenty-eighth, the division was on its way for New-Madrid. The roads were in fine order for the infantry, and there was no great difficulty in moving the baggage-train, We encamped the first night some twelve miles from Commerce. The second, had the interesting feature of a skirmish of our cavalry and some rebel cavalry, near Sykestown, in which we took four prisoners and three small rifled cannon, one of our men being slightly wounded. We encamped at night at Sykestown, on the Bird's Point and Fulton (Ark.) Railroad. About two o'clock on Sunday morning we had a terrific storm of thunder, lightning, and rain, and gained a rough experience of camp-life. The camp was flooded, but the men continued in good spirits, especially as there was expectation of a fight before night. The roads were bad and the day cold, such weather as March usually brings to us in Ohio. At night we encamped in order of battle not more than nine miles from NewMadrid. The night was cold, ice forming near an inch thick. We were moving early in the morning, the men eager to see the enemy, and growing more impatient at every step. At one o'clock P.M. we had approached within about two and a half miles of the town, and the tops of the houses, and the smoke and steam from the steam and gunboats were plainly visible. At this point Sands' battery and the Twenty-seventh Ohio were sent forward, the infantry in and on either side of the road as skirmishers. Having advanced about one mile, the line of battle was formed, the Seventh Illinois cavalry, and some companies of the Second Michigan cavalry, on the right and left flanks. The Forty-third Ohio was on the left, west of the road, the Thirty-ninth Ohio on the right of the road, across a lane cut by the enemy to defend themselves in case of an attack on their fort. Immediately in the rear of the Thirty-ninth were the Sixty-third Ohio on the extreme right; the Twenty-sixth Illinois and the Eleventh Missouri was on the left, in the rear of the Forty-third Ohio. The report was that there were five gunboats at the river-wharf, and about five thousand troops in and about the fort, just beyond the southern part of the town. There had been some earthworks thrown up on the road by which we approached the town, but they were not defended. We learned also that Columbus was evacuated and that the force had moved to an island about ten miles above the town, which was strongly fortified, and accounted for the presence of the gunboats at New-Madrid. As the line of battle was being formed, a gunboat from the upper part of the town threw a shell which burst at a short range in mid-air. They fired at intervals, but the range was short. Soon, however, they began to play more accurately on the right wing, and the cannonading was as brisk as we could desire. The shot and shell fell in and around the Thirty-ninth and Sixty-third in a style that few of us had ever seen before, and the courage of the men was fully tested. They stood firm, and gave indications of as much unconcern as if they were veterans. We occupied our position near two hours, during which the infantry and cavalry did not fire a shot, and only a few guns of our artillery were heard. It was reported that one of our artillery shots smashed the wheel-house of a gunboat. At about four o'clock, Gen. Pope gave orders for the force to fall back three quarters of a mile and prepare for the night. The order was obeyed without any confusion, and the men rested well in their tents, and talked over the wonders of the day. The casualties of the day were as follows: Killed-Louis Nine, company B, Thirty-ninth Ohio; a shell struck him in the lower part of the bowels, killing him instantly. Wounded-Wm. Van Horn, company G, Thirty-ninth Ohio; a piece of shell struck him on the shoulder; the wound is not serious. One of the Michigan cavalry, company I, whose name I have not heard, is reported to have his arm torn off. I hear, also, that an artillerist was wounded in the leg slightly. L. Besse, Seventh Illinois cavalry, company M, was shot in the foot by a comrade in dismounting. To-day we remained in position of last night till two o'clock P.M., when the whole force fell back in line of battle, and are now encamped principally in corn-fields north of the town. I sailed from Port Royal on the last day of February, in the Wabash, and on the second inst. entered Cumberland Sound, by St. Andrew's Inlet, in the Mohican, Com. S. W. Godon, on board of which ship I have hoisted my flag. The fleet comprised the following vessels, sailing in the or der in which they are named: Ottawa, Mohican, accompanied by the Ellen, Seminole, Pawnee, Pocahontas, Flag, Florida, James Adger, Bienville, Alabama, Keystone State, Seneca, Huron, Pembina, Isaac Smith, Penguin, Potomska, armed cutter Henrietta, armed transport McClellan, the latter having on board the battalion of marines, under the command of Maj. Reynolds, and the transports Empire City, Marion, Star of the South, Belvidere, Boston, George's Creek, containing a brigade, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Wright. We came to anchor in Cumberland Sound at half-past ten, on the morning of the second, to make an examination of the channel, and wait for the tide. Here I learned from a contraband, who had been picked up at sea by Com. Lanier, and from the neighboring residents on Cumberland Island, that the rebels had abandoned in haste the whole of the defences of Fernandina, and were even at that moment retreating from Amelia Island, carrying with them such of their munitions as their precipitate flight would allow. The object of carrying the whole fleet through Cumberland Sound, was to turn the heavy works on the south end of Cumberland, and the north end of Amelia Islands; but on receiving this intelligence, I detached the gunboats and armed steamers of light draft from the main line, and placing them under the command of Commander P. Drayton, of the steam-sloop Pawnee, I ordered him to push through the Sound with the utmost speed, to save public and private property from threatened destruction; to prevent poisoning the wells, and to put a stop to all those outrages by the perpetration of which the leaders of this nefarious war hope to deceive and exasperate the Southern people. In the mean time I went out of the Sound, and came by sea to the main entrance of this harbor. In consequence of bad weather, I was unable to cross the bar till this morning. Commander Drayton, accompanied by Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, with the armed launches and cutters, and the small-armed companies from the Wabash, had arrived several hours before me. Immediately on his entering the harbor, Com. Drayton sent Lieut. White, of the Ottawa, to hoist the flag on Fort Clinch, the first of the National forts on which the ensign of the Union has resumed its proper place since the first proclamation of the President of the United States was issued. A few scattering musket-shots were fired from the town by the flying enemy. When it was discovered that a railroad-train was about to start, Com. Drayton, on board the Ottawa, Lieut. Commanding Stevens, chased this train for two miles, and fired several shells at it, aiming at the loco motive, some of which took effect. It was re-emy. Besides these, there was another battery ported that the Hon. David Yulee, late a Senator of the United States, from the State of Florida, escaped from this train, and took to the bush. Com. C. R. P. Rodgers, pushing ahead with the launches, captured the rebel steamer Darlington, containing military stores, army wagons, mules, forage, etc., and fortunately secured the drawbridge, which was held during the night by the second launch of the Wabash. There were passengers, women and children, in the Darlington, and the brutal captain suffered her to be fired upon, and refused to hoist a white flag, notwithstanding the entreaties of the women. No one was injured. I send the captain of the steamer home, a prisoner. His name is Jacob Brock; he is a native of Vermont, but has been a resident of Florida for twenty-three years. The same night, Com. C. R. P. Rodgers as cended the St. Mary's with the Ottawa, and took possession of the town, driving out a picket of the enemy's cavalry. Early in the morning the town of Fernandina was also occupied by a party of seamen and marines from Com. Drayton's command. In both places most of the inhabitants had fled, by order, it is said, of the rebel authorities. A company of seamen and marines, under Lieut. Miller, was sent from the Mohican, to hold Fort Clinch. It is reported to me by Lieut. Commanding Downes, of the Huron, that the whole structure of the railroad on the Fernandina side, including the swinging draw - bridge, is quite uninjured. The rebels have done some damage by fire to the trestle-work on the other side of the river; but I am not yet informed of its extent. Several locomotives, baggage-cars, tenders, freight-cars, and some other property, besides that found in the steamer Darlington, have been recovered. The whole number of guns discovered, up to this time, is thirteen, embracing heavy thirtytwo-pounders, eight-inch guns, and one eighty and one one-hundred-and-twenty-pounder rifled guns. The towns of St. Mary's and Fernandina are uninjured. I visited the town, Fort Clinch, and the earthworks on the sea-face of the island. It is impossible to look at these preparations for a vigorous defence, without being surprised that they should have been voluntarily deserted. The batteries on the north and north-east shores are as complete as art can make them. Six are well concealed, and protected by ranges of sandhills in front, contain perfect shelter for the men, and are so small, and thoroughly covered by the natural growth, and by the varied contours of the land, that to strike them from the water, would be the mere result of chance. A battery of six guns, though larger, and therefore affording a better mark, is equally well sheltered and masked. The batteries and the heavy guns mounted on Fort Clinch, command all the turnings of the main ship-channel, and rake an approaching en of four guns on the south end of Cumberland Island, the fire of which would cross the channel inside of the bar. The difficulties arising from the indirectness of the channel, and from the shoalness of the bar, would have added to the defences by keeping the approaching vessels a long time exposed to fire, under great disad vantages; and when the ships of an enemy had passed all their defences, they would have to encounter a well-constructed and naturally masked battery at the town, which commands the access to the inner anchorage. We are told that General Lee pronounced the place perfectly defensible; we are not surprised at this, if true. We captured Port Royal, but Fernandina and Fort Clinch have been given to us. We had in the expedition Mr. W. H. Dennis, an assistant in the Coast Survey, who possessed accurate local knowledge of a part of the ground we passed over, of which indeed he had made the topographical map, under the direction of the Superintendent. He was zealous and active, and it gives me pleasure to mention it. The Empire City, on board of which was Gen. Wright, grounded on the bar. As soon as he arrived, (in another steamer,) immediate steps were taken to transfer to him the forts and all authority and possession on the land. I desire to speak here of the harmonious councils and cordial cooperation, which have marked, throughout, my intercourse with this able officer. Our plans of action have been matured by mutual consultation, and have been carried into execution by mutual help. I take great pleasure in reminding the Department that one principal and ultimate object of the naval expedition, which I have the honor to command, was, in its first conception, to take and keep under control the whole line of the seacoast of Georgia, knowing (to use the language of the original paper) "that the naval power that controls the sea-coast of Georgia controls the State of Georgia.” The report that the fortifications at St. Simon's, armed with heavy columbiads, had been abandoned, which first reached me at Port Royal, is confirmed. This being the case, the entire seacoast of Georgia is now either actually in my possession, or under my control, and thus the views of the Government have been accomplished. Very respectfully your most obedient servant, S. F. DU PONT, Flag-Officer Commanding South Atlantic Block, Squad. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. COMMANDER DRAYTON'S REPORT. U. S. STEAMER PAWNEE, FERNANDINA, March 4, 1862. SIR: In obedience to your order of the second of March, I left at daylight on the next morning, accompanied by the following gunboats and other light-draft vessels, namely: the Ottawa, Lieut. Commanding Y. H. Stevens; Seneca, Lieut. Commanding D. Ammen; Huron, Lieut. Commanding G. Downes; Pembina, Lieut. Commanding |