, 1861-09-13
LETTER FROM CAIRO.
Details Of Wednesdays Operations.

Details of Wednesdays Operations.
CAIRO, Sept ii. 1861.
The gunboat Conestoga went down the
this morning, but as soon as she
came in sight the titld batteries cn shore with
wEich she and the Lexington had the fight
yesterday, signal gun was fired end they
Lett for a position inland, ont Of
reach ef the Coneetoga'e shot and shell. They
evidently did not care to repeat yesterdays
experience. The gunboat lay TO for some
time in sight Of Columbus, and not thinking
It wise fe engage the batteries in place there,
AID finding that JEFF. Thompson's msn would
rot fight she returned.
At Norfolk che took. on board man who
had mansged to escape from the camp at Co
lumbus this morning. His name Is John L.
Msnn, formerly iron, Racine, Wisconsin.
When the troubles became rife he was In
southeast Missouri, and the rebels told him
distinctly that he must hang or fight for
Jeff. Davis. Ho chose the latter,
sa:iefed that he could find some opportunity
TO desert- Yesterday he wrote = pass for him.
self, and teign1ng sickness, this morning he
Was excused from parade, and with his pass
c&10S " tQt ftSAkle a1k1 u1a&6 Re00 nla g.
cape, The army Under Gen. Polk, now com
panding IN person, he says IL well armed and
equipped in Ill respects, and for the present
ot least have plsnty of proyiaioEs. He thinks
good deal has been emugEled through
from Ohio, as the word q eCinclnnsti'' is On
most Of the bacon casks. Mora than half the
aEuy are Tenneaseeans, and the balance are
mainly from Mississippi and Lop1sisn2- One
Of the officers tod him yesterday, they now
had II, 600 troops at Columbus and Belmont,
directly opposite. This is not at all unlikely,
IS by the general order Of Major General Polk
Tor last Saturday, sent Jou > day OF tEo since,
be hsd at that time IRON hfteen to Asxtsen
directly BY rail with the entire South, 1t is
very possible the rebel army has been
augmel ted to twenty six tharsAna. He says
taey have seven heavy siege guns, two heavy
teid guns, ana s.Ven fad batteries: This
co1responds very nearly with the general or
ly men trained In the United States service,
and generally the army Is in good condition
The u1ifosn WON away BY Mann il a. good
as the average Of that OF our soldiers. Some
Times reports Prevail that they are coming up
here to "elean Us ont aud then that
expected attack from Cairo. Forts are being
rapidly constructed from abpYe Coaumt,u3
duwn TO Chalk Biuib. JEFF Thompsou has
ucw At Bel}mcnt 2, TOO men teyeu hundred
CT whom are cavalry. They are q
tatse1dema!ioD, thieTing ereN. Jeff.
Thompson has two OF Marn's horses
and having three hundred dollars with him,
he lcLt freely to the seceah captains md oil
cc1s to keep on the right side Of them. Of
ccufee he has not iarge sum left, Mann
GOES to Racine fn the morning and says he Ia
determined to return with q company OF his
old friends, and have hit revenge 1pou the
ttsstors for impreseirg him Into Sneif asrvlce.
The work on Font Hot L. progressing fine
b. number Of 1sTge guns are already In
! place- The heavy timber is being rapidly cut
Cd m order to give the guns opportunity te
| plsy upon an enemy Id the rear. Tcoops
| e1cugh are now there Il is believed, to repe]
any force that can be brought agxanst it. Ar
evening gun was fred from the Fort the frs
! time Tits evening.
| Thif morning he hannibal City b1ough,
Gown Col Lewis Wallaoee 18th IGdi
sra Zousves from st. Louis. ",
mingled HmcaE them for N hour Or txu
and sye satisfied ttAt the staxs and etripss d
not float over bravsr or more Elective regi
nent than these IndaeRas bogs Every mai
the true soldier. They will do their count7.
noble service before the W.T. ,e4oeea. The,
Nese sent up to Paduc&h. -.
This evening the D. 4. January brough
down Capt Wilson'S and Capt. Thieamsn'
companies of Chicago Dragons. They al
seemed to be h the bestot heslth mud spirit.
and also went On 70 PAducah.
i This ncInfng It t@ssosuaed seEcreay, and eee
e1ally the dsy has BEEN dull ut Csiro, Bird
Point md Fort Holt :: -. B.