From Cairo

CAIRO, Feb. 25.

Nashville was yesterday occupied by ten thousand troops under Gen. Buell, and the Federal flag is now flying over the State House.

The Tennessee Legislature adjourned on Saturday week, and met again yesterday at Memphis.

It is reported that commissioners have been appointed to confer with the Federal authorities at Washington, to arrange terms for a transfer of allegiance, and that Gov. Harris offered to turn the confederate forces over to the Union.

Secessionism is on the wane, and Unionism in the ascendant.  Union men threaten terrible retribution upon their persecutors.

Fielding Hurst, of Purdy, McHenry Co., Tenn., ten miles from [Corinth], Miss., arrived last night.  He was first arrested by order of Gov. Harris on the 2d of December, confined twenty-seven days in a dungeon at Nashville, and released by outside pressure brought to bear on the judge who had sentenced him to be hung for treason to the Confederate States.

He was again arrested, taken to Columbus, kept two days, and permitted to return to Purdy, by Rev. Gen. Polk, to establish his innocence.  He started from the guard and was taken on board the gunboat Tyler and brought to Cairo.  He represents a general union sentiment in Tennessee, and thinks the Legislature will acquiesce in the recommendation of Gov. Harris, because fearful of the rising of the Union sentiment.

When he left Columbus there were 30,000 Confederate troops there, who were confident of whipping the d----d Yankees on land, though they confessed themselves no[t] much on water.  When first released he gave a recognizance in $25,000 for his loyalty to the Confederate army.

Another gentleman, who arrived from Nashville last night, reports the Confederates will make another stand at Murfreesboro.

All the rebel troops had left Nashville except the police force, who were picking up stragglers.

When Gov. Harris fled from Nashville with the Legislature to Memphis he burnt the State library and distributed a large amount of commissary stores and provisions among the citizens.  Stores are closed and business is entirely suspended.  Secessionists are leaving with their stock and negroes and following the Confederate army.

Geo. T. Lewis, proprietor of the Cumberland rolling mills, burned by the gunboat St. Louis, and who was brought to Cairo a prisoner of war, to-day took the oath of allegiance and was released upon parole. – He leaves for Fort Donelson and home this afternoon, and expresses the utmost gratitude for the humane treatment received and returns a confirmed Unionist.  He has been under charge of Col. Murphy, of the 9th Wisconsin, while at Cairo.

Walker Tyler, nephew of ex-President Tyler, was among the rebels at Fort Donelson.  He was wounded, and escaped afterwards.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 27, 1862, p. 1