Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-07
Later from ST. Louis T!

1--WE eonvessed yesterday With a gentleman
living In New Orleans, who lefs St. Louis
last Friday. He is Southern man having
large possessions In Illinois and st. Louis,
and recently went up to look after the same.
He says that two Of the guuboats ieftsSt.
Louis for Cairo last Wednesday, and that
two others were getting up steam TO leave On
Friday afternoon, when be left on the Emrna
Duncan. Besides these, is the .Bentono al
tered from the Bell-boat, and three gunboats
which were built at Mound City-all of which
except the Benton he heard were already
done and on their way to Cairo. He had lex-
! amined the Federal gunboats, and also our
own Southern gunboats, and gives 1t as bis
opinion that our boats can sink them. He Is
quite certain that we can sink all except the
Benton" and perhaps that also.
He says that the Federals had a lot OF
what they called pontoons-made OF wood
and lined with iron--designed to anchor 10
front OF ColuIl 5as and she'll IL. These are TO
be tOwed by steamboats,.
At ST. Louis everything relating to militia
ry affairs Vas kept exceedingly quiet. The
people living in The city seemed TO be ignorant
of the number of tToe,s there, and of the ma
ture OF the defense.
The c MON feeling, our informant states, is
at low ebb in st. Louis. The South has
many sympathisers in that city.
The feeling against the South is very Bit
ter in portions OF Illinois. Some Of the ILL
noisains contend that the var eaR end only
with slavery, aud arc for war Of extermin-
alton. Still there are good many in ILL
Rois who oppose the war. They are called the
''Secessionists." There are ia McDonough
county, no iess than a thousand men who OPP
pose the war. 1t Is q Democratic county,
and but for Douglas last two speeches, there
would not have been volunteer from that
county. There are some Of Douglas friends
in that portion of Illinois, who do not believe
yet that Douglas ever made speeches in favor
Of Lincoln's war.
The Inspector at Cairo, who is a father-in
law to McClernand, remarked to friend last
week while travelling in the cars In Illinois,
that he had his doubts soheser The Fs.ierais eould
succeed sa salbduing die South. He added that
the North had based their success upon num-
bers, and that every engagement yet had
proved that they were greatly mistaken.
He says the Federals Iast Friday gave Or
ders to stop the regular st. Louis packet
boat from running, and that all except Gov
eminent boats were forbid to run-the object
being to starve the rebels out. 30 boats
will hereafter be permitted to touch on the
Missouri side below Cape Girardesu.
The Federsis estimate our troops at Co
lumbus at rs 900, and outside limit, and say
that It IL useless to attack Columbus with
less than rs, 600 men. The people of Illinois
believe that Columbus can be taken with 75,-
| 060 men, and they are urging the power
that bep to do i. st once. There are some
who believe that the attack will be speedily
made; but there are others who think that il
will not be attempted till spring, as it was
said on the Emma Duncan that the troops at
Birds Point and at Cairo are building cab
ms to live in this winter. Our Informant
says that If the Federsls attack Us at Colum-
bus and are repulsed, az he confidently
believes, IL will have most fattering effect
On TIE peace party of Illinois, which is al
ready growing rapidly. s-t
He says that pork is selling In AeComb,
the county seat of AcDonough county, for
two cents pound, wheat at forty-6ve cents
and corn at nine cents per bushel. These
low prices and 40 market for produce touches
the pocket nerve, and tends not little to
strengthen the peace party.
Our Informant, as before stated, left st.
Louis On Friday afternoon on the Emma
Duncan, the last boat that was permitted TO
leaRe-got off at Commerce, No.. went to
Charleston, No., by land, some twenty miles,
aud thence to New Madrid, reaching here
yesterday, and Immediately left for New
Orleans. BE II reliable gentleman, whose
statements can be taken without discount.
Asnaphis Avalanche, 6th inst. .-7-. #,