The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-08-10
Nr. Russell on Cairo.
Correspondence ., the London Tines

brigade of Illinois troops, employed in be
half OF the Union, to keep i watch over
the important point, which commands the
junction OF the Mississippi and Ohio rivers
Major General Pillow, oil Tennessee, block
ades the current of the united rivers at
Memphis; Brigadier Gen. Prentiss block
AIDES both streams before they JOIN at Cal o
higher up The former is in the midst OF
friends; the latter is surrounded by enc
mies-across the rivers, in his rear, below,
behind and above HMM his very camp
there are seeessionist feelings, sentiments
and wishes, sometimes represented with
actual force
A few hours took me out of the south
ern camps to the Federallst position; but
secession sentiments travelled on board
the steamer. The passengers were rather
secesslonist than Cnionist, and | must say,
from what ! have seen, there is far more
ienlsncy and forbearance shown by the
Cnited States authorities TO the rebels,
than the latter exhibit towards those who
are III favor Of Federal pr. nciples, which
are generally described down south as
I" aboiltionists." On landing at the levee
of Cairo, the passengers went where they
listed, and very strong secessionist from
New Orleans, who had travelled with me
tam Marte guam Nercurlo-was let 20 his
way by General Prentss after a brief de
tention. Regarded from the river, Cairo
consists oil bank OF mud, running out in
tAe junction Of the Missi-sIp Ippi and Ohio,
III the shape OF a horizontal - The tops
OF certain unlmpresslye wooden stores ap
pear above the bank, and one tall hotel
rises alofr near the sharp end, before
which the United States tag floats WIKI
ali It's tnirty four stars Al the angle
there = an earthwo. X, which ~ not Yet
complete, but which vii seon sc tiul>n.l
III very good order 1t i, a redan or rather
iiecne following the Lac of the banks
WITH Il good profile and coniinand--as reg
uiar d.tch->carp and coln.er-scarp. The
delta is strongly occupied by Illinois vol
untcer forces, with two field batteries and
several guns of position. On the opposite
shore OF lhS Mississippi, al p'ace called
Bird Point, Ia the Stale OF Vi M.ssOu.l, IL
detached post, WIKI field enireuchment=
held by regiment composed of Germans,
Poles, aad liuasaliaIs under Colonel
>chuitner, about 900 strong and several
pieces OF light artillery. Posts are also
t,bl!shed higher up Oh the banks OF each
river, but Oh the bank .: tho OAio, oppo
site 10 Cairo. the soil is tabooed There
Is the " sacred soil OF kentucky. and
BeriaA Magoitin has waIned the United
States and Confederate States oft his
premises X IS my belief, however, that
Colun0s Will not De long unoccuped.
Inc kentuckIans opposite Cairo are very
strong secessiouisrs
In tue hollow between the levees Of the
river Is " Camp D~fance, which must he
the b..s- oi operations OF ANY force pro
ceod.ug down the Mississippi
The bulk o. the troop, are encamped in
wooden sheds, provided with be:ths like
those in q snip, wiicA are disposed lDI.i
luiinaiiy, SO as to ai;oid the a...-7.anl OF
sleeping roo:H- TL"~e Led, run co.t.Dc
ou~ly along the inw-r. -i1e Of tAr !eyees,
the tops Of whiciI .Ty broad enough 10
serve as carriage roads They a".wer well
enough for Temporary purposes, tut would
not do for lengthenrd residence. There
can be no drainage, as the ground on
which they stand = below the water level
Tne parapei Is capacious and level eaou II
The bottom OF Il swamp winch the troops
have cleared. cutting down tIees and re-
moving siunIrs with great diligeLc. and
labor
June u.
visited the carthwo.ks ~ ti,. end OF
the iov-e The work :ouud 10 he rather
crowded with guns, but 1t gives promise
oi such strength - to enauUle tbs . cu
pants 10 command both rivers eiiectua!!y
the armament Is quite adequate to all
purposes ana consists OF one s-mch how
iizer, two 2i-poUnders, two - 2pounders.
and some lighter guns, TIE "hoie being
dominated by a lU-.nch columbia In the
centre, on "a circular traversins slide, not
vet mounted / he magazine IS well made
and lighted, /; Is the safest and bent /
have seen IN the States.s The practice ]
saw with field piece from the work At a
smal! target n,e hundred yards of, IL
order to try richochct fire, was by no
means bad. and would have speedily sunk
Il boat in the line vi tire. W henever a
steamer Is made out approaching Cairo, a
gun is fred iron. ons or other OF the ports.
The steamer then gives the private sigma.
agreed upon, and, if she does not answer,
is fired upon and brought to by round
shot
In the evening rs ! walked up and
down the leves after a day of eXhaueting :
heat, an extraordinary tuniult attracted
nv attention, and, on running to the hote.
whence the noise proceeded, discovered
a whole regiment drawn up, two eep,
without arms, and shouting out i'll chorus
I W
were powerless, but presently General
Preu,iss came round the corner, and
mounting on q railing proceeded to at
dress the soldiery III energetic terms: but
! in substance his remonstrance would have
been considered in French or English
army, as much :, breach of discipline as
the act it had censured These men had
broken out of barracks after hours, forced
their officers and sentries, and came up
shouting to the headquarters OF their gen
eral to complain OF !. deficiency of water
| The general addressed them as gentle
men 1t was not MS fault that the.
wanted water 1t was their officers wh(
! were to blame, not he He would see
| they had water, and would punish the con
! tractor, but they must not come disturb
! ing him by their outcries at night Then
! conduct was demoraiiZing to themselves
and to their comrades Having rated III,
gentlemen" soundly he ordersd them
| back to their quarters They gave three
cheers for the General, and retired III reg
uar line OF march with their officers The
| fact was that the men on returning from
a hot and thirsty drill, found the water
barrels. which ought tc have been filled
by the contractor, empty, and not Tor the
| first time, and SO they took the quarter
masters business into their own hands
Their officers did not wish to be very strict
and why? The term Of the men 5 volun
tary service is nearly over, they have no
vet been enrolled for the service OF til.
State; therefore, if they were aggrievet
they might be disposed to disband ant
not renew their engagements, and SO the
officers would be lett without any regimen
to offer to The Stale. But they Went ot
in an orderly manner, and General Prem
tiss, though much annoyed BY the occur
renee, understands volunteers better thar
SIC 40. There is no doubt but the quar-
ter-masters department is III a bad eondl
ton in both armies. Mr. torstall has pro
posed to the sou h?rn authorltI.s % man:
.nx contractor " ho nav be detected cheat