New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-08
The Occupation OF birds Point.

Il
BIRDS PoIyr, Mo-, June |, 1861.
The point from which my letter is dated is nearly
opposite the city Of Cairo on the Missouri side Of tht
Mississippi river and since the occupation of the Latter
place by the Illinois Volunteers, has become, in mil
iary view, point Of some importance. 1t consists Of
| scarcely half dozen unpreendbg houses and a
wharf boat which latter is the principal feature Of the
town nasmuch as il supports upon its floating bottom
the chief store grocery, and commisson-hOuse Of the
| town. 1t was thought and seemingly with much rea-
son. that the occupation of this place by the rebel forces
| from the southwestern States, would have been an
| immediate sequence of the occupation of Cairo by
Government troops; and although such purpose wss
entertained yet the chance for s peaceful attainment
longer exists, from the fact d az Col Shuttners
Regiment of Missouri L. S. Volunteers are now en-
| camped here.
| Standing upon even as low situation the deck
of the wharfboat, the house-tops and spires within
the Cairo leyee plainly visible, and within easy
range of battery at Bird Point; and although the
latter Place is situated low bottom land and sub
ect to frequent overows, yet the still lower situa-
ton Of Cairo is so palpsble that, to a spectator at
| Birds Point, it seems as If the great rivers which
here mix their waters had been displaced from their
within the hinge embrace of the levee. The river
here is very wide, and but for tho murky turbulence
of its water and the steady, onward motion of the
current would give an idea of an Of the
The effect of the occupation Of this place by Col.
Shuinsrs command will be- not only strengthen the
river blockade, but will throw ali obstacle in tue way
Of avoiding the blockade by landing freghts destined
for Southern ports at point above Cairo, and trans
porting them by land through Missouri point below
for re-shipment which trick has been played upon at
least one occasion.
The expected attack on Cairo, which has caused so
much speculation, is but little talked of Just nownot,
however because it is unlocked for but the subject
seems to have been exhausted. 1t il well understood
that the rebel forces have advanced their outposts
amos, IL quite to the Kentucky line and their po-
ston along the river and railroad at and above Men,
phs ia such that very few hours would suffice 10 con-
front the entire Southern forces on the Mississippi
River with the batteries at Cairo. 1t is not improba-
bic that they will act entirely the defensive, as the
force at Cairo is ample to hold in any movement
that the rebels might desire to make unless their force
is much greater than i, is thought to be.
i have heard and read many and various opinions
concerning the possibility Of n successful attack on
Cairo. will give here the opinion which is held in
high military quarters. First: The nature Of the
try opposite Cairo, both in Kentucky aud Missouri is
such that works could be thrown up within range,
unless done with unprecedented silence and rapdiiy,
us the heavy guns Cairo could demolish the works
faster than they could be constructed. Again it
possibie to plant batteries opposite in Kentucky
or Missouri the town might be destroyed by bonn
bardment ye, injury could be done to the levee for
the that every sho, fired into the soft earth Of
which il il constructed would add It's strength and
soidty; and again. it cannot be taken by storm it
ia hardly approachsbe by land in Illinois account Of
the surrounding swamps and such idea approach
ing il with boats s never entertained