From Gen. Banks’ Division

CHARLESTOWN, VA, March 2.

The main body of Gen. Banks’ division rests in the vicinity of Charlestown.  No disaster or accident has occurred since their concentration at and departure from Sandy Hook, to cause any anxiety to the friends at home.  Three inches of snow fell today.

The hither to rancorous secessionists now pay marked respect to the Federal uniform.  The citizens who have been compelled to succumb to the rebel force are elated with the prospects for the future.

It is gratifying to perceive that the country through which the army marched bears marks of the usual agricultural industry.  It is apparent that the future cereal crops of the prolific region have not been neglected as may be supposed.  Town and country are destitute of imported articles of consumption.  There is no lack of bread, meat and coarse clothes.

Hundreds of contrabands are hourly seeking refuge within our lines, but they are allowed to roam at large without espionage or care; in fact, but little notice is taken of them, except to prevent their return beyond our outposts.

The general reports from Winchester are conflicting, and but little reliance can be placed on them, coming from refugees and contrabands.  The military commanders are undoubtedly better informed than the public, and are consequently prepared for any emergency which may arise.

Considerable flour, accredited to the secession army has been seized, but private property has been strictly respected.

Martinsburg has been occupied by Union troops, approved by Gen. McClellan.

500 to 1,000 bbls. of flour belonging to the Confederates, have been seized and stored here.

A woolen mill, owned by a man named Davis, which had been manufacturing confederate cloth, was also seized with considerable stock.

Richard Washington, brother of the late John A. Washington, is now confined at Harper’s Ferry.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, March 2.

The steamer Express left Old Point yesterday morning for James river, to receive the Union prisoners who were expected on Friday.  They were not met, however, according to appointment.  She accordingly came back about 3 p.m.

Yesterday the rebel steamer Jamestown, which, with the [Yorktown], is stationed off Hog Island, steamed toward the Express, with a flag of truce, to ascertain the cause of her appearance in the river on two successive days.  She stopped abreast of the Express at a few rods distance and lowered a boat with a Lieutenant on board, to communicate.  He was informed of the errand of the Express, that she was acting under information furnished by Gen. Huger, when he explained that his commander had no knowledge of any expected prisoners, and from seeing the Express two days in succession, came down to learn the occasion.  He expressed himself satisfied and returned to the Jamestown, which went back to her station.  He has been armed with a gun at her bows and another at her stern, and has a sharp iron cutwater, projecting some three feet from her bows at the water line.  She is supposed to be commanded by Capt. Barnard.  Having been twice disappointed in relation to the expected prisoners, it is not known when they will be sent down the river. – It is uncertain whether Col. Corcoran will be among the number.

Another interview took place yesterday off Craney Island, between Gen. Wool and Gen. Howell Cobb, in reference to a general exchange of prisoners.

We hear, via Norfolk, that the steamer Nashville arrived at Wilmington, N. C., yesterday, having run the blockade at that place.

A quantity of telegraphic cable has arrived here for the completion of the line across the bay.

There is satisfactory authority of stating that a newspaper announcement in yesterday’s Mercury, that Gen. Hooker’s division had crossed the lower Potomac, is entirely false.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

Daniel McDonald Davis

Daniel McDonald Davis, b. 26 Aug. 1848, at Birmingham, Iowa; m. 11 March, 1869, at Ottumwa, Iowa, Mary A. Huggins, b. 10 June, 1850, in Ripley County, Ind.

Daniel McD. Davis enlisted at the age of sixteen in the fifteenth regiment Iowa volunteers and served to the close of the late war, a period of about eighteen months. His present residence is Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California, where he is a farmer and horticulturist—fruits a specialty; by trade a printer.

Children b. at Ottumwa:

Mary O., b. 15 July, 1871.

Charles A., b. 13 May, d. 20 Oct. 1874.

Estal W., b. 17 Oct. 1875.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George Lucien Davis' Samuel Davis, of Oxford, Mass., and Joseph Davis, of Dudley, Mass., and Their Descendents, 1884, p. 411-2

Samuel W. Hankins

Private, Co. G, 15^th Mississippi Infantry, CSA

Keokuk National Cemetery

Keokuk, Iowa

Bridges' Independent Battery Light Artillery

Authorized January 1, 1863, and organized at Nashville, Tenn., January 14, 1863, from Company "G," 19th Illinois Infantry. Company "G," 19th Illinois Infantry, organized at Chicago, Ill., and mustered in June 17, 1861. Moved to Quincy, Ill., July 12-13, thence to Palmyra, Mo., July 14, and guard Hannibal & St. Joseph R. R. from Quincy to Palmyra and between Palmyra and Hannibal till July 27. Moved to Hannibal, thence to St. Louis, Mo., and to Bird's Point and Norfolk. Duty at Norfolk till August 14. Moved to Ironton August 14. Prentiss' Expedition toward Dallas and Jackson August 29-September 8. Moved to Cape Girardeau, Fort Holt, Ky., and Elliott's Mills, thence moved to Cairo, hi., September 16, under orders for Washington, D.C. While en route east September 17, via Ohio & Mississippi R. R., Bridge No. 48, over Beaver Creek, 30 miles west of Cincinnati, Ohio, broke through, precipitating six passenger coaches a distance of 60 feet, killing and wounding 129 of the Regiment. At Camp Dennison, Ohio, till September 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., September 24-25, thence to Lebanon, Ky., September 25, and duty there till October 22. Moved to Elizabethtown, Ky., and duty there and at Bacon Creek, Ky., till February 10, 1862. Attached to 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of Ohio, to August. Advance on Bowling Green, Ky., February 10-15. Occupation of Bowling Green till February 22. Advance on Nashville, Tenn., February 22-25. Occupation of Nashville till March 18. Advance to Murfreesboro March 18, thence to Shelbyville, Tullahoma and McMinnville March 25-28. Advance on Huntsville, Ala., via Fayetteville, April 4-11. Occupation of Huntsville April 11. Advance on and capture of Decatur and Tuscumbia April 11-14. Action at Tuscumbia April 24. At Huntsville till May 26. Athens May 13. Moved to Fayetteville May 26-June 2. Negley's Expedition to Chattanooga, Tenn., June 2-10. Chattanooga June 7-8. Expedition to Larkinsville and Stevenson June 14-20. Winchester June 16. Guard Railroad bridges from Huntsville to Decatur till August. Richland Creek, near Pulaski, August 27. Retreat to Nashville August 27-29. Fitted out as a Battery at Nashville September. Siege of Nashville September 12 to November 7. At Gallatin, Tenn., till November 20, when turned in guns and moved to Nashville. March to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and rejoin Regiment January 2, 1863. Permanently detached as a Battery January 14, 1863. Fitted at Nashville. Ordered to Murfreesboro, Tenn., February 20, 1863. Attached to Pioneer Brigade, Army of the Cumberland, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to July, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 4th Army Corps, to November, 1864. Reserve Artillery, Nashville, Tenn., to December, 1864.

SERVICE.--Duty at Murfreesboro, Tenn., till June, 1863. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign, August 16-September 22. Davis' Cross Roads, near Dug Gap, September 11. Battle of Chickamauga, Ga., September 19-21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. March to relief of Knoxville November 28-December 8. Operations in East Tennessee December, 1863, to April, 1864. Reconnoissance from Maryeville toward Seviersville February 1-2, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 8-13. Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Adairsville May 17. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near Cassville May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22-25. Operations on Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Pickett's Mills May 27. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. Nashville Campaign November and December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Transferred to 1st Regiment Illinois Light Artillery as Battery "B," December 21, 1864, which see.

Battery lost during service 2 Officers and 7 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 20 Enlisted men by disease. Total 29.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1042-3

From St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, March 3.

A special to the Missouri Democrat, from Cairo, 2d inst., says a great light was seen in the direction of Columbus last night. – It is generally believed that the rebels there have burned everything of an inflammable nature.

The Memphis Appeal of the 28^th ult. has the following:  We have information from Nashville up to Wednesday noon.  Gen. Buell and Com. Foot arrived and occupied the place.  The U. S. flag was raised over the dome of the capitol and floats there now.  But one Federal flag was exhibited, and that from the shop of a Yankee jeweler, who had long been suspected of disloyalty.  The feeling is Nashville is strongly Southern.  Deep gloom seemed to cover the community.  Citizens avoid intercourse of any kind with the invaders.  Two British flags have been raised by property holders, thus, evincing their intention to claim the protection of that government.

The sick are being removed from Columbus.

We are pleased to learn that Beauregard is making prompt and energetic preparations to oppose the attack, which now seems so imminent on Columbus.

The reported capture of B. R. Johnson at Ft. Donelson is incorrect.  He arrived at Nashville, Saturday having escaped the enemy.

Jeff. Thompson left his old headquarters day before yesterday, on a secret expedition.  He will turn up somewhere.

Both houses of the Tenn. Legislature met on the 27^th, and adjourned for want of a quorum.

Concerning the President’s message the Appeal says: “He is free to confess the error of his past policy, and the extent of disasters which have followed from it.  We think vigorous war will soon be made on the advancing columns of the enemy; that we will attack, pursue, and destroy, instead of being attacked, pursued and destroyed. – The spade will be dropped, and the bayonet resumed; in other words, the policy of Fabian Davis will yield to that of the Napoleonic Beauregard.  In view of these facts we can see light gleaming through the dark clouds and that at present environ us, which will burst forth in less than sixty days in full and resplendent luster.”

The rebels are said to be fortifying Island No. 10, thirty-five miles below Columbus, which place they will fall back on.  High ground is found on the island, which is well adapted for planting batteries to command the river.

Prominent officers believe that Columbus was burnt last night.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

Isaac M. Williams

Private, Co. F, 8^th Iowa Infantry

Keokuk National Cemetery

Keokuk, Iowa

Secesh Expecting an Attack at Centreville

NEW YORK, March 3.

The Lynchburg Virginian publishes the following:  A private letter received form Centreville last night, states that our forces had received orders to send their sick to the rear, and put themselves in marching order.  By passengers who arrived in last night’s train the above report is confirmed, and they also state that the women and children were ordered to leave yesterday morning.  We understand that the Yankees have succeeded in cutting another road through the woods to Fairfax.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

From Kentucky and Tennessee

LOUISVILLE, March 3.

Railroad communication between here and Nashville, except over a creek ten miles north of Nashville, damaged by the rising water on Saturday, will be resumed to-morrow night.

The election at Nashville yesterday for municipal officers passed off quietly.  The retiring Mayor issued a proclamation assuring the people of protection by the Federal troops if they quietly pursued their accustomed avocations.

Twenty-five rebel prisoners have been brought to Nashville, and twenty-five negroes, seized by the rebels in the vicinity of Bowling Green have been recovered at Nashville and sent back.

Mail communication is established to Bowling Green, and for military purposes to Nashville.  Col. J. J. Miller, government mail agent for Kentucky, is making energetic exertions to extend mail facilities to every part of Kentucky.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

XXXVIIth Congress -- First Session

WASHINGTON, March 3.

HOUSE. – Mr. Dawes, from committee on elections, made a report on the petition of S. Ferguson Beach asking to be admitted to a seat as Representative from the 7^th congressional district of Virginia.  The committee append to it a resolution that Mr. Beach is not entitled to a seat.  The subject was laid over.

Mr. Stevens, from the committee on ways and means, reported a bill providing internal revenue for the support of the government and to pay the interest on the public debt.  Referred to the committee of the whole, and made the special order one week from next Tuesday.

Mr. Stevens said as considerable impatience had been expressed by the public at the delay in reporting the bill, he desired to say that the committee on ways and means did not obtain possession of the estimates and facts to enable them to judge now much revenue was necessary until the first week in January. – The committee then had before them all that were passed ten days ago, being earlier than usual in the session.  The committee were also engaged some time on the currency, including the treasury note bill.  The tax subject was referred to a special committee, which worked as assiduously as possible during every hour they were not engaged in the House.  He believed they had worked more hours every day since that time than any laborer in the U. S.  When the sub-committee completed its labors the entire committee of ways and means had gone over the bill carefully, article by article, until they unanimously adopted it. – He did not ask any commendation for the committee, but desired that when the subject came to be considered and reviewed, benevolent indulgence may be extended to them.  He desired the extra copies of the bill ordered to be printed to be distributed for the consideration of the people who are to sustain the burdens, and that they may have the benefit of their suggestions.

Mr. Sedgwick offered a resolution which was adopted, requesting the president, if not incompatible with the public interest, to furnish copies of the correspondence relative to the present condition of Mexico and the allied powers in invading Mexico to establish a monarchy.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

Explosion and Loss of Life

DETROIT, March 3.

An explosion took place to-day at the oil refinery of J. H. Harmon & Co., demolishing the building and killing several persons.  Four dead bodies have been recovered, among them Robt. Highan and Chas. L. Dibbles, two of the proprietors.  Others are supposed to be buried in the ruins.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

Howard T. Cunningham

Howard T. Cunningham, a native of Rockville, Indiana, was born in April, 1842. He married in February, 1865, in Knoxville, Iowa to Sarah Boydston.  She was a native of Mount Morris, Greene County, Pennsylvania where she was born in October, 1844. Howard T. Cunningham came to Marion County, Iowa about 1854 and engaged in the hardware business but was also much interested in stock-raising and was the first breeder of Poland China hogs in this county. He later dealt in fast horses. On the 1st of July, 1862, he enlisted at Corinth, Mississippi, in the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as fife major, under the command of Colonel H. W. Reid. He was given his honorable discharge on the 17th of December, 1864, at Kings Bridge, Georgia, and returned to Knoxville, where he resided for many years, passing away in October, 1904. In his family were three children: J. D.; Mary, the wife of G. W. Baxter, of Denver; and Louise, who married P. H. Donnelly, also of Denver.

SOURCE:  William A. Young, History Of Marion County, Iowa, And Its People, Volume 2, p. 15-6, abstracted from the biographical sketch of J. D. Cunningham.

William T. Noel

Private, Co. G, 17^th Iowa Infantry

Keokuk National Cemetery

Keokuk, Iowa

From Washington

WASHINGTON, March 1.

There is nothing in the official telegrams last received, to show that the rebels are evacuating Columbus, nor has any information been received from Gen. Buell since the announcement of the taking of Nashville, when he was four miles from that city.  Hence the newspaper reports of rebels being surrounded at Murfreesboro are not reliable.

Dispatches were received at the Navy Department to-day from Commodore Foote, inclosing a report from Lieut. Gwin, in which he says he returned to Cairo on the 23d inst., after having gone up the Tennessee river in the gunboat Tyler as high as Eastport, Miss.  He is happy to state that he has met with an increased Union sentiment in Southern Tennessee and Northern Alabama.  He saw few Mississippians.  In Hardin, McNary, Wayne, Decatur and a portion of Hardeman counties, all of which boarder upon the river, the Union sentiment is strong, and those who do not express themselves openly loyal, are only prevented by their fears of the military tyranny and coercion which is practiced by the marauding bands of guerilla companies of cavalry.

Learning that a large quantity of wheat and flour was stored in Clifton, Tenn., intended, of course, to be shipped South, a large portion of it having been bought for a firm in Memphis, on his down trip he landed there and took on board about 1,000 sacks and 100 brls. Of flour and some 6,000 bushels of wheat.  He considered it his duty to take possession of the above to prevent its being seized by the rebels or disposed of in the rebel country.

The glorious success of our armies at Forts Henry and Donelson, he says, has been most beneficial to the Union caused throughout South Tennessee and Alabama.  The Union men can now again dare to express their loyal sentiments without fear of being mobbed, especially along the banks of the river.

He brought down under arrest a man named Wm. H. Pool, who has been active in oppressing [sic] Union men in his community.  He has warned the inhabitants of the different towns along the banks of the river that he would hold the secessionist and their property responsible for any outrages in their community on Unionists, and had enlisted seventeen men and brought down a portion of the refugees.

A dispatch form Com. Goldsborough to Secretary Welles, dated U. S. steamer Philadelphia, off  Roanoke Island, Feb. 23, says the reconnoitering party sent up the Chowan river has returned.  It did not go up beyond Winton.  There the enemy in considerable force opened a heavy fire upon the vessel (the Delaware) in advance, with a battery of artillery and musketry, which induced our force to attack it in return, both by landing the New York 9^th Zuaves and with the guns of the vessels that could be brought to bear upon  the enemy.  The enemy soon took flight, and the houses they occupied as quarters were burned.  Not a man was injured on our side.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

Bloomington, March 3, [1862]

The Nicols House was entirely destroyed by fire on Sunday morning.  No furniture saved.  Loss 35,000 dollars.  Insurance 30,000 dollars.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

From Cairo

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, March 1.

The occupation of Nashville is fully confirmed.  Our troops entered and took possession on Tuesday last.  The reports of Union feeling being strong among the citizens are unfounded.  They express themselves in bitter terms against the “Yankees.”  Store keepers will not sell anything to our soldiers and prefer taking secession shinplasters to United States gold. – The report that Governor Harris burned that State Library, is probably a mistake.  Our forces are endeavoring by kind treatment and proper representations to conciliate civilians, but thus far without avail.  Many of them confidently expect the return of Johnston and his rebel forces.

Before the advent of our troops a complete reign of terror existed in Nashville.  The rebel troops endeavored to impress civilians into their ranks.  The latter resisted, and outbreaks occurred in consequence between the civilians and soldiery, during which some of the latter were killed.  The Texas rangers, in revenge, threatened to fire the city, and one or two attempts were made in that direction, but failed.

It is now [confidently] expected that the rebels will make a stand at Chattanooga or Stevenson, about one hundred miles below Nashville, at the junction of the Nashville and Chattanooga, and the Charleston and Memphis Railroads.  This position is very strong naturally, and a desperate fight is expected.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1

Battery "M," 2nd Regiment Light Artillery

Organized at Chicago, Ill., and mustered in June 6, 1862. Left State for Martinsburg, W. Va., June 16, 1862, arriving there June 24. Attached to R. R. Brigade, 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept., to September, 1862. Duty at Martinsburg, W. Va., June to September. Expedition to Darkesville August 24. Moved to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 12. Siege of Harper's Ferry September 12-15. Surrendered September 15. Paroled September 16 and moved to Annapolis, Md., thence to Camp Douglass, Chicago, Ill., and duty there till May, 1863. Ordered to Cincinnati, Ohio, May 12, thence to Covington, Ky. To Catlettsburg, Ky., May 24. To Louisa, Ky., June 2, and duty there till August. Expedition up Big Sandy Valley to Beaver Creek June 14-July 22. Expedition to Gladesville, Va., July (Section). Moved to Covington, Ky., thence to Camp Nelson, Ky., August 4-8. Attached to 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, Army Ohio, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, to December, 1863. District of North Central Kentucky, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of Southwest Kentucky, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, to April, 1864.

SERVICE.--Burnside's Expedition over Cumberland Mountains into East Tennessee August 17-October 17, 1863. Occupation of Knoxville, Tenn., September 2. Action at Kingsport September 18. Bristol September 19. Zollicoffer September 20-21. Hall's Ford, Watauga River, September 22. Carter's Depot and Bluntsville September 22. Blue Springs October 10. Henderson's Mills and Rheatown October 11. Blountsville October 14. Bristol October 15. At Rodgersville October 19 to November 6. Rodgersville November 6. Guns captured. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5. Ordered to Camp Nelson, Ky., and duty there till April, 1864. Mustered out April 11, 1864. Men transferred to Batteries "C" and "H."

Battery lost during service 5 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 16 Enlisted men by disease. Total 21.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1042

Resin Wilkins

WILKINS, RESIN — Farmer, section 7, P. O. East Des Moines.  Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 8, 1824, and in the fall of 1845 moved to New Orleans. In the spring of 1846, came to this county, and has since resided here. July 5, 1848, he was married to Miss Martha J. Henderson. a native of Wayne county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Thomas J. Henderson, deceased, of this county. They are the parents of nine children, all living: Eliza E. (wife of Jerome Thornton, now living in Audubon county, this State), Will R. (also living in the same county), Robert H. (living in Nebraska), the remainder of the children are at home. November 1, 1861, he enlisted in company B, Fifteenth regiment Iowa volunteers, and was mustered out, as second-lieutenant of his company, in March, 1863. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Iuka, beside numerous skirmishes. He owns 153 acres of well-improved land and also a house and lot on the East Side, in Des Moines.

SOURCE: Union Historical Company, The History Of Polk County, Iowa, Birdsall, Williams & Company, Des Moines, Iowa, 1880, p. 918

James B. Pressley

Private, Co. G, 17^th Iowa Infantry

Keokuk National Cemetery

Keokuk, Iowa

From Tennessee and Kentucky

WASHINGTON, March 2.

Official information from Nashville to the War Department represents the military work in that State about finished, and it only remains to effect a civil re-organization of the State government.

It is believed that the United States forces will occupy Columbus to-day.

Cotton to the value of $100,000 has fallen into our hands.  The Treasury department has taken measures to have it brought to New York.

The President has designated Hon. Andy Johnson to be Brigadier General, and he proceeds to Tennessee to-morrow to open a military provisional government for Tennessee, until the reconstruction of the civil government.  Brigadier Gen. Buell will be nominated to-morrow as Major General.

A dispatch was to-day received from Com. Foot, saying that Lieut. Phelps, sent with a flag of truce to Columbus, has returned and reports Columbus is being evacuated.  He saw the rebels burning their winter quarters and removing the heavy guns on the bluffs, but leaving those in the water batteries.  The indications were that the town of Columbus, together with military stores, would be burned.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 1