From Cairo and Below

Special to the Chicago Journal.

CAIRO, April 4.

A boat arrived here from Island No. 10 at 12 o’clock last night.  Firing was resumed yesterday morning by the gunboats and mortars.  The gunboats replied lustily.  One of our shells burst upon the rebel steamer Winchester, which set her on fire and burned her to the water’s edge.  The Winchester was sunk by the rebels on the morning of the arrival of the Federal gunboats in the main channel on the Missouri side of island No. 10.

During the firing the rebels towed their floating battery up to a new position, and tried to reach us with shot from her 32-pound rifles, but her shot fell far short, and after a couple of hours maneuvering she was taken back to her old position, out of harm’s way.  Several shots were fired at the rebel transports by the Federal gunboats.

The rebels are erecting batteries all along the Tennessee shore, to prevent the landing of the Federal troops from Missouri.

ST. LOUIS, April 5.

The correspondent of the Republican writing from the flag ship Benton, on the evening of the 3d says, early this morning an attempt was made to tow the rebel floating battery to a point where it could command our mortar boats.  A brisk fire was opened by the mortars and in course of half an hour the battery was struck several times, and several beams displaced.  One shell exploded directly inside of the battery, when it was immediately submerged to the water’s edge, and towed out of range.

The rebel steamer Winchester, which was sunk some time since, to obstruct the channel north of the island, used by the rebels as a point from which to watch our movements, was shelled to-day, and burned to the water’s edge.  Skillful firing to-day was made.  The enemy is very cautious and all their tents have been moved far out of range.

Advices from New Madrid confirm the previous reports of the erection of batteries opposite that point.  All quiet there.

The river is falling rapidly, and troops can soon be landed at any point along the banks here.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 7, 1862, p. 1