, 1861-11-30

Whu& the rebels aTe doing-0nr aoounded at
-Ee'mont--1Ae Camp Jackson pTisoaers-sf:
Thompson.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribnne.l
CAIRO. November %, 1861.
So far there has been certainly nothing that
would signify 4 movement before spring, yet
affairs MAY at any moment change in aspect
and an offensive policy be revealed. The gun
boats, upon which so much will depend, can 1
not be got ready before Christmas, and no ex-
ira diligence in that or any other military tn
deTtaking can at present be discovered. Two
Of the new gun-boats, the Pittsburgh and the
st. Louis. started from the latter city some days
ago for this place, but are both reported
aground. about 500 marines are now at Cairo
ready to man tic vessels ut once, while an
chorcd near the Kentucky shore is the
steamer Maria Denning, having on board the
necessary armament for them.
When assembled in one feet the gun-boats
and foating batteries will be formidable in
decd, and Of course no important movement
Will take place until they arc ready, unless
Columbas and the fortified places be avoided
and blows Struck by laud forces at exposed
spots i'll the enen7y's country.
Perhaps this VIII be the plan adopted, yet it
would differ from so-ca1Icd correct military
authority, by leaving formidable body Of
fotnen c1atIenchcd in the rear, and ready to
strike should the slightest advantage occur.
4 new feature has been developed Of rebel rr-
sources, and proves TINT brilliant invention
can often claim dire necessity for its mother.
Up the Tennessee river they hare been terri
bly, frightened by our adventurous gun-boats,
which have paid visits weekly or oftener to
them for some time. Secession wit has, there
fore, bent itself eagerly to conceive 4 remedy,
and has, at last, been safely delivered Of the
following: They have taken small boats and
placcd tightly compressed cotton bales within
their bulls and Like wall along the decks, ell
circling the guns and rising above the heads
Of mcn. These balcs arc impc1yious to the
heaviest shot and naval men say that, properly
armed, the boats would be most formidable
cz.tft. The cotton, being already loaded, will
bc easier carried to market when our fleets get
ready to START
Among the important changes here 1atclg
Las been that Of Fort Prentiss to the nane Of
Fort Cairo, By order Of Gen. McClernand. To
the many admirers Of the General in honor OF
whom tnc fort was first called the change is
highly distasteful and excites severe criticism.
Col. Bu1orl with lis regiment, the eth uli-
nois, has been assigned the command of it and
1hcir quarters have been changed to that vi
cinily. The following is the order Of Gen.
NcCier7lauG:
BRIGADE nEADqr ARTERs.
CANr CAIRO, November n 1861.
General Order No. 23.l
1t is ordered that fhe fnrt established at the
junction uf :hc Ohio and Mississippi rivers within
the Limits Of the city Of Cairo. be named and called
ordered ,hat the command of Fort Cairo be a.;
s!~ne9 to Col. =. o. Eufosd: Of the 9th regiment
Illinois sviuntccrs. from this date until further
orders. and that lie be respected and obcycd ac-
| cosdingly By order Of JoMS a. McCLERSASD,
| Brgadier General Commanding.
| For some days tic weather has been cold,
E.11:.4 r.
| ground muddy. Soldiers, however, arc COM
| fortally glllrtcrcd, as 4 general thing, and
possessing plenty Of clothing. As winter i'll
| crcasrs i'll severity, however, warmer habita-
tatin,'s aid garments will both be needed. At
Camp Holt and Birds Point 10y hutsarc being
ter quarters. Here, however, nothing Of the
| kind las taken place There seems to be no
I settled plan for future army movements, and
everybody, in regard to what will be done, is
| wrapped in deepest mystery The sol
dicrs arc universally tired of mac
vigorous policy. Winter is the time
| Tor Union movements, and unless they
| take place now they cannot next summer. The
troops are healthier, in better spirits, training
and equipments than ever before, and as for.
midablc rebellion cannot be crushed by acting
Oh the defensive, all arc anxious to sec all op,
| positc courst pursued. Among the signs o1
| the times here, is one TINT new commander
| VIII soon DC placed III c1afEe o. LH13 post i}Y
| the authorities at Washington. My inform:l-
tion is derived from gentleman to whom Gcll
Hallcck mentioned TIC flct the other day at
st. Louis. The Confcders,tcs at Columbus ar
are constantly fortifying, and the other da,
received 80 large cannon from the South. They
seem determined to make Columbus the Ma
| nassas Of the West At Belmont the whole
forest for two miles surrounding is being fel1ci
| in order to make an approach difficult as pos
sib1c. Over one hundred guns arc now in po
| sition at Columbus, and its holders arc 1out
| in their threats that they cannot be taken.
| is to be hoped thai Gen. Halcck will have TIL
nerve, rs his soldiers already have the will, Il
| convince them Of their mistake. Those @
! our men wounded in the battle at Belmont ar
doing we'll and most Of them rapidly recover
ing. Thcy arr 900 in number. a few day
ago fourteen Of the Camp Jackson prisoners
who hare been lately exchanged, were sen
| down the river as far as Norfolk, Of whicl
| you have already been informed By telegraph
This morning, another by the name Of Fin
ney, whose father is & merchant in St. Louis
was also carried on the Rob, Roy to the vicin
/ i1y Of his secession friends. Spea}zin. Of pris
oners, brings to mind the late want Of homo
shown by Gen. Polk. lie has not yet release!
those taken by hin, although ours were al
etnt down, III accordance with the verbs
agreement made by General Grant with til
ticacl1crous bishop. OF JEFF. Thompson moth
ing has been reliably heard since his lat
! etoppagc Of the Platte Valley, but his force
> | were then, and are now probably, at Ne1
Madrid, for the purpose Of being thrown
when necessary, into Columbus.