Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-25
THE CAMP AT CAIRO.


strange place it is. Imagine a narrow penin.
sula, or long point, sunken ten to twenty feet
below the present level of the rivers which
meet at its point, and only preserved from
inundation by narrow wall or leyee of mud.
Set your coffee cup in the middle Of tho saucer
half full Of coffee, the cup nearly empty and
you havo pretty good idea of the fashion of
this town, color Of the water and all The
Ohio Is very like the color of tea oversteeped,
with little milk in it, and the Mississippi
like coffee with milk in it. But the taste of
the waters is very different from either of the
above named ompositions.
Along the inner bank Of the levee, from the
point of the town at the junction of the two
rivers, are the principal barracks for the in
fsntry and artillery, extending half mile or
more on the Mississippi side. Beyond the
barracks are patrols along the levee for mile
or so, where you find battery Of two guns and
the camp OF the artillerists behind the levee
Another mile and half and the white tents
OF Barker's camp are seen, and his guns on
the leVee. And another mile, just above the
point of an island, Is Camp Smith, Chicago
Light Artillery, behind the levee, Captain
Mihslotzy, of the Lincoln Rifles, close behind
him. At Camp Smith there are several acres
cleared and fevelled for camp and drill ground
Trees from three to six feet diameter were re-
moved and the stumps burnt out The place
is still surrounded by the forest. This is the
many days Of very hard labor.
/ understand that Captain Smith said that
his men were better employed in clearing the
land than they would be in idleness, although
some complained that they did not enlist to do
lOg-rOlling. The Captain is right; to develop
the muscle such work is better than the gym
nasium. half mile or more frsm here is
Captain McAllister's camp, on the Ohio river
side, just across the pen nsula from Camp
tn hal ho
enemy should he come down the Ohio. Patrols
are stationed from this last camp to the town,
along the levee. And SO we have made the
entire cireuit Of the town, fuding the levee
Osoupied and guarded all around.
Above the levee, as you approach the curve
Oa the Illinois Central Railroad. the country
ls a swamp, now flooded for several miles and
heavily timbered, thus preventing any ap-
prOach OF an armed force in that direction
The Generals (B. NJ. Prentiss) headquarters
are in the ST. Charles Hotel, near the Barracks
on the point; and the stOre-rooms of comuis-
sariat are in the same building. The hospital
Or Sirns) is in the block near the headauar-
ters, and at present comprises two dwellings
OF small size, and large ward capable Of
holding hundred or moro patients The
ward Is very well built, having a double roof
with Ventiating spaces, and spaces over the
windows, broad eaVeg for shade high from the
ground, and wide and airy. But the color of
the wall inside is an objection, being too dag
hing to the eyes There is q passion for
WhiteWash about the camp, whicn is a nui-
ssnce. 1t is proposed to whitewash the bar
racks, 80 as to show line of dazzling white
for half mile, which in the bright sunlight
will be very uncomfortable to the eyes A few
pounds of cheap color Qampblack and vene-
uan red) would make the limewash pleasant
gray.
The general appearance Of the camp Il one
ia
case. The men have large supply of pro-
visions and many luxuries, some of which
might be omitted with benefit to the health
The friends Of the soldiers are sending tons Of
provisions and luxuries to them, so that the
danger is on the side Of too much indulgence
OF appetite. Of the fluids / have nothing to
say, only that II the United States should sink
and Cairo only be left, there is great proba-
bllity that the numerous varieties OF strong
drink would be preserved from oblivion-speci-
mems OF every kind being in abundance Con-
corning the ase Of the ardent, have to say
that there is no doubt the men are drilled as
regularly as in the use of other deadly weap-
ons, but they don't seem to understand that
deadly weapons may be Of two kinds-one for
the destruction Of the enemy, the other for
self-destruction
AS you walk about from camp to camp, as
We have for several days, you become im-
pressed with the idea of q military Picnic
rather than an earnest preparation for a work
OF death: This state of things will be changed
IN due time, probably, so we omit criticism.
But why put men On guard who will converse
with any one who happens to want informa-
ton, or who will sit down while on duty, lay
their guns across their knees or on the ground.
and set the eternal pipe agoing? l intend to
read lrving's Knickerbccker's History of New
York as soon as 1 return, for it will have in
creased a thousandfold in interest now that
hsye seer some veritable specimens of the
sons of Mars. 1 wonder if the ability 10 shoul-
der arms in concert, face about, and to exc
cute few other orders in prompt time, will
enable the troops to overcome the enemy? I
saw no other evolutions.
Every other house on the levee is saloon,
and every one has guard stationed ut the
door to preserve order. A great mass of peo-
pie, nearly all men 1--WE have not seen ten wo-
men In Cairo,) are lOunging along the levee sli
day, with no apparent purpose. Many of them
are Southerners, probably spying Steam
boats are tied up, fire out, and no business go
ing on except in connection with the camp and
a small tide of travel OF course all are talk.
ing their utmost on the chances of battle
here or at Memphis. Refugees from the South
bring exciting news and relate horrible tales,
most Of which you must hear, and some of
which will find their way into the papers /
expect to return in few days; but hope Gen.
Mcclellan will arrive and put q more military
aspect on the face Of affairs before leave
Cor. Chicago Trtbune.