Cairo Budget

CAIRO, April 28. – our army at Pittsburg is still gradually advancing, but everything is quiet. Reconnoissance on Friday discovered a camp of the enemy at Pea Ridge, some 72 miles beyond our line of pickets, but they did not advance to attack them.

There is no news from Fort Pillow. The mortars fire occasionally, our gunboats being some distance above.

Refugees from Memphis report a strong Union feeling existing there, and a majority of the people anxiously waiting the arrival of our forces to take possession. It was not believed that the city would be burned, but all cotton sugar and molasses would be destroyed.

Van Dorn, Price, and Jeff Thompson were at Memphis with about 6,000 miserably clad troops. They seemed there to awe people into submission to the conscription act, which was being enforced. Hundreds of inhabitants were leaving daily to avoid impressment.

Most of the twelve months men whose term of service is about to expire, refuse to re-enlist under any circumstances and are deserting in large numbers.

All passes to citizens to go up the Tennessee river are refused.

The river is rising slowly.

CAIRO, April 28. – Six refugees from Memphis arrived here this morning. They left on Sunday, the 20th, in a skiff, and reached our fleet, opposite Fort Pillow, on Friday. Five of them are natives of Connecticut, the other from Freeport, Illinois. They crossed the Mississippi 6 miles below Randolph, making the rest of the way to Ozark, on the Arkansas shore, being often compelled to carry their skiff over bluffs and through fields. They represent that a strong Union feeling exists in Memphis. Several Union clubs met nightly and were constantly increasing in members.

General Prentiss and Federal prisoners taken at Pittsburg were in Memphis two hours, and were taken to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They received marked attention from Union citizens while in the city, who are becoming bolder daily. Gen. Prentiss made a speech from the platform of the cars, assuring the people that they would all cheer for the Stars and Stripes in two or three weeks. Our prisoners united in singing the “Star Spangled Banner,” and were loudly applauded by the people.

The refugees left Memphis to avoid being impressed, as the conscript act recently passed by the rebel Congress was being enforced. All male inhabitants between the age of 18 and 35 are compelled to take up arms. Large numbers were daily leaving the city and making their way towards our fleet.

Van Dorn, Price and Jeff. Thompson were at Memphis with about 6,000 troops, poorly equipped, most of their clothing in rags. Gov. Harris is at Corinth.

Twenty-nine deserters, from Fort Pillow, arrived yesterday.

Some 6,000 hogsheads of sugar and between 10,000 and 15,000 barrels of molasses were piled on the bluff, ready to be thrown into the river on the approach of the Federal fleet, which was daily expected, as it was generally conceded by the rebels that our fleet would compel them to evacuate Fort Pillow. Gen. Villipgue [sic] was still in command.

It was reported that Gen. Curtis’s scouts had reached the mouth of White River, and that his advance was within one day’s march.

All ideas of burning Memphis had been given up. The gunboat Mallory had been in the course of construction for some time and was rapidly approaching completion. She is plated with railroad iron. Rebel gunboats were continually plying between Memphis and Fort Pillow.

The Fortifications near Memphis have been abandoned, there being no guns mounted on any of them. All rebel stores and machinery had been removed to Columbus, Mississippi.

Negroes had recently advanced considerably in value. At an auction sale, two weeks ago, several were sold at prices ranging from $500 from to $1100. Coffee retailed at 80 cents, rice 7 [¼] cents, bacon 25 cents, chickens $1 each, eggs 40 cents per dozen.

Boats from below report nothing new. Mortars fire occasionally, but with what effect is not [known].

Gen. Halleck is moving forward slowly.

Reconnoissances in force, commanded by Gen. Garfield, went out on Friday and discovered the enemy’s advance about three miles beyond our out posts, encamped on Pea Ridge. Pickets are continually firing on each other.

Our heavy siege guns are being moved to the front as fast as the condition of the roads will permit.

The river continues to rise. Rain has set in, accompanied by strong wind, which may send water over the levee.

Rebel Cavalry have appeared in considerable force upon the river, about 20 miles below Savannah, near Clifton. One of the gunboats had been sent down the river to watch movements.

All boats leaving this point for above have brass pieces on board each side, besides armed guards upon hurricane deck, to return fire from guerrillas on shore.

CAIRO, April 29. – The river has risen an inch since morning.

Intelligence from Pittsburgh indicates an immediate forward movement of our whole army.

Gen. Pope, on Sunday, advanced his division over four miles into the interior from Pittsburg.

A battle was daily expected.

Generals Halleck and Grant have moved head quarters to front and are personally superintending the details of preparations.

Steamer Desoto arrived from gunboat flotilla, but brings no further news.

Deserters from the rebel army confirms the reports of the taking of New Orleans, but gave no particulars.

The Desoto brought 54 bales of cotton and a lot of hides from Osceola, Arkansas.

Gov. Yates has charted the steamer Champion, and is fitting her up as a hospital boat for wounded soldiers. She leaves for St. Louis on Wednesday night, with a fully corps of surgeons and nurses, and will proceed thence up the Tennessee river to await the coming battle.

Later arrivals report the gradual advance of our army from Pittsburgh.

Rumors of the evacuation of Corinth were reiterated by deserters who had arrived at Gen Halleck’s headquarters.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 4