The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-08-06

NOW mat 1 have got scrap 0i papf
and moment Of quiet, let me say what
have TO say Of this position, aud Of what
saw pleasant things they would be 10 III
Federalist General up at Cairo IL he eoul
hear them in time unless he is rs it'll
prepared as his antagonist On lookin
out Of my cabin this morning | saw III
high and rugged bluff Of which have $40
ken on the left bank Of the river. A fey
ridge-poled teots, pitched under the shnd
OF some trees, on a small spur Of the slope
was The only indication Immediately yisi
bic Of martial character But d clos,
inspection in front enabled me to detee
two earthw5rks, mounted with guns, d
the side Of the bank, considerably hiehcl
than the river, and three heavy guns, pos
sibly i2-pounders, lay IN the dust close {,
the landmg-place, wiihye rude carriage.
and bullock-poles to carry them to the bat.
terles. A few men, 10 or ? in number
were digging at an encampment on The
face Of the slope. Others were lounginn
about the beach, and others, under the
same miatuation as that which makes little
boys dlsport in the Thames under the no
tlon that they are washing themselves.
were bathing in the Mississippi. A dusty
cart track wound up to the brow of the
bluff and there disappeared. Some carts
toIled up and down between the boat and
the crest Of the hill. We went on shore.
There was no ostentation Of any kind about
the reception Of the General and his Staff.
A few horses were waiting impatiently in
the sun, for flies viii have their way. and
heavy men are not so unbearable as small
mosquitoes. With cloud of colonels-
one late United Statesman, who was read
NY distngnishable by his air from the Vol
unteers-the General proceeded TO visit
his batteries and his men. The first work
inspected was a plain parapet Of earth
placed some 30 feet above the river. and
protected very slightly by two small flank
ing parapets. Six guns, 32 Founders, and
howitzers Of an old pattern were mounted
en- bdr6ette, without any travcrses whatcv-
er. The carriages rested on rough plat
forms, and the wheels ran on traversine
semieircle Of plank, as the iron rails were
NOT yet ready. The gunners plain look
ing body of men, very ike railway labor
crs and mechanics, without uniform, were
engaged at drill 1t was neither quick nor
gcod work-about equal 10 the average Of
a squad after couple Of days exercise !;
bat the men worked earnestly, and have
no doubt if the Federalists give them time.
they will prove auillerymen in the end
The General ordered practice 10 be made
with round shot. After some DELAY.
kind OF hybrid ships carronade was loaded.
The target was tree. about 2j00 yards
istant ! was told. 1t appeared TO me
'bout 100 yards of. Every one was de-
iHons OF seeing the shot; but we we're at
he wrong side for the wind, and | ven
ured to say so. However, the General
hought and said otherwise. The word
Fire J" was given. Alas the lriction-
ube would not explode. 1t was one of
lew sort, which the Tennesseeans are try
ne their prentice hand at. A second an
wered better The gun went off, but
where the ball went TO no one could say,
s the smoke came into our eyes. The
arty moved to windward, and, after an
ther fuse had missed, the gun was again
ischarged at some 8 degrees elevation,
nd the shot fell in good line, 200 yards
hort of the target, and did not rcochet.--
Jun No. was then discharged, and off
'ent the ball at no particular mark, down
be river; but it it did 60 of, SO did the
un also, for it gave a frantic leap and
lmped with the carriage off the platform
or was this wonderful, for it was an
ld-fashioned chambered carronade or
owitzer, which had been loaded with
Ill charge, and solid shot enough 10 make
burst with indignation.
Turning from this battery, we visited
mother nearer the water, with four guns
}2-pounders.) which were well placed to
weep the channel with greater chance Of
cochet; and higher up on the bank, TO-
ards high peak commanding the Mis- {
ssippi, here about 700 yards broad, and !
small confucnt which runs into il, was /
loiher battery Of two guns, with very ;
'eat command, but only fit for shell, as
Ie fire must be plungiug. All these bat
ries were very i'll constructed, and in ,
lly one was the magazine under decent
'yer. In the first it was in tie rear Of /
e battery, up the hill behind it. The l
rapets were Of sand or soft earth, unpro- ]
ded with merlons. The last had a few Z
nd-bags between the guns. Riding up a
steep road, we came TO the camps Of the
en- on the wooded and undulating plateau a
.er the river, which is broken by water q
urses into ravines covered with brush L
BOD and forest trees. For five weeks v
G Tennessee troops under General Pill "
", who is at the head OF the forces Of the G
ate, have been working at a series Of il
rious entrenchments, which are supposed L
represent an entrenched camp,and which Il
* like an assembla9e Of mud beaver b
ms. In word, they are 50 complicated r
Il they would prove exceedingly troub- b
ome to the troops engaged IN their de- s
lse, and it would require very steady, IS
perieneed regulars to man them 20 as 10 :