The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-21

Inc St.ength Of the PlaCe-No Danger 70
Cairo-xnnber Of Troops.
Our Cairo CorrssPondencs.

Our Cairo CorresPondence.
OAno, H., Nay 10, 1902 p n.
The facts conserving this most important point have
been generally faied by Eastern journals, that fear
shall be unable TO set them right in brief letter. but
such facts have gathered and may hereafter ascer-
tain nom the officers in government SERVICE and nteli
gent citizens resident here shall lay before the HrD
readers In due order.
arrived here at eleven O'Clock 10 & Thursday. via
the Illinois Central Railroad from Chicago, in com
pany with General Prentiss, who returning from
Springfield with . part Of his star, and several
officers Of the State troops stationed here and in
the vicinity LEARN by inquiry at headquarters that the
ter rolls Is about four thousand six hundred men be-
sides reserve force quartered In the vicinity and readi
Y available, Of between two and three thousand me".
There are now fifteen gsns mounted commanding the
rivers for three miles northwest OF the town the
Mississippi and about mile and o half on the Ohio,
which deemed amply safcient for the protection OF
the place. In fact matters situated, single
battery Of two guns, located on the point would easily
secure the town from invasion by way, Of
the Missouri and Kentucky shores. with the excep-
tion OF few ceres at Birds Point (Ooo CITY, In Mis-
bic BY either pedesi on land or water craft The
only route by which the town of Cairo be approached
BY It's enemies Is the river and II hardly TO be pre-
attempt invasion by that route, with strong current
fifteen heavy guns and some SIX Thousand well armed
and disciplined but uDanformed troops TO oppose him.
This afternoon beautiful flag s being raised at Camp
Smith, three miles above The city, on the Mis-
81 where ss q sSSr n .ss
Chicago Light Artillery. Hon. Emerson Etheridge, OF
Tennessee is making Union Speech and the military
authorities having good time generally Mr.. Ethe
RIDGE with party Of twenty Tennesseeans arrived here
yesterday and have been onzed indefinitely and indie
scribaby by the citizens and soldiers for his and their
patriotic devotion to the Union at home They leave TO
morrow on their hODeward trip
Since arrived here, at eleven O'Clock to-day, the
steamers Denmark and Auocrat have been brought tc
by the guns the Point and their cTgoes Inspected
The Denmark from st. Louis, bound up the Ohio
river loaded with general merchandise aad provisions
vile, and was loaded down with families fleeing To the
Northern States The stories told by Of there were
truly deporabe but generally of he same tenor Of those
often told OF late by refugees from secessiondom
ind much Indignation manifested here Mt the absurd
stories communicated 70 some Of the Northern and
government and intelligent people with whom have
Ocnversed assert that there is or can be no more true
friends to the Union than the denzens of this little
town. and from what little have been able to Observe
Judge the assertions to be emnently correct The cpl
,hess so freely bestowed upon the Eeyptans OF this TO-
cality, such as 'mud wallpapers" "wharf rats &C,
are certainly nsapped
The rivers are nov rising rapidly, and the water is
within two feet Of the high water mark Of 1885, but 1t
is not anticipated that much If any damage will be done
70 the town, even II u should attain 70 the former
point, as the evees have been strengthened and en-
arged during the 1aet two years few places within
the levees OF the lowest spots OF the town,
now inundated by the seepage water, but 1t is cont
IDENTIFY expected that the steam pumps with which the
town is we supplied, win be able to keep the general
surface above water.
The hotels filled to overlooking, and private houses
being opened 10 the accommodation OF vsters and
military officers The citizens do not seem to be alarm
ed al the threatening aspect or affairs indeed they do
not 10 consider that thing else than foods are
threatp ing them The health of The town and camp s
good and the stories told by the Cincinnati and Chicago
papers Of sickness here by the citizens pronounced
utterly groundess l saw statement in an Eastern
paper 10 day that the milk sickness raging here
and in this vicinity but careful inquiry reveals the fact
that not Of that kind or ailment has occurred.
To i shall visit the several batteries and n
canpments in and about here, In order TO give the
HEstIps readers particular sketch Of the field OF
operations here have inquired OF OF the best
formed citizens here to the topography Of this locality
and it's surrounding and 10 nearly every have been
referred 70 article In the Herald OF last Wednesday