From the South.
The Southern mails, as late as due, came through last night, but the crowded state of our columns forbids the publication of the news in detail.
With regard to the cutting off of communication between
Savannah and
Fort Pulaski, the Savannah
Republican, of Tuesday says:
‘
A reconnaissance by the steamer
Savannah, yesterday, brought to light all the movements of the enemy in our river.
They have erected three batteries, which effectually cut off communication with the fort--one of four guns on Venus's Point, one of the same number of guns on a small marsh just above
Long Island, and commanding the
South channel, and the third on boats moored in
Mud river.
The three are located in the form of a triangle, and could not be passed by any vessel in our service.
The guns are all of a heavy calibre, most of them throwing shot to the distance of three miles. A number was fired at the
Savannah, but they all fell short.
’
The
Atlanta Commonwealth, of Monday last, has information from passengers just from
Tennessee that
Nashville is now in the possession of the enemy.
General Johnson deserted the city on the
Friday previous, falling back upon
Murfreesboro' and Columbia At that time
General Buell was at
Gallatin, twenty-five miles distant from
Nashville, and from that point the
Yankees marched down the turnpike to
Nashville, entering the city on Sunday evening. The railroad bridge had been previously destroyed by the citizens.
The
Commonwealth, adds:
‘
General Johnson is represented as having only one-half of his original force at
Murfreesboro'. The tracks from
Nashville to
Columbia and
Murfreesboro' are being torn up by bodies of soldiers sent out by
General Johnson.
Nearly all the railroad stock and Government stores were removed before the
Yankees arrived.
Buell's force is said to have numbered sixty thousand.
It is not known whether
Johnson will make a permanent stand at
Murfreesboro or not. If he should not, and the
Yankees move upon
Columbia, they can move down on the railroad to
Decatur, Alabama, seize the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and operate at leisure against both
Chattanooga and
Memphis.
We copy the following interesting paragraph from the Charleston
Mercury, of Wednesday:
A vessel with a cargo of coffee, salt, medicines, and
dry goods, has lately reached a Confederate port.
We learn that the steamer
Nelly had left
Nassau for a port further South.
The Schooner known here as the
Helen, was forced into
Nassau by stress of weather, and was still there at last accounts The schooner
Sallis,
Capt. Byers, was also at that place.
The pilot-boat
Charleston has sailed from
Nassau.
The schooner
Colonel McRae, we regret to learn, has lately been lost on the coast.
’
A report comes from
St. Louis that
Gen. Siegel, the great German commander, has been killed in a battle near
Springfield; but as our advices, (later than those which come through
Memphis,) make no mention of the fact, we are disposed to doubt it, The Memphis Appeal has dispatches from
Fort Smith, dated February 19, announcing a big fight some thirty miles north of
Fayetteville, Ark., in which the enemy was signally repulsed, one lows regiment being literally out to places.
