, 1861-12-06

a 4&LtEt 4I9&*odNtH Hk 4ItHNSf"4 nt IFtSbt+t6a~
,taI Mission Of Eie,a. Chapps9E- Prospect Of
Mo,e--NatfeTs at Coltmbss-G'ood Spirits oJ
our Troops-Gcn. HaIleck's PIans-A GuN to
FIJI ap Regiments noac IN tic fiet0.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Tribunc.]
CA1Ro, December.5, 1861.
There has been some sensation abont Cairo
for the last few days, in consequence Of Ger
tain suspicious respecting the policy Of a rebel
prisoner now held here, known aa Lieutenant
Col. Chappell He came up with fas of
truce one day last week, to obtain permission
to GO to st. Joseph, Mo-, to bring down Mrs.
General JEFF. Thompson, and conduct her 10
New Madrid, where the heroic jeff is HOW said
to be quartered. Gen. Grant absolutely re-
fused permission for him to pass. he then de-
clired his determination to la11d at Cairo, and
make his application to Gen. Halleck. Gen.
Grant assured him that if he landed at Cairo
he would be held a prisoner Of war. be ac-
cepted the terms and landed, and has been
here ever since.
The general impression is that he is sent
| here as a spy, without any expectation of be-
| ing allowed to pass. He is fnso1ent and def
| ant, to an extent that is not easy for loyal
| men to bear.
Many think his liberties too large; but
! suspect Gen. Grant Is only II giving him rope"
| ip order to understand him {: little better. 1t
| is not very probable that lie VIII sec Colu1n~
bus any more, until the close Of the war We
| haye already suffered great Inconvenience, if
t nothing more, from the freedom Of comn1unf-
| cation Which has been allowed; aud if am
not greatly deceived, we arc soon to re9llizc
the necessity of much more vigilance in this
| respect than has yet been exercised.
I hare not the least shadow Of doubt that
many Of the deepest dyed rebels Of Dixie
have Lad constant access to all our military
points, as Union men, and that after making all
The necessary .ob5eryations they have
gone or sent back to the enemy the re-
suits. Why is this SO? Have We not get
far is to bclieve They mean what they say
Can VIC not yet screw ourselves up to the pitch
Of regarding and treating them as enemies
Our eourtesies have been too large; and until
our plans will be thwartcd, by being Just as
well known to the enemy rs thcy arc to our
| sclTe$. In these remarks, refer not to any
Of U1lr Generals, but TO our whole service
Col. Chapel, I believe is fully understood
and hence, Will do Us no harm.
What is to be our next movement know
| not; but rumor in scmi-o1icil circles Las il
that VIC arc soon to hare movement On
grand scale. I have my doubts, however
whether more than two or three are in TIL
| secret.
Col. Brford OF the 27th regiment nlinoi
! volunteers, recently liaced ii command 0
Fort Cairo, has removed his regiment 10 th
; barracks adjoining the fort.
, Columbus Is said to have been grcatl,
strengthened since the affair at Belmont, botI
| in men and batteries Our naval officers, how
| ever, speak with the utmost confidence OF tn
practicability Of the original programme, 81
!, I soon rs our new g11n-boats shall be ready 70
! service. You may set il down, however, as
| fixed fact, that when Columbus is taken, OIL
' land forces will not be ingiorious.
| | Our troops were never in better spirits thai
| at this time, nor more eager for the fray. Mos
/ | OF our wounded are doing well; and the lcalt
Of the men is us good as il has ever been.
Gen. Halleck' S plans in Missouri are not un
i derstood here; but all have confidence in hil
l and feel tic utmost assurance that hc will b
| ready for whatever emergency may CONT
c True, We should prefer 10 SIC Price, McCul
a loch d. CO., at i more respectful distance; bu
j sometimes it is the best policy to make ii
c enemy do the marching.
$ We arc beginning to be anxious to heir {
more activity about Port Royal, but have n
0 doubt that the whole Of that enterprise is i
: able hands.
c Do. AIcssrs. Editors, stir up the good pc1
c pie Of the Northwest in the way of eniis
c menta. We have 2 great many regiments il
I, complete, which ought to be filed up as f:as
Z as possible. Next to this, if not above it,
d the Importance Of harmony among our ow
S people. Let our troops hive no 1" fire in IL
G rear" but let them feel ASSURANCE that thv
d have the Hearty sympathy Of Ill lovers Of Il
t Union; and then you may rest assured the
;, will do their part we'll G.