Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-01
ON our Special Cairo Correspondent.

CAIRO, April %, 1861.
Elitors Union and American: Wenow have here in
sight about $500 men assembled under arms, with
daily accessions of from $50 to 2GO men. They
purport to be here, and under orders, from Gov.
YATES of the State of Illinois. These troops gen.
orally consist of hardy looking men, who for want
of ordinary employment have chosen this mode OF
life the most of them TO ELL up time as well to
| fill up empty stOmachs.
They have eight pieces Of ordnance under their
control, of light cabre; the small arms rifles, and
pistols, are of the most approved crder and geGer
ally in the hands of those who know well their use
which they hold out is solely to protect Southern IL
linois from invasion from the Confederate States.
Yet whal it is apparent this is not their purpose,
for if really so, why they annoying to the
commercial interests of the country t. overhaul and
search all steamers, particularly those bound for
the border slave States. yet the United States?
One would suppose their recent captures, through
Adams Express office, Of arms, and clothing, and
their general distribution amongst their troops
would seem to show, instead of protectionistE they
were in reality set Of freebooters, who are bent
alone upon pillage.
The c. E. Hillmau, was taken eight miles above this
place on the Upper Mississippi, by special orders
from Gov. YATES OF Illinois, through Gen. Swift,
a respectable banker Of Chicago, who is comman-
derin-crief of the forces now at Egypt who by au-
thority has set his mnions to work upon tie COM
merce of our country, by and with the aid on We
ter. of the steamer Swallow, manned with cannon,
sGlSH srms, and sodiery that peaceable and IN
armed ste2mers, following their accustomed trade,
! may not ONLY be robbed of munitions, commonly
termed war, which is necessary in a neutral atti-
tude 10 protect the homes of EhCs2 who still hold
| hopes of a reconciliation.
Atpresent this is tbs order of to-day wu&tlt Ilsy
be tomorrow. ne will know Until they perceive
its execution. Now. we have assurances thai nothing
will be- dsturbedbut actual munitions of war that to
sag powder and lead These assurances, we believe,
only for bait in order to induce shipments of
! meats SCd breadstuts in greater abundance, when
they Will change their Order and plausiby require
these articles the stan Of feto be munitions of war
for without fair supply. It is certain that when
strength Calls for want Of food, powder and lead
will be OF llstls or no avail.
We have ia our midst quite number of true and
good men, imbued 9Th Southern feeiag. but stran-
ger TO their former sentiments, would suppose we
badnot single one in our midst, that az are willing
and that n0neSI Olu ABRAHAM should gather
them together as a hen doth her chickens but rest
assured there are many in our midst that will not
come: but under the present pressure the mental
liberties are so completely usurped by al overawng
so,diery. that none in our midst dareth to give ut
terance of his thoughts, 10 his peighbOrs, or even
the way-faring man by the way-slde. which, by the
by, are becoming exceedingly scarce about these
parts.
We are aware that much indignation CEistE
amongst your people of the Ohio and Mississippi vel
,ey, for the wrongs inflicted upon their commerce;
that they have it in contemplationto make descent
upon these varasls who are obliged to locate in the
stagnant pool of the 10 snds of this modern Egypt
Nov, we say to you ia all caF9rr. they are not
worthy Of the powder and lead that woRle be vast
ed to subjugate &c say nothing Of the blood and life
at present il might cosE
We would sdyise 3 little more tit4e be allowed
| them for plumber sEd raplne, for they assure9ly
will surtet upon it, at least oRe>third, for tte
time will soon arrive when rife-whisky will
be considered munitions of war, by Gov. YATES
the sovereign of modern Egypt, on its
arrival; crackey, how they will swig it; how some