From Tennessee

Special to the Tribune.

CAIRO, March 28.

A gentleman who has just returned from Pittsburg and Savannah, on the Tennessee river, reports that on Sunday and Monday last Gen. Sherman sent a reconnoisance in force to Pea Ridge, near the line of the Mobile and Ohio RR., where it had been reported the rebels were fortifying.  The reconnoisance was complete in every particular.  No enemy, however, was found in the neighborhood.  The expedition returned to Pittsburg on Tuesday.  Our forces at Pittsburg are being rapidly augmented, steamer after steamer arriving continually, loaded with fresh troops.

The latest advices from the rebel camp at Corinth give the strength of the rebel force there at 170,000.  Recent indications relative to the persistent efforts of the rebels to fortify the town of Corinth would seem to demonstrate an intention to make a vigorous resistance there.

It is, however, the general belief of all prominent officers of Gen. Grant’s command that the rebels will retire on our approach, but should a battle occur Corinth will doubtless be one of the hardest fought and bloodiest affairs of the present war.  On Sunday last information was received at the headquarters of Gen. Grant, that a considerable amount of pork was stored at a point on the river, called Nichols’ Landing, sixty miles south of Savannah, Tenn.  Maj. M. Smith, of the 45th Ill., with one hundred and fifty infantry and Capt. Osbonad’s Co., 48^th Ill. Cavalry, was dispatched on the steamer to secure said property.  Arriving at Nichol’s Landing information was given by contrabands, concerning the locality of the pork in question.  Within a circuit of fifteen miles, fifteen thousand pounds of fresh pork, forty-five thousand pounds cured hams, shoulders &c., were discovered and confiscated.  They were then placed on the steamer, brought to Savannah and turned over to the Commissary department.

Nichols’ Landing and vicinity has been a mart of the pork business for the C. S. A. for a long time.  Immense quantities have been sought and stored there for the use of the Confederate army.  Had information arrived two weeks earlier it would have secured to us two hundred thousand pounds of meat.  Within that time the rebels have transported large quantities southward by teams.

On Monday the gunboat Taylor ran up the river to the vicinity of Eastport, near which point masked batteries opened upon them at a distance of two hundred yards, one shot striking the smoke-stack of the Taylor.  A number of shots were exchanged, with what effect on the enemy’s works is unknown.  The engagement was extremely spirited while it lasted.  Upwards of fifty shots being fired.  The Taylor received no other injuries than those above stated, and nobody was hurt.

Captains Bedard and Carson of Gen. Smith’s scouts returned to Savannah from Nashville, overland, on Tuesday night, as bearers of dispatches from Gen. Buell.

Gens. Nelson’s, Thomas’s and McCook’s divisions of Buell’s column reached Duck River on Sunday last.

Capt. Bedard reports a strong loyal sentiment in several districts of Tennessee.

Between Columbia and Savannah he overtook certain bands of marauding rebels, but their identity not being suspected they were allowed to pass unmolested.  Union men live in extreme fear of these marauders, who are prowling about in the vicinity, and are anxious for the approach of Government forces.

A man named Morris, one of the Jessie Scouts, was hung at Savannah on Sunday for horse stealing and other depredations from private citizens thereabouts.

Gen. Grant has entirely recovered from his recent illness.  Gen. Smith is still confined at his headquarters, but convalescent.

A steamer arrived from the flotilla early this morning, and reports no change in the condition of affairs at Island No. 10.  The bombardment continues with but little intermission, but results are unknown.  No sign of evacuation by the rebels.

Rumors were current that rebel gunboats had passed Pope’s batteries at Point Pleasant from below, but they can be traced to no reliable source.  The story is undoubtedly a canard.

The rebels are impressing citizens of Kentucky and Tennessee into service, and arming them with axes and pikes.

Four rebels armed with Arkansas “toothpicks” were arrested near Charleston yesterday and brought to Bird’s Point.  They claim to be refugees from Tennessee, but their story is disbelieved.  They remain in close custody.

Gen. Strong visited the Island to-day.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 31, 1862, p. 2

From Cairo

CAIRO, Feb. 28.

I learn from a gentleman thoroughly conversant with Kentucky, that the rebels are dismounting their guns at Columbus and that the work of evacuation is still going on.  Several transports are lying at Columbus to carry off troops.

Every man going into Columbus is inspected, even farmers with teams.

Several hundred negroes were sent into the interior yesterday.  This is from a reliable source.

The rebel war department has called on Tennessee for thirty-two more regiments.

From rebel papers I learn that dispatches had been received at Nashville, from Jeff. Davis, addressed to Gen. Johnston, directing him to hold the city at all hazards.

The rebel army is now retreating towards Murfreesboro.  The re-crossed the Cumberland, and would make a stand north of the city, at Fort Zollicoffer, which would be held against the gunboats if possible.

Official dispatches received at Knoxville, say that an ample force will advance from Richmond to protect East Tennessee.

Gov. Harris, of Tennessee, has taken the field in person.

Two spans of the Tennessee river bridge, at Danville, are no floating down the Mississippi past Columbus.

The report of Beauregard’s illness is unfounded.  He left Corinth, Tennessee, on the 19^th.

The State officers of Tennessee are hereafter to be located at Memphis.

Three hundred and eighty of the Federal Donelson prisoners had arrived at Memphis.

Steamers are taking sugar from Memphis to New Orleans, where the article is in request.

The Memphis Avalanche says persons reported to have left Gen. Johnston’s command, say he entertained no doubt of his ability to re-enter Nashville whenever he wished to do so.  The plan was to get Buell between Nashville and the Cumberland.

The same paper says Tennessee is bleeding at every pore; her former prestige is obscured, and she must arouse to arms and vindicate her chivalry, patriotism, and former renown, or be forever held with contempt by her soldiers in their race for independence and renown.

The Avalanche therefore advocates the formation of guerilla bands, armed with rifles of a long range, to establish themselves behind trees, logs and bends of the Tennessee roads, to pick off the Lincoln pilots, and that such a corps of sharpshooters will be as great a terror to the Federal steamers as their gunboats were at Donelson.

It estimates the Federal loss at Donelson at 6,000 killed and wounded, and places the Confederate loss at 1,500, and says the prisoners, 10,000 strong, passed Paducah for Alton in fine spirits, shouting for Jeff. Davis and the Southern Confederacy.

A battalion of Confederate cavalry, from Paris, Tenn., on a scouting expedition in the direction of Tennessee river, was betrayed by a guide, who led them into an ambuscade prepared by the Federal troops, but they escaped with slight loss.

On Monday, the day to which the Tennessee Legislature adjourned, the Memphis papers state that there was no quorum and difficulty was anticipated in getting an organization.

The stern-wheel steamer Dr. Kane, loaded with pig iron for Pittsburg and Cincinnati, struck a floating log while coming out of the Mississippi into the Ohio last evening, which knocked a hole in her bow, causing the boat to sink at the levee.  No lives were lost, and the books and papers were saved.  The cabin separated from the wreck and floated off in the direction of Columbus.

SECOND DISPATCH

The rebels having now concentrated at Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Tennessee troops are anxious to lay down their arms, but are prevented by regiments form Mississippi.  Gen. Buell had surrounded them so that none could escape.  The rebels offered to surrender the position if allowed to march with the honor of war, but Gen. Buell refused and demanded unconditional surrender.

He said he would allow them two days for consideration, and if the place was not surrendered at the expiration of that time he would open fire on them.  The time expired this morning.

Nashville was occupied on the 25^th by the Union forces.

Gen. Nelson’s brigade first entered, and the flag of the Union was hoisted on the State House by Gen. Nelson.

Many of the citizens are strong secessionists, but very many warmly greeted the flag.

The rebel army left on Sunday, and left behind 1,600 sick and wounded of the Fort Donelson garrison.

They destroyed bridges, burned all the steamboats but one, which escaped.  This one came to Clarksville to obtain the aid of our gunboats and prevent the burning of the city.

The Texan soldiers fired the city in many places, but the citizens extinguished the flames.  A great majority of the property owners remained.  The excitement was intense.  Gov. Harris made a speech to the people, saying he had done all he could and was going to leave, and advised them to follow suit.

The Legislature adjourned in the utmost consternation of the news from Fort Donelson.  Harris fled with the archives, the Legislature with carpet-bags, and the whole concern was off in two hours.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 3, 1862, p. 1

William W. Nelson, M. D.

WILLIAM W. NELSON, M. D., has for thirty years been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine in this community.  His home is in Birmingham.  He was born on November 30, 1834, in Wayne County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Nelson.  His father was born in Mercer County, Pa., December 4, 1790, and was descended from Irish ancestry.  He Served in the War of 1812, and in Pennsylvania, he married Miss Elizabeth Wilson, who was born in Ireland, May 25, 1791, and who, in her childhood accompanied her parents to this country and located in Pennsylvania. Soon after their marriage they removed in 1817, to Wayne County, Ohio, near Rowsburg, where Mr. Nelson engaged in farming until 1836, when he removed to Richland County, (now Ashland) and located on a farm near Savannah until 1845, when he traded his land in that locality for a tract in Washington Township, Van Buren County, Iowa, to which he then removed. He was a Whig, afterward an Abolitionist and in turn became a Republican. Both he and his wife were members of the Associate Presbyterian Church, but afterward joined the United Presbyterian. He died September 24, 1860, and Mrs. Nelson passed away on the 7th of October, 1858. In their family were nine children, of whom seven lived to be adults, while three are yet living — Hugh, a farmer of Van Buren County; Ann, widow of Joseph Dawson, of Washington County, Iowa, and the Doctor.

Our subject is the youngest of the family. Having attended the district schools, he was not content to consider his education then finished but through his own resources acquired the means by which he was enabled to attend Washington College for two years. His taste lay in the line of medical practice and in 1857, he went to Wooster, Ohio, where he read medicine with Drs. Day & Wilson. During the winter of 1858-9, he attended a course of lectures in the medical department of the Iowa State University at Keokuk, and the following year completed a course of study in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa., where he graduated March 12, 1860, although he has continued a student up to the present time, keeping himself well informed on all matters pertaining to the profession, its discoveries and the advancement made in the science.

Soon after his graduation, Dr. Nelson was united in marriage on March 20, 1860, with Miss Almira Matthews, a native of Lawrence County, Pa., born July 22, 1839. Immediately after he returned with his bride to Van Buren County, locating in Pierceville, in the summer of 1860, where they began their domestic life. On the 19th of August, 1862, he was commissioned by Gov. Kirkwood as First Assistant Surgeon ,of the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, and mustered into service by Lieut. Charles J. Ball of the Thirteenth Infantry, United States mustering officer. September 14, 1862, at Keokuk. He joined his regiment at Iuka. Miss., but soon afterward was taken with malarial fever and lay in the general hospital at Corinth, Miss., some three weeks, suffering severely, and recovering, he then rejoined his regiment at Grand Junction, Tenn. In the spring of 1863, he was ordered to take charge of a smallpox hospital at Lake Province, La., by order of Gen. McPherson. After a month he was relieved and placed in charge of the Sixth Division Pioneer Corps, commanded by Capt. Davis, of the Thirty-second I1linois Infantry. Returning to his regiment in August, 1863, he had charge of the sick of the brigade when the regiments went on the march to Monroe, La. After a short sickness and an absence, on furlough, of twenty days, given by Gen. Grant at Vicksburg. he rejoined his regiment and had charge of two companies detached for duty at the arsenal near Vicksburg, and also had charge of a pioneer corps and engineer regiment commanded by Capt. John Wilson. He remained with the above command until the spring of 1864, when he was placed in charge of non-veterans and recruits of the Iowa Brigade, and had charge of this detachment until their respective commands joined them near Huntsville, Ala., when he was placed in charge of the Third Iowa Veteran Infantry, with which he remained until it was consolidated with the Second Veteran Infantry near Jones' Plantation, Ga., on Sherman's march to the sea. Thereafter, the Doctor rejoined his regiment and from December 22, 1864, until he was mustered out he was the only medical officer with the command. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta, and Bentonsville [sic], and the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., May 24, 1865, and was mustered out with his regiment at Louisville, Ky., July 24, 1865, at the close of the war. In the fall of the same year, the Doctor located in Birmingham, where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, with the exception of 1874, when with his family he visited the Pacific coast in the pursuit of health and returned the following year. He has a good record as a physician and surgeon, as is indicated by a liberal patronage. He holds the office of Secretary of the United States Pension Examining Board, of his county, is a Republican in politics and the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of improved land. Unto himself and wife were horn seven children of whom two died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Meldon W., a farmer of Lick Creek Township, Van Buren County; Nettie X.; Minnie A., wife of Allen B. Adams, of Selma; Audley E. and Mary L., who are students at Parsons College. The family holds a high position in the social world and the Doctor has won a like enviable rank in the medical fraternity. In religious sentiment the Doctor and his wife are independent, and anti-sectarian.

Mrs. Nelson's grandfather, Jacob Matthews, was born in Maryland, in 1775. His ancestors were of Alsace, France, or of German descent. He married Miss Mary Boyl, who was born in Ireland, and their family consisted of three children, one son and two daughters. At an early day they moved to Lawrence County, Pa., and located on a farm near Edenburg. He served in the War of 1812, and died at the age of eighty-four. His only son, Phillip Matthews, Mrs. Nelson's father, married Miss Nancy Book, of the same county. Their family consisted of ten children, two sons and eight daughters. One son and two daughters died in childhood. The other son, George B. Matthews, Mrs. Nelson's remaining brother, served four years in the One Hundredth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. One sister died at maturity, and three still survive.

SOURCE: Portrait And Biographical Album Of Jefferson And Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Lake City Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, 1890, p. 365-6

W. W. Nelson, M. D.

NELSON, W. W., M. D., physician and surgeon, Birmingham; born Nov. 30, 1834, in Wayne Co., Ohio; came with his parents to this county in the fall of 1845, and settled in Washington Tp., where he was employed on his father's farm till of age; then went to Washington College two years; after, to Wooster, Ohio, and commenced reading medicine with Dr. Dane Wilson, and subsequently attended lectures at the Iowa State University, Medical Department, and at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn., where he graduated in the spring of 1860; returned to this county, and commenced practicing at Pierceville. Was commissioned as Assistant Surgeon in 1862 in the 15th Iowa V. I., which position he held till the close of the war. Located in Birmingham in 1865; he owns a farm of 100 acres, valued at $3,500. Married Almira Matthews March 20, 1860, in Lawrence Co., Penn.; she was born July 22, 1839; have five children living — Meldon W., Nellie X., Minnie A., Audley E. and Mary L.; lost two — Anna M. and Elizabeth S. Dr. Nelson moved to Sonoma Co., Cal., in 1874, and returned the following year. Member of the U. P. Church; Republican.

SOURCE: The History of Van Buren County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1878, p. 596