From the South

CAIRO, April 23. Special to Chicago Times. The steamer Desoto arrived to-day from the flotilla off Ft. Pillow, having on board the first shipment of cotton sent up the river since the commencement of hostilities. A citizen of Kentucky connected with the government secret service returned on board the Desoto from a visit to Memphis. He was sent thither by one of our Generals in the field, and having obtained information of value to the Government, is making his way back. He brings Memphis papers of the 17th and New Orleans of the 15th. At the latter place the battle of Pittsburg was pronounced a splendid success of the Confederate army. The people were jubilant over the achievement, and enlisting of forced levies was going throughout the valley of the Mississippi with rapidity. He was at Corinth, and estimates the forces present at fully 150,000. The conscription act passed by the Confederate Congress, and under its provisions all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 & 35 were enrolling themselves for the defense of the Confederacy. The approaching contest is expected to result in the deliverance of the Southern soil from the presence of the Yankees, who are characterized as Goths and Vandals. Their great stand is to be made at Corinth, and in the result of the battle is deemed to depend on the fate of the Confederacy. Nor do the Southern people doubt the issue of the contest. The churches in New Orleans have given up their bells to be made into cannon. The women are yielding up their jewelry to enrich the Southern treasury, and throughout the South there rules a universal feeling of enthusiasm and sympathy for the cause. Entire confidence is reposed in the ability of Beauregard to whip the enemy and reclaim the country, so that the result of defeat is not discussed. The report of the wounding of Beauregard is false. The remains of A. S. Johnston were received at New Orleans with impressing demonstrations, and after lying in state for two days in the City Hall, were placed in the receiving vault of the St. Louis cemetery in that place. Great preparations were being made for a grand funeral pageant on the burial of the deceased chieftain. The citizens of Memphis are manifesting considerable alarm for the safety of their city. The greatest exertion is being made to put the defenses of the city in the best possible condition. Two new gunboats are already on their stocks, and will be ready for their armament in a week. These are to be named Beauregard and Arkansas, and are to be rendered almost impregnable by shot or shell. The former is defended by compressed cotton placed between her timbers. Her sides will exceed five feet in thickness. The Arkansas is iron plated. Both gunboats will be provided with powerful engines, and will be constructed according to the most approved principles of naval architecture – besides being fitted with enormous rams of iron projecting from their bows. With the latter they expect to run down our fleet, and destroy it at their leisure. Ft. Harris, just above Memphis, is being thoroughly fortified, and the rebels declare they will contest the passage of the Yankee flotilla down the Mississippi mile by mile. On the river between Memphis and Ft. Pillow the rebels have twelve gunboats. At Memphis the citizens desperately declare they will burn their property, rather than give it to the Yankee hordes. The expediency of burning the buildings is being discussed. At Chattanooga on Saturday night a large fire was observed in the direction of the rebel camp. Our scouts report that the enemy are drawing in their lines, and it is supposed that they are destroying their commissary stores, which cannot have conveyed owing to the bad state of the roads. The weather here has been very unpleasant, and it has rained for nearly a week. The roads are almost impassable. Health of the army is good. Gen. Halleck is renovating and making great improvements since his arrival. The report the Lieut. Col. Moore and Maj. Warden of the 13th Michigan regiment, were wounded at the battle of Pittsburg, is a mistake. I saw them both. – Their regiment made a forced march of 38 miles, and arrived on the battlefield on Monday p. m. The regiment acquitted themselves nobly. The body of Gov. Harvey has not yet been recovered, and everything that can bee done for the recovery of the body is being done. The Tennessee river is still rising, but slowly. Our pickets encountered some strolling rebels last night and captured about 20, including a Captain. Quite a number of deserters come in every day. Large reinforcements arrived here to-day.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 25, 1862, p. 2