March 6, 1863, The New York Herald
The news from Tennessee reports the progress of the Union arms. The force under the rebel General Van Dorn advanced towards Franklin on the 4th inst., where they were met by the Union troops and driven back with a loss of thirteen killed. The fight was resumed next day; but the particulars have not yet reached us. A body of rebels, numbering fifty cavalry, attempted to surround a picket party of Union troops near Nolansville, but were themselves surrounded and captured. Reinforcements have been sent to Colonel Gilbert at Franklin, which are thought to be large enough capture all Van Dorn’s command.
There appears to be some mystery about the capture of the gunboat Indianola, and some suspicion that her surrender to the rebels was unnecessary.
The canal between the Mississippi river and Lake Providence is completed; but the water is not yet in.
We give today a most interesting account from our correspondent of the daring attempt of the gunboat Queen of the West to run the blockade at Fort Taylor, on the Red river, and her capture by the rebels. A map of the locality accompanies the description, showing the position of the fort, and the different points of interest in the trip of the Queen of the West.
The only news from the Army of the Potomac is the issue of an important order regulating the grating of furloughs, the admission of citizens within the army lines, and commanding that no leave of absence be granted to the officers and men of certain regiments specified as being incomplete in discipline and efficiency.
The story of the total destruction of the rebel steamer Nashville, in the Ogeechee river, near Savannah, is confirmed by the Richmond papers, which state that she grounded on the bar before Fort McAllister on the 27th ult., and was discovered by the Union fleet, one of which opened fire on her for two hours and a half, and finally got a shell on board, which set her on fire and left her a complete wreck. During the attack the fort kept up a fire on the Union gunboat and hit her twice. The gunboat returned the shots, but, as far as known, did no damage to Fort McAllister.
A report from Gen. Dodge, at the headquarters of the army in the district of Corinth, Miss., states that the Confederate troops have been inflicting almost unheard-of outrages upon the Union people of Alabama. Houses have been burned down and the occupants driven into the woods, where hundreds of them, including women and children, are now seeking shelter. Several persons have been hung or shot for their adherence to the Union cause. Gen. Dodge says that he is now feeding some hundred families, who have neither food nor shelter.
The Alabama is reported to have been seen off Cape Isabella on the 19th inst., and off Port au Platt, St. Domingo, the same evening, after chasing a Spanish steamer.
The brig Augusta, Captain Strout, from Neuvitas, which arrived at this port last night, reports that on the 2d inst., in latitude 34, longitude 75, she saw a large English steamer steering towards Charleston. He supposed her to be a blockade runner.