CAIRO, April 24.
Previous to the commencement of the war the daily receipt of letters at Cairo post office did not exceed 2,000. Now the number received averages about 75,000 per day. This enormous increase in business constitutes this office the third in the Union though the Department has not yet recognized its position by a relative increase of the clerical force of the office. In order to dispose of this vast amount of business the post master has requested that all post masters sending letters for soldiers put them in a separate package, endorsed “Soldier’s letters, Cairo D. P. O.” which will ensure a more speedy distribution and delivery. Unless this request is complied with letters are liable to a detention of one day.
Special to the Chicago Tribune.
The rise in the Tennessee river has reached us. Last night the Ohio increased in volume one inch, and it is still rising. Dispatches received from the Cumberland represent that the river is rapidly rising. From Pittsburg we learn that the Ohio rose 14 feet on Tuesday, and from different points along the river the flood is equally potent. The immense country to the rear of us between Cairo and Mound City is inundated so that the large volume of water in the upper river effects us slightly.
There are said to be 8,000 rebel troops in the rear of Chickasaw Bluffs and at Randolph.
Gen. Bragg has transferred the command of Fort Pillow to Gen. Price.
From Pittsburg I have the intelligence of a skirmish with the enemy, in which Gen. Granger, with 500 cavalry, a portion of the recent reinforcements sent up the Tennessee participated. About two miles from our pickets they came in contact with the rebel pickets, and drove them in and encountered a strong force of rebel Cavalry, which they engaged. After fighting briskly for an hour both sides retired with inconsiderable loss. This happed on Wednesday.
There has been no attempt to move the main body of the army. The embargo laid upon our movements by the rain and mud still continues. When the advance will take place is a matter of conjecture.
Gen. Grant and his conduct during the terrible days of peril, is still the subject of criticism, and I am told that charges are being daily prepared against him for incompetency and recklessness. Gen. Halleck pays no attention to the charges, but leaves the investigation of the whole affair to Congress.
A gentleman from Northern Tennessee, whose Unionism is unquestioned, says that the whole community below him is full of wounded soldiers and fugitives from the battle of Pittsburg.
The returned rebels say that after the arrival of Buell’s troops on Sunday, and the attack on Monday, Beauregard made a spirited appeal to his men, acknowledging the arrival of the Federal reinforcements, but said the armies of Price and Van Dorn were on the way and would arrive before nightfall. Subsequently he brought from the rear a portion of his own force, representing them as the expected arrivals. After the final route the enemy became very much demoralized, and ran the fifteen miles intervening between the battle-field and Corinth in three hours. The panic and flight of our soldiers at Bull Run was nothing compared with it. On arriving at Corinth they found the town deserted, and left immediately for Tennessee without [illegible: let] or hindrance.
There is a bitter feeling between the Mississippi and Tennessee remaining regiments, in consequence of the former dubbing the Tennesseeans cowards, and not recognizing their social equality. He says the latter will not fight in the coming battle
The Federals have nearly surrounded them, and they consider their case nearly settled as soon as the capture of Fort Pillow and Memphis shall be accomplished.
The Mississippi flood is seriously endangering the products and property below, and Gen. Strong, with an energy highly commendable and which might be properly imitated in other quarters has sent several steamers to secure it.
A try-weekly packet is now running between Cairo and Tiptonville, carrying the mails and passengers. This experiment, in reviving commercial intercourse with the rebel States, is likely to prove successful.
The entire track of the Cairo and Fulton RR., between Birds Point and Charleston is washed away and destroyed. Superintendent Arthur, of the I. C. RR., and President Osborne, passed over the track in a hand cart from Cacha river, this morning. They say the track is covered with water to a depth of two feet. There is no immediate prospect of the resumption of railroad communication with the rest of the world.
The steamer Bee, from Fort Pillow at 4 o’clock yesterday, reports no change in the condition of affairs. The mortars fired regularly every half hour. The gunboats are quite. The rebel batteries do not reply.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 2
Previous to the commencement of the war the daily receipt of letters at Cairo post office did not exceed 2,000. Now the number received averages about 75,000 per day. This enormous increase in business constitutes this office the third in the Union though the Department has not yet recognized its position by a relative increase of the clerical force of the office. In order to dispose of this vast amount of business the post master has requested that all post masters sending letters for soldiers put them in a separate package, endorsed “Soldier’s letters, Cairo D. P. O.” which will ensure a more speedy distribution and delivery. Unless this request is complied with letters are liable to a detention of one day.
Special to the Chicago Tribune.
The rise in the Tennessee river has reached us. Last night the Ohio increased in volume one inch, and it is still rising. Dispatches received from the Cumberland represent that the river is rapidly rising. From Pittsburg we learn that the Ohio rose 14 feet on Tuesday, and from different points along the river the flood is equally potent. The immense country to the rear of us between Cairo and Mound City is inundated so that the large volume of water in the upper river effects us slightly.
There are said to be 8,000 rebel troops in the rear of Chickasaw Bluffs and at Randolph.
Gen. Bragg has transferred the command of Fort Pillow to Gen. Price.
From Pittsburg I have the intelligence of a skirmish with the enemy, in which Gen. Granger, with 500 cavalry, a portion of the recent reinforcements sent up the Tennessee participated. About two miles from our pickets they came in contact with the rebel pickets, and drove them in and encountered a strong force of rebel Cavalry, which they engaged. After fighting briskly for an hour both sides retired with inconsiderable loss. This happed on Wednesday.
There has been no attempt to move the main body of the army. The embargo laid upon our movements by the rain and mud still continues. When the advance will take place is a matter of conjecture.
Gen. Grant and his conduct during the terrible days of peril, is still the subject of criticism, and I am told that charges are being daily prepared against him for incompetency and recklessness. Gen. Halleck pays no attention to the charges, but leaves the investigation of the whole affair to Congress.
A gentleman from Northern Tennessee, whose Unionism is unquestioned, says that the whole community below him is full of wounded soldiers and fugitives from the battle of Pittsburg.
The returned rebels say that after the arrival of Buell’s troops on Sunday, and the attack on Monday, Beauregard made a spirited appeal to his men, acknowledging the arrival of the Federal reinforcements, but said the armies of Price and Van Dorn were on the way and would arrive before nightfall. Subsequently he brought from the rear a portion of his own force, representing them as the expected arrivals. After the final route the enemy became very much demoralized, and ran the fifteen miles intervening between the battle-field and Corinth in three hours. The panic and flight of our soldiers at Bull Run was nothing compared with it. On arriving at Corinth they found the town deserted, and left immediately for Tennessee without [illegible: let] or hindrance.
There is a bitter feeling between the Mississippi and Tennessee remaining regiments, in consequence of the former dubbing the Tennesseeans cowards, and not recognizing their social equality. He says the latter will not fight in the coming battle
The Federals have nearly surrounded them, and they consider their case nearly settled as soon as the capture of Fort Pillow and Memphis shall be accomplished.
The Mississippi flood is seriously endangering the products and property below, and Gen. Strong, with an energy highly commendable and which might be properly imitated in other quarters has sent several steamers to secure it.
A try-weekly packet is now running between Cairo and Tiptonville, carrying the mails and passengers. This experiment, in reviving commercial intercourse with the rebel States, is likely to prove successful.
The entire track of the Cairo and Fulton RR., between Birds Point and Charleston is washed away and destroyed. Superintendent Arthur, of the I. C. RR., and President Osborne, passed over the track in a hand cart from Cacha river, this morning. They say the track is covered with water to a depth of two feet. There is no immediate prospect of the resumption of railroad communication with the rest of the world.
The steamer Bee, from Fort Pillow at 4 o’clock yesterday, reports no change in the condition of affairs. The mortars fired regularly every half hour. The gunboats are quite. The rebel batteries do not reply.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 2
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