Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-28
CAIRO UNDER MARTIAL LAW
Steamboats, Overhauled
TROOPS AT PADUCAH.
A Ltncolnite Justly Served !.
SEIZURE OF ARMS I!
Special Correspondence of the msrphi. Avalanche.

Special Correspondence Of the Msrphis Avalanche
CAIRO, ILL.,, April 24-8 P. M.-Never was a seen
such excitement in Cairo as exist at present On
Monday company of soldiers from Chicago arriy-
ed here, and since that time they been pouring in
constantly, and at the time Of writing there are
1850 men in the place and its suburbs and an emp
ty train has just departed tor more. They have
only two small pieces Of present but it is
understood that park of ten heavy guns will ar
rive tomorrow.
The present condition of the river will impede
greatly their operations, and the batteries will have
to be placed the levee, and consequently easy of
capture by an invading force.
The military here are yet unable to stop all
suspected boats, on account of their want of can
non, but as soon the batteries erected every
Southern-bound boat will be overhauled and art-
cles contraband of seized. 1t is not known who
will command the troops concentrated here.
Opinions among the citizens of Cairo are divided
A majority, however, are friendly to the South.
Passengers who have just arrived on the down
| train state that every bridge between this place
and Sandoval is strongly guarded. Whether this Is
| done to keep open the means of retreat, or for
fear of the people along the line of road destroying
them, am at a loss to know.
Several boats, it is said have succeeded in passing
here since the investment. Their lights were pu.
out and they floated past the city unobserved. One
of these, local packet of yours it is said had a
large quantity of ammunition intended for your
city, and particular object of iterest to our
"bold soldiers" Their chagrin at being fooled is
evident.
CAIRO, ILL.,, April 25, 2 A. M-Since the brief let
ter addressed you by me last evening, great changes
have taken place. Two thousand more men have
arrived, and are CHARTERED within mile and half
of the place. saw them disembark from the cars
and sorry-looking set they are. There are, all
told, now about five thousand troops within hour
of Cairo. Many are stationed along the line of the
railroad others guarding the leyee above and
below the place. Fully two thousand are right
here. They have made the landlord o the St.
Charles Hotel ''UdnOSe the rancho" most unceremo-
niously. In other words the officers of the troops
have taken possession of the hotel oens uoleRs and
| it is now the headquarters.
The Old Brewery one mile from the hotel north
east of 1t, is the other rendezvous. From both
places the United States flags hoat-huge ones at
| that.
We hear it said here that at Big Muddy Creek.
| thirty miles north of this, there five hun
dred men stationed, who guarding the bridge at
| that point. There are large forces stationed at
| each assailable point where communication could
be cut off by telling bridges, but this is the most
| important point In the immediate vicinity there
is nothing but an underground of cotton wood and
JOnesboro six miles north of it, is the nearest hab
| liable place. If the Dutch remain there long
enough the mosquitoes alone will exterminate them
OF the troops here, fully tn; ee hundred are sup
posed to be negroes, and the remainder have been
| picked up from the cutters of Chicago and among
| the Dutch. A force of one thousand m-hearted
Southern men would drive them from the place, if
| the attack was properly made.
Cairo IS under martial law. The women and
children have fed the city, and the soldiery now
have entire possession of the town. The citizens
here, as class, are for the South, and await on
y favorable opportunity to show their resistance
to the mercenaries who have rendered their homes
| desolate.
During the entire night workmen have been en-
gagged in erecting battery on the Missouri side of
the river. The moon has revealed the fact, and a
large number of Lincolnites have been standing
to their guns since the work commenced. antici-
patng an attack. The Missourians are with the
South to a almost, and will soon make
CAIRO, by interest and inclination, also with
the South, too hot to hold the soldIery. Their
battery will command the town perfectly
Information has also been received here that
there eight hundred men at Paducah, waiting
derS to march here TO take the place. This intei-
gence has rendered the troops more active. 1t is
also stated that the citizens of Columbus have plant
ed forty>two-pounder on the bank of the river,
and are anxiously expecting some steamer that has
LincOln's troops on board. Are you preparing?
At the levee yesterday, man jumped shore
from a steamboat and huzzaed for Lincoln. He
was knocked down in an instant, and nearly beaten
to death. This will show the feeling of our people
here.
The commanding officer here has overhauled the
Adams Express. He seized box which looked to
contain arms, and still holds it. 1t was marked
"Sam. Tate, Schneider & Glassick, Memphis, Tenn"
have to send my communications secretly, and
until am prevented, will keep you posted.
LookER-oN.