The truth and rumors of yesterday.
A dispatch was received at the War Department yesterday, dated
Cleveland, Tenn., Feb. 18th, which states that
Generals Johnson,
Pillow, and
Floyd, with over 25,000 men. were holding
Nashville, and that it was intended there to make a determined The
Government stores in
Nashville were regarded as safe.
This report comes from as agent of the Commissariat, who telegraphed the
Government, in order to remove all anxiety in relation to the safety of vast quantities of subsistence stores accumulated at
Nashville.
Later in the day it was reported that the
Adjutant General had received dispatches confirmatory of the one above, from
Cleveland.
Dispatches were also received at the war office which show that our loss by prisoners at
Fort Donelson had been unwittingly increased by the addition of a cypher, during transmission over the wires, and instead of 15,000 captured, the
Yankees succeeded in taking but 1,500 of our troops.
We understand from good sources that our forces at
Fort Donelson fell back, leaving some 1,500 men to cover the retreat, as in the of
Fort Henry.
The probability is, that this force has surrendered with the fort to a greatly superior force.
The aspect of affairs in
Hampshire county, in the
Western part of this State, is anything but pleasant just now. The Federal force under
Gen. Lander at
Romney is reported to be advancing upon
Winchester, there to form a junction with
Gen. Banks, who is said to be preparing to cross at
Williamsport.
Bloomery, 17 miles from
Winchester, was occupied by the
Federals on Friday last.
Among the rumors floating is a report that
Romney had been burned, though this is evidently false, since it would be of no benefit the world for the enemy to leave a pile of in his rear, when a town would be so much service to him.