The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-02
Mr. Kussell's Last Letter to the London
Times


Times.
Mr.. Russell's letter is dated at Cairo,
June Goth. 1t is mainly taken up with
descriptions of troops and Notifications in
Tennessee. We quote:
THE T0OrHPICKs.
On the train before US there has Just
passed on company armed with large
bowie knives and rifled pistols, who called
themselves the "Toothpick company" They
carried cofin along with them, on which
was plate with "Abe Lincoln" inscribed
on it, and they amused themselves with the
childish conceit of telling the people as they
went along that "they were bound" to bring
his body back in it.
THE BATTERY AT MEMPHIS.
First we visited the bluff on the edge
of which is constructed breastwork of
cotton bales, which no infantry could get
at, and which would offer no resistance to
vertical and but little to horizontal fire. 1t
is placed 80 close to the edge of the bluff at
various places, that shell and shot would
knock away the bank from under it. The
river rolls below deep and strong, and across
the roads or watercourses leading to it are
feeble barricades of plank, which a howitz-
er could shiver to pieces 10 a few rounds.
Higher up the bank on commanding
plateauX, there is breastwork and para>
pet, within which are six guns, and the
General informed me that be intended to
mount thirteen guns at this part of the riv-
er, which would certainly prove very for
midable to such steamers as they have on
these waters, if any attempt we're made to
move down from Cairo. In the course of
the day l was introduced to exactly seven
teen Colonels and one Captain.
THE RANDOLPH BATTERY.
The first work inspected was plain par
apet of earth placed some fifty feet above
the river, and protected very slightly by
two small fankiDg parapets. Six guns,
80 Founders, and howitzers of an old pat
tern were mounted en- barbette, without any
traverses whatever. The carriages rested
on rough platforms, aud the wheels ran on
a traversiDg semi-circle of plank, as the iron
rails were not yet ready. The gunners, a
plain looking body of men, very like rail-
way laborers and mechanics, without uni
form, were engaged at drill. 1t was nei
ther quick nor good work-about equal to
the average of squad after couple of
days exercise, but the men worked earnest
ly, and have no doubt, if the federalists
give them time, they will prove artillery
men liz the end.
Turning from this battery, we visited
another near the water, with four guns 49,
pounders), which were we'll placed to sweep
the channel with greater chance of ricochet;
and higher up on the bank, towards high
peak commanding the Mississippi, here
about 700 hundred yards broad, and small
continent which runs into it, was another
battery oftwo guns, with very great COM
mand, but only fit for shell. as the fire must
be plunging. All these batteries are very
i'll constructed, and in only one was the
magazine under decent cover. 1t the first
it was in rear of the battery, up the bill be-
hind it. The parapets were of sand or soft
earth, unprOvided with merlons. The last
had few sand bags between the guns.
Ridiog up steep road, we came to the
camps of the men on the wooded and undu.
lating plateau over the river, which is brok-
en- by water courses into ravines, covered
with brushwood and forest trees.
For five weeks the Tennessee troops un.
der General Pillow, who is at the head Of
the forces of the State, have been working
at series of curious intrenchments, which
are supposed to represent an intrenched
camp, and which look like an assembage of
mud beaver dams. In word they are so
complicated that they would prove exceed
ingly troublesome to the troops in their de-
fence, and it would require very steady, ex-
perienced regulars to man them so as to
give proper support to each other. The
maze of breastworks, of fanking parapets,
of parapets for field pieces, is overdone.
Several of them might prove useful to an at.
tackiDg force. In some places the wood
was cut down in front so as to form for
midable natural abattis; but generally here,
as in the batteries below, timber and
brushwood were left uncut up to easy
musket shot of the works. so as to screen
an advance of riAemen, and to expose the
defending force to considerable annoyance.
GENERAL PILLOW.
The General addressed the men, who were
in line two deep, (many OF them unmistaka-
BILE Irishmen) and said what generals usually
say on such occasions compliments for the
past, encouragement for the future. "When
the hour of danger comes will be with
you." They did not seem to care much
whether he was or not; and, indeed, Gene
raj Pillow, in round hat, dusty black frock
coat, and ordinary" urstripped" trousers,
did not look like one who could give any
great material accession to the physical
means of resistance, although be is very
energetic man.
The General has made his entrenchments
as if he were framing an indictment. There
is not flaw for the enemy to get through,
but he has bound up his own men in inex-
orable lines also. At one of the works a
proof of the freedom of "citizen soldery I"
was afforded in little hilarity on the part