Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-16
Matters Il Cairo.

OoIf@spc2oe1ce OF me Oi1einnAu EnqeIfef
CAIRO, Thursday, juno 13~- Yesterday was quite
an exciting day il and about our camp At about
ten a m The stehmer City Of Alton. with two CON-
panies Of the Eighth Regiment, and +, aboard. left
our little city with sealed orders. Their destina-
non vas not known By the citizens or volunteers,
several thousand Of whom we're on the lsyee when
the boat left
loW) passed the town. and reconDoitered along the
snore fo- several miles. They returned to Column
bus ana found secession fagn flying. The sffi>
GERS IN command called to the people on shore TO
take It down, but found no response. They called
Tor Union man, and said he would be protected.
They finally landed. and the Captain of the boat,
VIM. Barnes, the mate and cooper. went up and cut
the pole down and brought the flag aboard amid
much cheering from those on the Alton. She had
aboard At the time one sixpounder and one twelve
pound howltzer, loaded with SHELL Celonels 0gles-
6y and Morgan wished to shoot the flag down, but
Capt. Hopkins, in command of thu guns, told them
ne could not do it without damaging propertv and
probably spiIling innocent blood
No opposition was offered by the citizens Of Co
iumous, except BY one lady, who told them that
she had msterial left to make another flag of the
same description, and that it would be flying be-
FIRE shutdown.
Immediately uponthe arrival of the boat a hand
car left for Union City and no doubt had the boat
ana crew remained few hours there would have
been warm time.
On the return of the boatthe volunteers and citi-
zens were wild with excitement. All wanted q
piece of the captured flag, small piece of which
was several times sold for dollar and f7e dollars
was offered for star Of the same.
The reports in regard to a large amount of pow
der lead and guns being found in the house of John
Bird at Birds Point, are false. They only found
four rifles, some lead, and threefourths of kee OF
powder. The guns have been in the family for
years, and the lead "a large quantity has been
there for i've years, that all reports as to Mr..
Bird having any arms munitions of war 10 his
house are totally without foundation and only ema-
nate from a few Of the sensation newspaper report
ers now here.
We have but little news to report that is reliable
There is no doubt that large guansities of Confed
crate troops are daily arriving at Jackson Tennes-
see, and Union City, for what purpose we cannot
tell most probably for attack on Cairo.
Our present forces consist of about 900 men
at Birds Point, immediately opposite five regi
ments in camp at this point. Also, one regiment al
Villa Bridge, ten miles above, and one regiment al
Anna, thirtysix miles above, and with the few de-
tached companies here. they number about nine
thousand men in and about Cairo.
The Cheney, just arrived from Columbus. re-
ports that they have another Secession flag afoai
on the same spot that the old one was on. Immense
excitement prevails there and at Union City.
At Union City they broke up camp and were in
the cars for Columbus, but the order was counter
manded.
The Notifications at Birds Point and this place
still continue.