The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-18
OUR CAIRO CORRESPONDE' nee.

CAIRO, III. ! Oct Is, 1851
RcSe's Firing Upon the Boats-Seisars Of Woet, Corn,
Sheep and Horses-Armamentfo for ID q Gunboa.s. dc.
The events Of the week may be .mmed IN in dozen
lines well to extend their details through half
column. Tho most important h. vo been she little Skin
mish near Columbus between the eunbcasx TYLER and
Lexington and the rebel land batteries On Tuesday last
in which no damage was dor to either side 80 far as we
know, and an expedition or into Missouri In quest Of
forage, which have retur ned without adventure The
first named came on Cd Tuesday afternoon The boats
had gone down the rive to reconncire and when about
four miles this sido eI Columbus were fred upon from
concealed batteries Upon the Kentucky shore which the
boats replied TO with severity Thee or four Of the
land batteries con- sed firing when our shells fell among
Them but whetf cr from oesc life or want OF powder
s unknown. Vlc shot from the rebel batteries passed
between the Smoke stacks Of the Lexington and fell
into the rive, half mile In her wake and another
ricocheted along under hsr stern spatter
the muddywaer Of the Mississippi through the windows
into her sbn The officers Of the gunboats are confident
that thy saw the reeeis carrying Off several dead or
wound bodies but dcserers from there who took part
in the engagement say that they heard Of casualties
attenSant upon the fight II Is hardly probable how.
ever that SO many shot and shells could be thrown into
alarge camp without doing more or less damage.
@n Friday, tho Abcck Scott with Colonel Iawlers re-
gmcnt, went down TO Hunters Point twelve miles be.
low here and took on board hundred cords of rebel
wood Two gune oats went along m escort.
foragng party Of Colonel Logan regiment went out
over into Missouri Thursday and secured several
hundred bushels Of grain and eight or ten prisoners
But tho most important work Of this nature
was done yesterday by a couple of companies Of
Colonel Mobiles Second cavalry, who went up TO
Shelby Thompson's plantation on the Mississippi and
brought down three thousand bushels Of corn twenty
head Of beef cattle several sheep horses and dozen
mules with harnesses and wagons to match. Thompson
IS captain II Jeif Thompson's army Of ragamuins and
Is one OF the most unscrupulous rebels in Missouri
captured products comprise all his stock and leave him
destitute OF everything except his farm which will DO
coniscatcd
Quito largo quantity of arms for infantry arrived yes
terday and the winter clothing for the troops coming
by every train Gen. McCernands brigade ia now COM
pctely uniformed and presents splendid appearance
All they now lack is arms.
The armament for the gunboats building at Mound
City has arrived and is awaiting tho launching OF the
crafts II consists OF twenty five pieces of rined
cannon, thrtytwo and sixty -four Founders and three
nine inch Bahgren guns Thu gunboats are not ready to
launch yet, will they be for some days to come Il
will be month yet before they be put into service
shall 90 to Mound City tomorrow TO get moro perfect
knowledge Of them.
The dramshops and bawdy houses Of Cairo have been
suppressed by order Of General McCernand, and quiet
once more regns In Cairo. We have news from any
quarter save that Colonel LAWYERS regiment will leave to-
morrow for Paducah Everything look to a bat
tie near that point Columbus before long but army
appearances are so deceiving that shall for any
tnlng striking until II comes OFT We have brush
soon, however, or the rcbes will become SO strong in
numbers and position to render attack upon them
Mighty dangerous to safety