New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-03
FROM CAIRO.
Jea. Thompson ".Come Again "A Rio"
About to FalI-JOliy Marines in Cairo
"A secesber's Views of the War-John
A, Logan-Whas In Coming.
From Our Own Correspondent

CAIRO, Nov. "a, 1861.
The latest item Of news here, which YOU get by
telegraph, is the stopping of the Platte Valley by
JEFF Thompson, at Commerce, forty miles above
this point BY firing cannon at the boat be brought
her 70, when he took off few bushels of beans and
keg Of whisky. lie made the boat furnish dinner
for himself and officers when sho was permitted 20
proceed upon her voyage to st. Louis. Upon hear
ing the news General Grant starts of regiment or
20 after JEFF, but of course without taking him.
Thompsons force since his defeat at FredeIicktown,
has consisted Of but few hundred mounted men,
who being well acquainted with the country, arc
able to eude any infantry forces sent after him, and
should seem obvious that tie only chance for oper
ating against him ia with cavalry, Of which we have
a large body in excellent order. He IL not likely TO
modest us again for some time. and, us Missouri is
ruined il will be well enough let him subsis upon
lie people, even though majority are Union men,
for they are such miserable specimens Of men that
they will do nothing to defend themselves. Still, as
an expedition with cavalry promises to effect some
thing, they might be sent after him.
But, think the officers in command here, as well
as at Washington, are beginning TO see that such
half measues as have engaged the attention Of our
troops, IRE causing useless loss Sf valuable lives
and thai it ia time TO take hold OF the war in earnest
Tie evacuation Of Southwest Missouri, and the
leaving of it 10 the mercy Of the secefsonsts now
for the third time, would seem clearly to indicate
tla. our commanders have got IN idea worth carry
ing out; and il is to my mind clear that the 81, 900
10 600 troops now approaching St. Louis are destined
for this point. Quite u number Of gunboats are
nearly completed, and few days ago 500 marines
arrived here from the seaboard.
Columbus will BE-, undoubtedly, the point Of attack
Since the battle Of Belmont troops have been thrown
into Columbus from Memphis and Randolph, aud It is
stated on good authority that they have now not ers
than 10000 men. They have also about one hun
dred heavy guns on the banks Of the Mississippi,
that il, on the bluff, which il about ak feet above
the water. With these means they are capable Of
making desperate resistance, and wa should no,
assault them without being sure Of defeating them
that is to say, we should have as many as 10000
men. We should invest them on all hdes, partieu-
larry BY the high ridge which runs from Paducah,
and We should cut Of their base, which is Memphis,
Nv taking possession Of tho Ohio and Mobile Rail
road, with at least 10000 men. We should also oe-
cupy Belmont and shell them thence, and meanwhile
the gunboats VIII keep busy, and demonstrate, II
they can, that their iron casing, laid at an angle Of
foriy-ive degrees, is invulnerable. -.
All the military movements in the West indicate
that Columbus 10 ~ b. attacked, aud that, too, with