v " " PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY MORNING BY A. H. BYINGTON & 00., NGRWALK GAZETTE .5 '2- AT TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM, IN ADVA. TOE. g gating autumn, gained in good your and gamma, dwarf gntdligmu, gamma, guise, gamma”, wetsuits, &r.--1®5tahli5hrd ._ ”Sr in man. . ‘ LL NUMBER 738--NEW SERIES, NORWALK, CONN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 186-2, VOLUME X-LV--NUMBER 8. .. AAA... _. .- -.._.__- r. .AL __-._.___._.-- s . A 121—..- NORWALK GAZETTE. OFFICE IN GAZETTE BUILDING. A3. BYING'I‘ON & co., A. H. BrrNorox, J. B. ELLs,~ G. N. ELLS' Subscription Rates. All Subscribers by Carrier, Mail, Post Riders and Wagoncrs, per year ~ $2 00 Those living out of any Carrier's District, if paid one year in advance, 1 50 Clubs of six or more sent to one address, to be paid in advance, ' 1 50 Single copies 4 cents. Advertising Rates. One Square, bne insertion, $1 00 “ two insertions, 1 25 “ three insertions, 1 50 “ - one month, “ two months, “ three months, “ six months, “ one year—with paper Two 8 uares, one year—with paper, Each 8 ditional Square, per year, One half column, one year, ' One Column, one year, . Fifteen lines, or 100'W0rds,muke a square. Fraction- ul arts of a square charged for as a whole. . Year y advertisers have the privilege of changing their advertisements once per month. Advertise- ments changed oftcner charged as transient. Yearly advertisements payable lst of January a; July. Yearly advertisers restricted to the business contem- plated at the time of contract. . Cards, Resolutions, Funeral and all other Special N0- tlces, 25 per cent. additional on the above. a“ These terms will be inflexibly adhered toga IBuSINEss DIRECTORY.- . 1 -. ,-\_,'\ (“1‘ “l\. '\."\.‘\.'\/‘\/V\. ‘\ ‘-_ \ ‘. Norwalk Post Office. MAILS CLOSE West 7.30 A. M.——".30 P. M. East 8.30 A. M.——5.00 P. M. Danbury & Norwalk Railroad 8.50 A. M Weston, Bedding and Bedding Ridge, 1 nos days, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 12 M. MAILS DUE. West 9.10 A. M.—_—6.00 P. M. East 8.20 A. M.—3.30 P. M. Danbury do Norwalk Railroad 8.00 A. M. POST OFFICE HOURS. From 7.00 A. M. to 8.00 P. M. CHARLES OLMS’I‘EAD, P. M. New HARDWARE & PAINT STORE, M a i n S t r e e t, Opposite I. H. Campell’s Confectionery, MARVIN a racwrrr, Wholesale and retail Dealers in Hardware, Cutlery, Paints, Oils, Glass, Paper Hang- ings, Window Shades, &c. ROOFING SLATE, ' Prom Vermont, VERY CHEAP, At South Norwalk by eeséeésse H. E. WING. Tue ALLIS HOUSE, . (formerly Union House,) Opposite N. Y. &. N. H. Depot, in Union-st, New Haven, Conn. L. P. ALLIS, Paornm'ron. N. A. MOSMAN, M. 1)., Homeopathic Physician Gt Surgeon. Office over C. T. Cornwall’s Store, first buil- ding east of Norwalk Hotel, NORWALK, CONN. References .- Prof. J. Beakley, Dean of the Faculty, . . Prof. S. R. Kirby, Homeopathic Medical Col- le e, New York city, or G. W. Swazey. M. D., Springfield, Mass. 21 JAMES G. 3A”OUB,l ‘ sURoICAL AND MECHANICAL l D E N T I S '1', Office at Residence, East Avenue, Norwalk, ' Connecticut. . Architecture. SIDNEY M. STONE, ARCHITECT, Will furnish Plans, Specifications, Detail Drawings, and superintend the erection oi public and rivate buildings. Office in Mar- ble Block, ‘bapcl-st., New Haven, Ct. tf52 "1 E0. F. BELDEN, Norwalk, Conn.,Man- ufacturer of Tin, Copper, and Sheet Iron Ware; and dealer in Stoves, Ranges, Furnaces, Cutlery, Brittannia, Wooden and Willow Ware, Crockery; and a full assort‘ flight of House Keeping articles generally. W E. BISSELL, Auctioneer, will give 0 particular attention to sales by Auc- tion, of Real Estate, Personal Property and Household Furniture : terms low. . WM. 6. STREET a co, importers; wholesale and retail dealers in uannwnnn, more, £1,991 Cutlery, Guns, Agricultural Imple- ments, Oils, Points, Window Glass, &c. ' a. "s. Locnwo’on, Fashionable Draper & Tailor, and GENTLEMEN’S FURNISHING EMPOBIUM ! No. 3 Skiddy’s Block, Main-st, Norwalk, Ct- ‘éffi.’ cameras.» a co., Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Groceries. Flour, Feed, do, 14 and 16 Main-st, Norwalk, Conn. Em rheuuAucB COMPANY, 0f nonfat-d. , Incorporated in 1819, Charter Perpetual. dosh Capital $1,000,000 Insure against loss and damage by Fire, on Terms adapted to the huzard,and consistent with the laws of compensation. GEORGE R. COWLES, Sole Agent 1y3 For Norwalk and vicinity. New Heat Market. HE Subscriber would respectfully inform T the public that he has REMO VED HIS STAND to Curtis” Building, Main Street, and tends keepiu constantly on hand the choi- cest of Beg; orlc, MuttOn, Poultry, &c., &c. 'Having had long experience in the business be'is,co_uiident of his ability to please. A share of the public patronage is respectfully solicited. JAMES BYXBEE. ' Norwalk, Nov 5th, 1861. tf5 zoos-rare. THE subscriber is prepared to furnish par- ties, building, with Warren’s superior FELT AND CEMENT ROOFING. This article of Roofing is in use upon the Norwelk Lock Company’s Building, and at Lounsbury, Bissell & Co‘s, where it gives en- tire satisfaction, and is believd to be the cheapest as well as the best r0 ing in use.— . For the Gaezlte. A N ight’s Skating Experience on the Central Park. While visiting the Central Park One bitter, freezing day, To view the skaters on the pond, Their spirits seemed so gay, While I, poor soul, upon the shore. Stood shivering with the cold, And doubly bent with spirits sunk, Looked prematurely old. I boldly there made up my mind, A pair of skates to buy, And there upon the glassy ice, “Resolved, to do or die ;” The skates were bought, and then at night, I firmly put,them on ; . But shortly found the ice a thing, Too smooth to stand upon. Not stand I mean, for I could stand, But not a move could make, For fear I’d fall, and then, you know, The ice might chance to break; If not the ice, perhaps my nose, ’Twould be a serious joke, For when a man once breaks his nose, He knows his nose is broke. While standing trembling in my boots, One single move I made, I danced some graceful, fancy steps, Then on my back I laid; A lesson in astronomy, I learned while lying there, And saw some stars/that ne’er were seen By mortal anywhere. I got upon my feet again, And tried to move once more ; A furious skater came along And laid me on the shore ; Resolving not to give it up, Again to skate I tried; But each foot from the other went, They parted far and wide. They seemed determined to secede— For Union! vain I cried ; They by their actions seemed to say. Oh! let the Union slide! I coaxed, advised, but ’twas no use. They’d list to no advice, With understanding gone, I formed A Union with the ice. Determination seized my heart, I rose upon my feet, I skated easily’along, Was ever sport so sweet ; Some figures soon I tried to cut, One skate caught in a crack, I cut a figure which is called Spread Eagle on the back. I rose in sitting posture then, A skater passing by— “ You fell l" said he. “Oh. no,” said I, “ My skates have got awry.” Again I got upon my feet, Ambition fired my soul, I skated furiously along And landed in a hole. A crowd soon gathered, help’d me out. They did it in a trice, I coldly thanked them as I stood In glittering gems of ice; I could not warmly thank them there, While shivering with the cold, So hastened to a neighboring spot Where liquors strong were sold. While soaking wet yet was I dry, I thought ’twould do no harm, To turn a “spirit medium” once, ' By taking something warm; I hung my skates upon my arm, My steps toward home did take, Resolving ne’er to skate again, Until I learned to skate. Loan VERNON O‘B. «O». THE TWO SISTERS. BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. The following story, the simple and do- mestic incidents of which may be deemed hardly worth relating after such a lapse of 'time, awakened a degree of interest a bun— dred years ago, in a principal seaport in the bay of Massachusetts. The rainy twilight of an autumn day, a parlor on the second floor of a hohsc plainly furnished, as be- seemcd the circumstances of its inhabitants. yet decorated with curiosities from beyond the sea, and a few specimens of Indian man- ufacture, these are the only particulars to be _ presented in regard to the scenes and sea: sons. Two young and comely women sat together by the firesidc,nursing their mutual and peculiar sorrows. They were the re- cent brides of two brothers, a sailor and a landsman, and two successive days brought tidings of the death of each, by the chances of a Canadian warfare and the tempestuous Atlantic. The universal sympathies excited by this bereavement drew numerous condo- liug guests to tho habitation of the widowed sisters; several, among whom was the min- ister, had remained until the verge of the evening, when, one by one, whispering many comfortable passages of Scripture, that were answered by‘more abundant tears, they took their leave and departed to their own happi- er homes. The mourners, though not insen- sible to kindness of their friends,had yearned to be left alone. United as they had been by relationship of the living, and now more closely so by that of the dead, each felt as if whatever consolation her grief admitted was to be found in the bosom of the other. They joined their hearts and wept together silent- ly. But after an hour of such indulgence, one of the sisters, all of whose emotions were influenced by her mild, quiet, yet not feeble character, began to recollect the precepts of resignation and endurance which piety had taught her, when she did not think to heed them. Her misfortune, besides, as earliest known, should earliest cease to interfere with her regular course of duties; according- ly, having placed the table before the fire, and arranged the frugal meal, she look the hand of her companion. "Genie, dearest Sister, you have not eaten a morsel to-day,” she said. “Arise, I pray you, and let us ask a blessing on that which is provided for us.” Her sister was of a lively and irritable temperament, and the first pangs of her sor- row had been expressed by shrieks and pas- sionate lamentations. She now shrunk from Mary's words like a wounded sufferer from the band that revives the throb. “There is no blessing for me, neither will I ask it. Would that it were His will that I might never taste food more,” cried Margaret with a fresh burst of tears. Yet she trembled atthesc rebellious ex- pressions almost as soon as they were utter- ed, and by degrees, Mary succeeded in bring- ing her sister’s mind nearer to the situation of her own. Time rolled on, and the usual hour 'of repose arrived. The brothers and their brides had entered the married state with no more than the slender means which then sanctioned such a step, and confeflerae ted themselves into one household, with equal rights to the parlor, and claiming ex- clusive privileges to the sleeping rooms at- tached to it. Thitber the widowed ones re- tired, afler heaping ashes upon the dying em- bers of the fire, and placing a lighted lamp hers were left ope n, so that part of the inte- rior of each, and the beds with their unclosed curtains, were reciprocally visible. Sleep did not steal upon the sisters at one and the same time. Mary experienced the effect of- ten consequent upon grief quietly born, and soon sunk into temporary forgetfulness, while Margaret became more disturbed and feverish in proportion as the night advanced with its deepest and stillest rs. She lay listening to the drops of mint tcame down in monotonous succession, unswayed by the breath of wind, and nervous impulse contin- ually causing her to lift her head from the pillow, and gaze into Mary’s chamber and the immediate apartment. Tliecold light of the lamp threw the shadows of the furniture against the wall, stamping them immovably there, except-when they were shaken by the sudden flicker of the flame. Two vacant arm chairs were in their old positions on opposite sides of the hearth, where the brothers had been wont to sit in laughing dignity, as heads of families; two humbler seats were near them, the thrones of that little empire where Mary and herself had exercised in, love a power that love had won. The cheerful radiance of the fire had shown upon the happy circle, and the dead glimmer oi their lamp might-have benefited their reunion now. While Margaret groaned in bitterness she heard a knock at the street door. “How would my heart leap at that sound but yesterday," thought she, remembering the anxiety with which she had so long awaited tidings from her husband. “I care not for it now ; let them be gone ; for I will not arise.” But even while a sort of childish fretful- ness made her thus resolve, she was breath- ging hurriedly and straining her ears to catch a repetition of the summons. It is difficult to be convinced of the death of one whom wehave deemed another self. The knock- ing was now renewed in slow and regular strokes, apparently given’witli the soft end ofa doubled fist, and was heard through several thicknesses of the wall. Margaret looked to her sister‘s chamber, and beheld her still lying in the depths of sleep. She slightly arrayed herself, trembling between fear and eagerness as she did so. “Heaven help me,” sighed she, "I have nothing to fear, and methinks I am ten times more a coward than ever.” _ Seizing the lamp from the hearth, shebas- tencd to the window that overlooked the street door. It was a lattice turning upon hinges; and having thrown it back, she stretched her head a little way into the moist atmosphere. A lantern was reddening the front of the house, and melting its light in the neighboring puddles, while a deluge of darkness overwhelmed the object. As the window grated on its hinges, a man in a broad-brimmed hat and a blanket coat, step- ped from under the projecting story, and looked upward to discover whom his appli- cation had aroused. Margaret knew him as a friendly inn-kécper oi the town. “What would you have,goodman Parker?" cried the widow. “Lack-a-day, is it you, mistress Margaret?” cried the inn-keeper. “I was afraid it might be your sister Mary, for I hate to see a young woman in trouble, when I have not a word of comfort to whisper to her. “For heaven’s sake, what news do you tiring ‘3” asked Margaret. “There has been an express through the town within this half hour,” said the good man Parker, “travelling from the westward jurisdiction, with letters from the Govern- or and Council. He tarried at my house to refresh himself with a drop and a morsel, and I asked him what tidings on the fron- tiers. He told me we had the better of the skirmish you wot of, and that thirteen men, reported slain, are well and sound, and your husband among them. Besides, he is ap- pointed one of the escort to bring the capti- vated Frenchers and Indians home to the province jail. I judged you wouldn’t mind being broke of your rest, and; so I stepped over to tell you. Good-night.” So saying, the honest man departed; and the lantern gleamcd along the street, bring- ing to view indistinct shapes of things, and the fragments of a world, like order glimmer- ing through a chaos, or memory roaming over the past. But Margaret staid not to watch these picturesque effects. Joy flushed into her heart, and lighted it up at once, and with winged steps she flew to the bedside of her sister. She paused, however, at the door of her chamber, while a thought of pain broke in upon her. "Poor Mary,” she said to herself. “Shall I awaken her to feel her sorrow sharpened by my happiness? No; I will keep it within my own bosom till to-morrow.” She approached the bed to see if Mary’s sleep was peaceful, Her face was turned partly upward to the pillow, and had been hidden there to weep; but a motionless con- tentment was visible upon it, as if her heart like a deep lake, had become calm, because its grief was sunk down so for within. Hap- py is it, and strange, that the lighter sorrows are those from which dreams are chiefly fab- ricated. Margaret shrunk from distdrbipg her sister-in law and felt as if herown bitter fortuué had rendered her involuntarily un- faithful, as ifaltercd and diminished infec- tion must be the consequence of the disclo. sure she had to make. With a sudden step she turned away. But joy could not be re- pressed, even by the circumstances that would have excited heavy grief at another moment. Her mind was thronged with de- lightful thoughts till sleep stole in and trans- formed them into visions more delightful and more like the breath of winter (by a gold mm. parison,) Working fantastic tracery on the window. When the night was far advanced, Mary woke with asudden start. A vivid dream had latterly involved her in its unreal life,of which, however, she could only remember that it had been broken in upon at its most interesting point. For a little time slumber hung about her like a morning mist, binder. ing her from perceiving the distinct outline of her situation, She listened with imper- fect consciousness to two or three volleys of rapid and eager knocking; at first she deem- ed the noise a matter of course; like the breath she drew next, it appeared a thing in which she had no concern; and hastily she became aware thatit was a summons neo- easury to be obeyed. At the same moment a pang of recollection darted into her mind; the pallof sleep was thrown back from the face of grief; the dim light of the chamber and objects therein revealed, retained all he: All orders will receive prompt r ttention. , C. F LOOMIS. upon the hearth. The doors of both chum: t .mmr— . . suspended all her suspended ideas, and res- tored them as soon as she unclosed her eyes. Again there was a quick peal upon the street door. Fearing that her sister would also be disturbed, Mary wrapped herself in a cloak and hood, took the lamp from the hearth and hastened to the window. By some accident it had been left unclosed, and yielded easily to the hand. Mary leaned from the window but did not speak. ~ “Who’s there ‘3" she finally asked, trem- bling, as she looked forth. The storm was over and the moon was up; it shone upon broken ‘clouds above, and be- low upon houses black with moisture, and upon little lakes of fallen rain, curling with silver beneath the quick enchantment of a breeze. A young man in sailor’s dress, wet as if he had come out of the depths of the sea, stood alone under the window. Mary recognized him as one whose livelihood was gained by short voyages on the coast; nor did she forget that, previous to her marriage, he had been an unsuccessful wooer of her hand. “What do you seek here, Stephen?" “Cheer up, Mary, for I seek to comfort you," answered the rejected lover. “You must know I got home ten minutes ago, and the first thing my mother told me was about your husband; so, without saying a word to the old woman, I clapped on my hat and ran out of the house. I couldn’t have slept a wink before speaking to you, Mary, for the sake of olden times.” “Stephen, I thought better of you !" ex- claimed the widow, with gushing tears, and preparing to close the lattice; for she was no whit inclined to imitate the first wife of anig. “But, stop, and hear my story out," cried the young sailor. “I tell you we spoke a brig yesterday afternoon, bound in from old England—and whom do you think I saw on her deck, well and hearty, only a bit thinner than he was five months ago ‘2” “Why, it was your husband himself," con- tinued the generous seaman. “He and three others saved themselves on a spur, when the vessel turned bottom upwards. The brig will float into the bay by daylight, with this wind, and you will see him here tomorrow. There’s the comfort I bring to you, Mary; so good-night.” He hurried away, while Mary watched him witha doubt of waking reality, that seemed stronger or weaker as he alternately entered the shade of the houses or emerged into the broad streaks of moonlight. Grad- ually, however, a flood of conviction swelled into her heart, in strength enough to over- whelm her, bad its increase been more.— Her first impulse was to arouse her sister-in- law, and communicate the new-born glad.- ness. She opened the chamber door, which had been closed in the night, and was about to lay her hand on the slumberer’s shoulder. But then she remembered that Margaret would awake to the thoughts of death and woe, rendered none the less bitter by the thoughts of her felicity. She sufl‘ered the rays of the lamp to fall on the unconscious form of the bereaved one. Margaret lay in unquiet sleep, and the drapery was displaced around her; her young cheeks rosy-tinted, lips half opened in a vivid smile; an expres- sion of joy, debarred its passage by her seal- ed eyelids, struggled forth like incense from. her whole countenance. “My poor sister, you will awaken too soon from that happy dream," thought Mary. Before retiring, she sat down the lamp and endeavored to arrange the bed clothes, so that the chill air might do no harm to the feverish slumberer. But her hands trembled against Margaret's neck, a. tear fell upon her cheek, and she suddenly awoke. Their mu- tual joy was made known and they wept in each other’s arms. . -————-—-6~.>o-¢—-——— Tun Cnnomcmss OF. A SOLDIER—One of the members of Company G, Kansas First Regiment, having become inspired with a glass of whiskey, managed to chronicle the following as the life of a soldier: 1. Man that is born of a woman and en- listeth as a soldier in the Kansas First, is of few days and short of “rations." 2. He that cometh forth at “reveille” is present also at “retreat” yes, even at “tattoo,“ and retireth, apparently,,at,“tapa." 3. He drawcth his rations from the com- missar and devoured: the same. He stri- keth his teeth against much “hard bread," and is satisfied. He filleth his canteen with aqua para, and clappeth the mouth thereof upon the bung of a whiskey barrel, and after a while he goeth away rejoicing in his strat- err . ii. Much soldieriug hath made him sharp —yea, even the seat of his brooches are in danger of being out through. 5. He covenanteth with the crodulous far mer for many chickens, and much honey and milk to he paid promptly at the end of each ten days; and 10! his regiment movcth on the ninth day to another post. , 6. His tent is filled with potatoes, cab- bage, turnips, krout, and other delicate inor- sels of a delicious taste, which abound not in the commissary department. 7, And many other things not in the “re- turn” and which never will return; yet, fora truth, it must be said of a soldier of the Kan- sas First, that of a surety be taken nothing which he cannot reach. . _ 8. He flreth his rifle at midnight, and the whole camp is aroused and formed into line; when 10.! his mess comes bearing in a nice porkcr, which he declsrcth so resembled a secesb, he was compelled to pull trigger. 9. He giveth‘ the Provost Marshal much trouble, often capturing his guard, and pos- sesseth himself of the city. 10. At such times lager and pretzels flow like milk and honey from his generous hands. He giveth without stint to his comrade— yea! and withholdeth not from the lank ex- pectant Hoosier of the “Indiana Twenty- fourtb.” . 11. The mat of a pig, or the crowmg of a oogk awn eneth him item the soundest sleep, and be sauntereth forth, until halted by the guard, when be instantly clappeth his hand upon his bread-basket, and the guard, in commisscration, allowetb him to pass to the rear. . 12. No sooner bath he passed the sentry’s heat, than he striketh a “bcolino” for the nearest hen-roost, and seizin a pair of plump pallets, returneth, soliloquizmg to himself : “Tne noise of a goose saved Rome; how much more the flesh of chicken preserveth the soldier. . 13. He playeth euchre with the parson whether there will be preaching in thecamp on the Sabbath, and by dexterously “turn- ing a Jack” from the bottom, postponeth the service. 14. And many other mamllous things do- eth he, and 10 l are they not recorded in the morning reports of Company G? If the members of Company G love fight- ing as well as they do fun, there is no fear but they will give a good account of them- selves. ———~¢<.>oo-—-—— . ' WSchuyler Colfax has sent $100 to Pa- ducah to be expended for the relief of thy loldiers wounded at the attack on Fort Don. elson. , ghwwnu. THE WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST. THE TENNESSEE AND CUMBERLAND RIVERS. STRATEGIC POSITIONS IN THE wear. The scene of operation on the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers is fraught just now with most important interest, and the news from there daily is of a stirring and cheering character. Our forces are moving there in earnest, and follow up their successes with bravery and energy. 'rma UNION SENTIMENT IN ALABAMA AND TENNESSEE. The best news yet from that part of the country—better than the news of a victory—— is the account of the popular Union sentiment that was developed through Tennessee and in Alabama by the appearance of the federal gunboats witb,the Stars and Stripes floating, steaming up to Florence. The Tennessee river must necessarily be an important base of war Operations in our progress in the West and the fact that its banks are inhabited by people that will hall with delight the flag of the old Union, and aid our advance even so far as to enlist to fight for our cause,will dis- sipate one half of the difficulties that might have been otherwise anticipated. This river cuts way down into the heart of Secessia and emerges again among the loyal regions of the Cumberland mountains. ' ' THE TENNESSEE RIVER. The Teunesse river has its course chiefly in the State of Tennesse, and is the largest tr' ry of the Ohio. ' Its most remote so a are Clinch and Holston rivers, which rise in the Allegany Mountains of Virginia. ’ Ithas half a dozen other branches,which unite and form the Tennessee proper at a point for- ty-five miles southwest of Knoxville. From Knoxville it purses a southwest direction across the state and enters Alabama, 'when it pursues a westerly course for 150 or 200 miles and then turns north and enters Tennessee again, crossing the state and the western por- tion of Kentucky, and entering the Ohio eleven and a half miles below the mouth of the Cumberland, and forty-seven and a half above the mouth of the Ohio. The whole descent of the river from its most remote source to its mouth is about 1,700 feet. Its whole length by the course of the river is 1,200 miles. It drains a. surface of 41,000 square miles. There are no perpendicular, falls, and few rapids which obstruct naviga- tion through its whole course. The greatest obstruction is at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, 257 miles from the mouth, to which point steamboats ascend. A canal thirty-six miles in length has been built around these shoals, and above the navigation for boats is unob~ structed for 250 miles. The river being rapid,is chiefly favorable for navigation down stream. FLORENCE, ALABAMA. This town, which the federal gunboats vis- ited in their dashing exploit up the Tennes- see, after the capture of Fort Henry, is at the head of navigation, three hundred miles from Paducah, and contains about two thousand inhabitants. It is at the feat of Muscle Shoals,nearly opposite Tuscumbia, andMont- gomcry, the whilom capital of the confeder- acry. It is about three hundred miles from the mouth of the river. The river here is about half a mile wide, and is crossed by a fine bridge. The route of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad is within a short dis- tanbe of the place. It has several public buildings, including three large brick churches. The most important fact in connection with the town is, however,that it is the prin- cipal shipping point for the produce of- the country and the adjacent parts,of Tennessee. The amount of cotton raised in the vicinity is very large. Lauderdale county, of which Florence is the capital produces from ten to twelve thousand bales of ginned cotton of four hundred pounds. Franklin county, on the other side of the river, produces over 15,000 bales. Cottonnis also produced to some extent in Tennessee, on the line of the river. There are two large cotton factories on Cypress creek three miles il'om the place, having a capital of $45,000 each. Shoal creek, nine miles distant, also gives motion to a cotton factory which cost $60,000. The hospitable and cordial greeting given to the men on our gunboats in this vicinity, al- though due to some extent, no doubt, to fear may yet be considered as not wholly affect- ed. It was known that Northern Alabama, together with Eastern Tennessee and Wes- tern Virginia, were thc last to assent to the heresy of secession, and were only driven into it by the mob spirit everywhere prevail- ing. They illustrate the lines— “He that consent against his will, Is of the same opinion still." It would appear, from the facts quoted above, that one of the most eligible places to open a “cotton ‘port” would be at Florence, as the principal shipping point to a large cot- ton growing region. roar DONELSON. was constructed some time last summer, to- gether with Fort Henry to prevent the ad- vance of our forces up the Cumberland, as Fort Henry was built to prevent our advance up the Tennessee. It is the counterpart of Fort Henry, and these two forts in our pos- session wc have the key to the positions of the rebel armies at Bowling Green and Col- umbus and can easily prevent them from ef- fecting a junction, and can cut off their com- munication with the South, unless they ab- dicatc their positions speedily, and retire fur- ther into the recesses of rebeldom. Fort Donelson is situated on the West bank of the Cumberland river, where that stream washes an acute at Dover. It is a fortification of earth. It is at the intersection of some seven or eight post roads, and but four miles north of the Memphis and Clarkesville Railroad.— The position is important as controlling the river as far up as Clarkesville. Clarkesville is thirty miles distant, and is the site of ex- tensive and formidable rebel works, which have been in construction for four months past, to protect the bridge crossing the Cum- berland on the railroad route to Nashville. THE CUMBERLAND RIVER. The capture of Fort Donelson will give us aveiy strong hold on the Cumberland and become a base for operations further on, ex- tending in time, probably, to Nashville, the capital of Tennessee. The Cumberland river rises in the Cumber- land mountaius near the boundary between Virginia and Kentucky, and pursuing a wes- tirly or south-westerly course enters the state of Tennessee. After an extensive sweep to Nam-answwr _. H... the south it turns north-westwardly and nor- therly, and enters and crosses Kentucky, eu- tcring the Ohio 12 1-2 miles east of the mouth of the Ohio. The entire length of the river is about 600 miles, and it drains a territory of 17,500 square miles. It is navigable for large steamboats and vesssel to Nashville, 203 miles from the mouth, and for boats of 15 tons 300 miles further. At certain seasons of high water, vessels of 400 tons can descend the river 400 miles to the Ohio, and for half its length boats may navigate it at all seasons. It is the second river in size which enters the Ohio, being inferior only to the Tennessee. Below Nashville, the river is deep and nar- row. There are on the borders of the Cum- berland nineteen furnaces, nine forges, and two rolling mills producing annually 44,500 tons of iron, valued at $1,673,000. THE CITY OF NASHVILLE. In a short time,if our armies progress in the West energetically as they have done of late, Nashville will become a place of interest-as connected with our movements up the Cum- berland. It is connected with Bowling Green by railroad. Nashville is situated on the left or the west bank of the Cumber- land river, some two hundred miles by the course of the stream from its month; 280 miles northeast of Memphis; 206 miles south- west of Lexington in Kentucky, and 684 miles from Washington city. Many of the private residences are erected on a scale of palatial magnitude and splendor, and the public buildings exhibit a corresponding character. The suburbs abound with pic- turesque scenery, enriched with beautiful groves of cedar. The city was originally laid out in lots of one acre each, with a reser- vation of four acres for public buildings. The boundaries have since been enlarged. The new capitol, which stands on a commanding eminence, 175 feet above the river, is one of the most noble, magnificent and costly struc- tures in America. The material is fine lime- stone, which was quarried on the spot, and nearly resembles marble. Thc dimensions are 240 feet by 185, and the estimated cost $1,000,000. It is built, as it is stated, enircly of stone and iron, without any wood about it, except the plank on which the copper roofing is fastened; the floor and inner walls are of dressed stone. A lunatic asylum, on a large scale, has recently been erected in the vicinity. The state penitentiary at this place is 313 feet by 50, containing. 200 cells. The University of Nashville was founded in1800. The medical college connected with the uni- versity was opened in 1851; it occupies a spacious building, and has upwards of 150 students. There are also a number of female seminaries, the largest of which is attended by more than 300 pupils. . ' There were fifteen newspapers published here, six of them daily: ‘Iashville contains three banks with a total capital of $5,- 182,500, and fifteen churches, representing the various religious denominations. The mineral cabinet of the late Dr. Troost con- tains the largest private collection in the United States. The city is lighted with gas- The Cumberland river is crossed by a mag- nificent wire suspension bridge,built at a cost of $100,000. Water is supplied by being raised from the Cumberland river. Six rail- roads now centei‘ at Nashville,afl'ordiug com- munication with many desired points. It is the terminus 'of the Nashville and Chat- tanooge railroad, 150 miles long, which was finished in 1852, at an expense of about $3,- 000.000. ,The road is built in a very sub- stantial manner, and completes the connec- tion with Charleston and Savannah. The commerce of Nashville is very extensive, amounting annually to over 5,000 tonnage, composed of steamboats navigating the Cum- berland river, engaged in the conveyance of passengers, and the traffic of goods and pro- duce. Extensive manufacturing establish- ments are in successful operation at this place, among which may be mentioned the powder mill, the rolling mill, the Tennessee Iron Works, just below the city,on the Cum— berland river, which are as extensive and equal in capacity to any in the United States; founderies and machine shops. The popu- lation of Nashville at the present time is about 26,000. ~———<v¢—o>————— Brilliant Exploit. The following account of the brilliant dash of Commander Rowan upon Commodore Lynch’s rebel fleet of steamers at Elizabeth City immediately after the taking of Roa- noke Island, we find in the Tribune of Sat- urday. It will be seen that it is the most dashing and gallant exploit of the war yet performed by our glorious Navy: MONDAY EVENING, Feb. 10. Iliavo to record the most brilliant naval achievement since the days of 1812.,The expo dition against the rebel gun-boats at Elizabeth City has been attended with results that shed a glory on our arms, that will go far to crush the Rebellion, and that in their detail, will stir the blood of even the most sluggish. In the substance of the eloquent and modest dis- ' patches of Capt. Rowan, who commanded the expedition, this morning at about 9 o’clock he engaged the Rebel fleet and bat- tery, and in less than half an hour annihila- ted the one and silenced the other. The story may be brieflytold: Our gun—boats, on sighting the enemy drawn up in imposing ar- ray supported by a battery of heavy guns, under full head of steam made for him, at the same time using their guns with telling ef- fect; rushed by the battery, delivering a few passing shots, and literally ran down the Rebel fleet: boarded, fought hand to band, and while the boats were in flames, drove those that were not killed in all directions.— This brief and comprehensive narrative has the right ring in it, and brings back the re- collection of the days when the American Navy was, as it now is, justly the pride and glory of the Republic and a terror to her foes. A correspondent of The Tribune, detailed to acoumpany the expedition, and who was on one of the gunboats most conspicuous in the affair, furnishes the following account: After the great victory of Roanoke Island, and as soon as suitable preparations could be made, a portion of the fleet proceeded to Elizabeth city, for the purpose of capturing the Rebel Navy, which, it was said, had made a stand at that point, with the inter.- tion of resisting our force to the last. Orders were also given to burn what steamers the Rebels were building at that place, but not to destroy or molest any other property be- longing to the citizens. The expedition, in command of Capt. J C. Rowan, left Roanoke Island on Sunday, at 3 o’clock p. m. It was composed of the follow- ing steamers: Delaware, Lieut.-Com.Quack- enbush. the flag-ship; Underwriter, Lieut- Com. IV. N. Jeflers; Louisiana, Lieut- Com. Murray ; Lockwood, Acting-Mas- ter Graves; Seymour, Lieut.-Com. Wells; Hetzell, Lieut.-Com. Davenport; Shawsbecn Acting-Master Woodrufi‘; Valley City, Lieut- Com. Chaplin; General Putnam, Acting- Master MacDiarmid; Morse, Acting-Master Hayes; Whitehead, Acting-Master French ; Brincker, Acting-Master Giddings, making fourteen in all. We came in sight of Elizabeth City about 8 o’clock, and, as we approached, we discov- cred the enemy’s steamers—seven in number ——in line of battle, in front of the city, ready to receive us. A fort was also discovered on a point which projected out some considers- ble distance—one-fourth of a mlie, perhaps —iu front of the rebel line of steamers; and directly opposite of this fort was a schooner, anchored, on which were two heavy rifle guns; the distance between the fort and this schooner being about half-a-mile. Four large guns were mounted on the fort, and it was thought by the rebels that no fleet of ours could pass this narrow channel; consequent- ly they considered themselves safe, with the assistance of their navy, drawn up between the city and fort. At the sight of the enemy, everything was in readiness for battle. To describe the wild delight of our brave blue-jackets, when they first discovered the enemy, is more than the pen can do. The charge was short and desperate, and without any exception is one of the most brilliant'ever made by the American Navy, All eyes were on the Commander, Rowan, to see what the first order would be, as we were rapidly approaching the foe. In due time he ran up the signal to engage the enemy in close action, hand to hand.— We were then about two miles from the cue-' my. This was a signal for a test of speed as the signal for a deadly encounter with a des- perate foe, whose all was staked upon this final engagement. For a distance of two miles it was a race between our steamers in their-eagerness to outstrip each other, and to be first to meet the enemy of the Republic face to face. The river began to narrow as we approach- ed the city. The point where the fort was situated necessarily brought our steamers nearer together, making them sure marks for the enemy's guns; indeed, it would be a mir- acle if a shot from one of the enemy’s guns did not strike some -one of our steamers.— Under the circumstances, most any other commander would have though; it advisable to first attack the fort and silence the guns on both sides of that narrow point, and then attack the Rebel steamers; but not so with the brave and intrepid Rowan, whose motto is to charge bayonets on the enemy'when- ever and wherever he may be found. In ac- tion the position of the commande‘r’s ship is in the center of the squadron. The Dela- ware, Capt. Rowan’s flag-ship, was at the head of the advancing column, and led the van. nNo attention was paid to the fort or armed schooner, as they dashed by them through a perfect tOrrent of shells and grape boarded the Rebel steamers and engaged them at the point of the bayonet,as the panic stricken Rebels leaped into the water in every direction. Many were killed by the bayonet and revolver in this hand-to-hand fight, and sank below the water. Their real loss will doubtless never be knoWn to us; the slaugh- ter, however, was fearful, and the struggle short and desperate—not more than fifteen minutes in duration. The fort and'armcd schooner were desert- ed quite as soon as were the Rebel steamers, it was quite as hot work for those behind the guns as it was for their conf'ederates on the gun-boats. Our loss is two killed and about a dozen wounded—all seamen. The death- struggle was brief. In less time than it would take to write a telegraphic dispatch, the victory was ours. - The Commodore Perrywas in the advance and made for the rebel steamer Sea Bird, the flagship of the Rebel Navy, on which was Commodore Lynch, and run her down, cut- ting her through. The Ceres mn straight into the Rebel steamer Ellis, and run her down in the like manner, boarding her at the same time. The Underwriter tookthe Forrest the same style, while the Delaware took the Funny in fine shape, she having received ten shots from our squadron, which made daylight through her in as many places.— The Morse, Shawsbeen, Lockwood, Hetzela Valley City, Putnam, Whitehead, Blinker, and Seymour also covered themselves wrth glory. Every officer and man in our entire squadron behaved like a hero, one as brave as the other,all through this desperate charge. The terrified Rebels, as they forsook their gunboats, fired them, and thus all but the Ellis were burned, including a new one on the stocks. Four were burned, one captured and two made their escape—the Raleigh and Beaufort. They are in the canal which leads to Norfolk, but are not able 11; go through, on account of the locks havingbeeu destroy- ed; consequently they will be captured be- fore this reaches you, as they can go only some few miles toward Norfolk. The log-books of the steamers, together with the signal-book of the Rebel navy, and all their navy signal colors, fell into our hands, with many other records and papers, which places us in possessmn of much that is valuable. This great naval victory gives us full and complete possession of all the inland waters of North Carolina. We have learned where the rest of the. Rebel steamers, now few in number, are to be found, and rest assured they are all destined to fall into our hands in short order, perhaps before this roaches you. The following are the names of the seven steamers which we encountered to-day, with their commanders: Ellis, Capt. C. W . Cooke; Raleigh, Capt. Alexander; Funny, Capt. Tay- lor; Beaufort, Capt. Parker; Accomuc, Capt. Sands; Forrest, Capt. Hoover; Seabird (the Rebel flag-ship), Com. Lynch. All of these commanders were educated in the U. S. Na~ val Academy. Capt. Cooke is taken priso- ner by our forces. As I have already said, the Raleigh and Beaufort escaped. -<.>- WBurnside is the man for deeds, not words. In the early period of the war, he was presented with a flag at Washington.— His only reply to a Very flattering address, was a courteous bow, and “very much obliged to you! Move on, men l“ It is needless to point to the way in which both ‘he and his men are moving on, _ -... ‘_ M5» W We are quite sure that the following just sentiments will find a hearty response in the minds of all who believe, as we do, that we can now with safety to the national life, lcave truth to combat error without re- sorting to such “coercion" as has cVen the semblance of tyranny. The number of those who hoist their heads in glorification when our arms are repulsed—who when they hear that a hundred of our troops have been slain wish that it might have been a thousand— who hang their heads only when Our brave men are victorious—the number of such are now so despicably small that. to endure the popular indignation and contempt is more than they can bear up under and makehead- way against : The Return to Law and Liberty. We never gave, and expect never to give, a heartier welcome to any document than to the General Order by which the Secretary of War, in behalf of the President, announces that the reign of lawless despotism is ended, and that no person is henceforth to be incar- cerated or retained in a military Bastile without other warrant than the mere order of a Minister of State. The President could do nothing else so well calculated to com- mend him to the confidence and esteem of the great body of the American People as_he gas done in authorizing the issue of this or- er. It was proper to call attention to the per- ilous condition of the country at the time the extreme measure of practically suspend- ing the habeas corpus was resorted to. No loyal and reasonable man doubts that neces- sity, nor hesitates to prove the assumption and exercise of dictatorial powers in such a crisis as that of the sudden isolation of the llletropolis by conspiracy, riot, and .nurder in Baltimore, by the burning of railroad bridges and destruction of telegraph wires with the full assent of the traitorous authori— tics of the Monumental City and tho acqui- escence if not active co—operation of the Gov- ernor of Maryland. Had the President, in that dark and perilous hour, seen fit to shoot without judge or jury a dozen of the traitor emissaries and spies who infested Washing- ton, and sent five hundred more of them to prison, the heart of the Nation would have promptly responded, Well done! even though some disloyal Judges of high degree had been included in the swoop. There is no complaint, except among the Breckin- ridges, Vallandighams, &c., whose censure is- praise, that the President assumed too much power in the agony oi'this struggle for the National life, nor that he wielded his ex- traordinary powers too vigorously while the crisis continued and within the scope of the actual danger. , But there is peril in every assumption of extraordinary power—peril of perversion, of undue extension, and of unreasonable pro- longation. The love of power is so stronga passion that it is difficult to make the actual wielder perceive and respect the demarka- tion which separates vigor from tyranny.— To have declared the District of Columbia in a state of siege and placed all Maryland under martial law last April would have been plainly and amply justifiable; whileto seize and incarceratc men on the mere war- rant of a Secretary in New York, Connecti- cut,:md even Vermont, at no time necessary, has for months been naked and atrocious des - potism. Mind, that we are not questioning the existence or the machinations of traitors, even in New England, nor disputing the propriety of arresting, convicting and [mm " isbing them; but it were a. base libel on the people of the Free States to pretend that the state of opinion among them has for months been such as to interpose any obstacle to the convicrion and punishment of traitors and emissaries according to the forms of» law. It is precisely because they should be punished ——and readily may lie—that we protest against a treatment which commends them to popular sympathy when they should, if guilty, be' exposed to general detestation.‘ To seize,on the one Sided testimony of caves droppers and secret informers—who may be impelled by private malice—citizens of thor- oughly loyal States, and hurry them on to a military dungeon where no process can reach and no proof of innocence avail them, is an, unwarranted impeachment of the loyalty of the communities thus subjected to Austrian rule, and an; implication that their patriotism is no safeguard for their liberties. It is. a grave mistake to subject citizens of decided standing and influence to this harsh disci- pline; but when the public burdens are in- creased to cover the imprisonment on arbi- trary warrants of railway ncwsboys, stroll- ing spoeters of dubious’ character or none at all, and ordinary bar-room brawlers, the judgment of the community is afi‘ronted by the spectacle of machinery fitted only to crush a giant employed to ensnare adv.— The country will thank the Secretary of War most heartily for his aid in demolishing this most needless, mischievous and odious ma- chinery of despotism and restoring the be- nignant supremacy of law-guarded libert .— Such proof of the bencficicnt results 0 an infusion of new blood into the Cabinet will intensify the general desire that the experi- ment be speedily repeated. —Yet a word to Mr. Stanton on a subject that comes home more immediately to his personal sphere of duty than the clearing of the Bastiles which he has had no hand in filling. Some three months ago Gen. Justus McKinstry was arrested while in command of his brigade and closely immurcd TI 3 Mis- souri prison on charges (it is undorstdod) of peculation, though neither the accused nor any of his friends have been permitted to know what they are. That he is a mili- tary prisoner, held by order of the War De- partment or some one of its subordinates, is pretty certain; since an attempt to indict him before a St. Louis Grand Jury is said to have been unsuccessful. Now we know nothing of the guilt or innocence of Gen. McKinstry, any more than of that of any of the hundreds whom Mr. Stanton’s order is about to liberate from imprisonment on .sus- picion of treason. If Gen. MCK. has con- spircd to rob the Nation while holding are- sponsible position in her service, we want him convicted and punished in the most sig- nal and summary manner; we do not know him from Adam, and have no possible inter- est in his case but that which we should feel for any one who seemed to be unjustly dealt with. May we not with reason trust that Mr. Stanton, allcr having taken so noble~ a part in liberating other men‘s prisoners will give ready hccd'to the just demands of his own—Tribune ————*1¢.s—. 0%?“ Here is a ghost story or adventure, which recently occurred in Limerick, Ire- land : A woman not far from Emily, buried her husband a few months ago. A knock came to the door some night last month. She asked who was there. A hollow voice ans- wcrcd, “I am your husband, whom you buried, and" I am very miserable in purgato- , ry till my debts are paid. Sell the two pigs you how and be sure to have the money for nie on such a night when 1 call.“ The poor woman did as he required, whether through fear or love (as he appeared with his shroud and pale face.) Between the first and second visit of the ghost, the poor woman went and told llCl‘ story to the priest; he told her it was all very good, but at the same time'to have two policemen in the house when she would be giving the money. Accordingly, after getting the money, the purgatorial and shrouded ghost came, and was arrested by the police and lodged in Limerick jail, there to undergo a little more purgatory till his trial comes on. This ghost turned out to be a near neighbor, who is godfather to one of her children. 4—--o«.b—-~ -— — W Buckner the robe. General, late Gov- ernor in Kentucky and just captured'at Fort Donelson, married, a few years since a daugh- ter of Maj. Julius Kingsbury of the U, S. Army formerly of Waterbury in this state—- Major Kingsbury died at (-hicago some four . -: 51.1.1» . years since. . l v i l
Norwalk Chronicler