Cairo Budget

CAIRO, May 7. – Capt. Hazell, of the Second Ohio, has arrived her on sick furlough. Neither himself, Capt. McKinney, nor Lieut. Dial were taken prisoners at Pulaski, as was reported. By an arrival from Fort Henry, we learn that it is probably that not less than 200 of the Curtis Horse were captured in the recent skirmish with Clay King’s band. The affair occurred about 12 miles west of Fort Heisman [sic] on the opposite shore from Fort Henry. It does not appear that any of the union men were killed, but those who were not captured made good their escape. A strong force has been sent out from the fort in pursuit of the guerrillas, and it was thought that the band, with their prisoners, would be taken to-day. Gov. Yates and party have not yet been permitted to land at Pittsburg. Gen. Halleck was notified that they were at the landing, and desired to go ashore. The General pertinently replied that he had old women enough there. The river is falling rapidly here, and is now several feet below the top of the levee. The I. C. track is out of water and is being replaced. It will be in running order by the first of next week. Another arrival from below to-night brings no news of Mr. Bodeman of the Chicago Tribune. A party of women who were set adrift in a flat boat some days ago by the [Provost] Marshal of Cairo, have found their way back here, and were today taken into custody again. They will be shipped off North by railroad. The rumor of the evacuation of Corinth and its occupation by our forces, is repeated by every arrival of deserters. There is no doubt that Beauregard while holding his forces in line of battle, is gradually falling back on Grand Junction. He seeks to avoid a general battle though frequently offered him by Gen. Halleck. The opinion gains ground that there will be no general engagement between the two armies at or near their present position. A force of 1500 rebels is reported to be concentrated near New Madrid. They are thought to be preparing for a demonstration on the half deserted down. Our forces at Island No. 10 and Tiptonville are amply sufficient to drive the guerrillas away. A Citizen of Jackson, Mississippi, who formerly resided in Pennsylvania, reached here to-day from the South. He fled his Southern home to escape the conscription act which he represents as being rigidly enforced throughout the South. No one is spared. Merchants, bankers, mechanics and planters are all alike being forced into the ranks. In Mississippi there are two camps of instruction, one at Grenada and the other at Jackson. The conscripts are sent to these camps, where they remain until they are deemed fit for service. My informant passed through Grand Junction on Saturday last, and came by the Mobile & Ohio Railroad as far as Newton, where he proceeded on foot to Hickman. He says there were few troops at grand junction and none at Jackson, Tennessee. Most of the troops at the former place had been marched to Pocahontas, on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, nearly midway between Corinth and Grand Junction. The head quarters of Gen. Beauregard are located at Pocahontas, and not far from the 75,000 troops are concentrated around him. This information confirms the report of the evacuation of Corinth. My informant also confirms the report of the arrival of Federal gunboats off Vicksburgh. Lovell’s army was at latest accounts at Patchapaho, on the New Orleans & Jackson Railroad, about fifty miles north of New Orleans.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 3