From the Upper Tennessee

CAIRO, April 27. The river is still rising and in some places is gradually making its way over the levee. The Illinois Central Railroad track is being protected by throwing up entrenchments. The steamer McClellan arrived from Pittsburg, whence she left at 4 o’clock Saturday. The rebels are inaugurating a system of guerilla warfare along the Tennessee river. Boats were fired on Yesterday from the banks a short distance above Ft. Henry. Our army is steadily advancing towards Corinth. Gen. Pope’s division is on the extreme left, at Hamburg, four miles above Pittsburg Landing. A reconnaissance in force from Gen. McCook’s division encountered a large force of rebel infantry and cavalry, eight miles from the Landing on Thursday. The rebels formed in line of battle, fired one volley and retreated in great disorder with considerable loss, leaving our troops in possession of their camp, which we burned. – They were well supplied with camp and garrison equipage, and armed with new English Enfield rifles. We took 59 prisoners. Two of our cavalry were wounded. Enemy’s loss in killed and wounded not ascertained, as they carried them off the field. The roads had been improving, but heavy rains on Friday rendered them again almost impassable. The body of Maj. Gen. C. F. Smith has arrived in charge of Dr. Hewitt. It will be taken to St. Louis, and after being incased in a metallic coffin will be interred in vault with military honors, and then turned over to the family of the deceased. Gen. Smith died at 4 o’clock on Friday of chronic diarrhea, contracted in Mexico from which he has since been continually suffering. The Memphis Avalanche of Wednesday, April 23d, says that a raft upon which were field pieces, a 13 inch mortar, and 16 of our men, was captured by the rebels near Fort Pillow, and taken down river. It insists that the battle at Shiloh was a Confederate victory. Genls. Buell and Beauregard had effected arrangements for exchange of the wounded prisoners. Publication of war news had been interdicted by the rebel government. Passengers from the Tennessee river bring further rumors that Corinth is being evacuated by Beauregard, who will make the next stand at Columbus, Mississippi. Col. Turchin’s brigade had moved back from Tuscumbia to Huntsville, where Gen. Mitchell was still encamped. – Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 29, 1862, p. 2