Cairo Budget

CAIRO, May 21. – The steamer Newton arrived from the Tennessee river this morning.  She brings no news of importance.

A large squad of expelled correspondents came down as passengers.  The others will follow immediately.

Memphis papers of the 17th, announce the arrival of the Federal fleet at Vicksburg.  It was moving up the river, and had been successful.  Ft. Adams is about 100 miles below Vicksburgh, and the presumption was that a fight had taken place there.

The news of the evacuation of Ft. Pillow, and the retreat of the Rebels to Randolph, is received here with every demonstration of delight.  The impression prevails that the defences of Randolph were constructed last summer and are very extensive and formidable, the armament having been replaced so hastily, the place will not long withstand the Federal assault.  Probably the move was only made as a step towards the final evacuation of the river.

OFF FT. PILLOW via CAIRO, May 21. – Specials say that it was made apparent yesterday that it was clearly evident that the enemy had evacuated Fort Pillow and fallen back on Fort Randolph, a strong fortification on the 3d Chickasaw bluff, 12 miles below their former position. 

Officers of the flotilla who went down the river yesterday, with a flag of truce, returned with the startling intelligence that neither troops nor gunboats were visible, and that Ft. Pillow and the river below, as far as the eye could reach, were deserted.  The flag of truce was sent down for the purpose of completing an exchange of prisoners, which was begun some time ago at Corinth.

Preparations were immediately entered into for a reconnaissance by the gunboats to the vicinity of the Fort.  Towards evening, however, a rebel craft made its appearance around Craighead point, with a flag of truce.  The steamer Kennett, having on board the rebels soldiers to be released, then went to meet her.  No explanation was offered, and although our own flag of truce was not answered in the morning, the prisoners were given up and the steamer returned.

Taking all the circumstances into consideration, there is not the least doubt but that the Rebels have evacuated Fort Pillow.

In their new position, they can maintain a more thorough defense, and be less exposed to the deadly fire of our mortars.  Ft. Randolph as the Rebels call it, or more properly Ft. Wright, consists of a succession of long earth works and batteries on the 2d Chickasaw bluff, 65 miles above Memphis, and just opposite the southern extremity of Island No. 34.  The fortifications were constructed early last autumn, but the guns were subsequently removed to Ft. Pillow.

It is expected that to-day, a reconnnoissance of our gunboats will be made, with a view of ascertaining the new position of the rebels.

CAIRO, May 22. – Two refugees from Corinth arrived to-day.  They state that there about 130,000 rebel troops at Corinth, - that Beauregard was there ten days ago.  They report a scarcity of provisions and forage.  There are no fortifications at Granada or Grand Junction.  [Recruits] raised by conscript act are reinforcing Beauregard.

Large numbers of Union citizens are making their way North, mostly on foot, suffering great privations.

The report of the evacuation of Fort Pillow has been confirmed, but the opinion is general among naval officials that the rebels retired to Ft. Randolph.  Their gunboat[s] have retired down the river.

No arrivals from Pittsburg Landing.

The Desoto, from the flotilla, arrived this morning, but brings no additional news of importance.  A flag of truce came up from the rebel fleet yesterday morning, and returned and came up again in the afternoon, but the object of the mission was not ascertained.

The opinion still prevails that Fort Pillow has been evacuated, although nothing definite has been divulged to determine facts.

Twenty two refugees from Corinth arrived this morning – one of them left the Rebel camp last Wednesday.  He reports that Gen. Beauregard was still in command, and had about 130,000 men, of whom 30,000 are held in reserve, under command of Breckinridge.

The rebels are suffering greatly from sickness.  An average of 600 being sent from camp over the Memphis and Charleston road daily, of whom, many die on the passage.

Houses in towns along the Railroad are used as hospitals.

The army is greatly demoralized; the terms of enlistment of many regiments expiring daily, but the men are forced to remain under the conscript act.  Beauregard is continually among his troops, making speeches and using ever effort to encourage his troops.  The troops are subsisting on half rations slat beef of miserable quality is issued once a week.

Price, Van Dorn, Brag, Polk and Cheatham command division in front of rifle pits around Corinth, around all approaches to the Mobil and Ohio Railroad, and are 13 miles long.

The rebels are making extraordinary efforts to procure guns of which they acknowledge they have but poor supply.

Beauregard’s headquarters are in the rear near Corinth.

All cavalry that have been scouring the country north of Corinth, have been dismounted, except 700 stationed at Trenton on the Mobil and Ohio railroad, which is a depot for forage, of which there is a great scarcity.

It is reported that 60 Federal prisoners, taken at Dresden by Clay King’s gang, were released on parole by Beauregard, after being confined at Jackson, Mississippi.

Major Lovell’s army is reported to have arrived at Corinth.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 3