The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-13
IMPORTANT FROM CAIRO.
Interview Between the Commander orthe
Kentucky Forces and Colonel Prentiss-
The Troops 1T Cairo Prepared to RepeI
an Attack.

Fifteen thousand Fire Hundred Men TO Be Collected al
Colinrbns- Mashed Batteries 70 Be Erected for ne Co.
lunlbiads Opposite Cairo, dc. d.
send you the following fun Ind complete information
concerning the state condon Of the forces which
are advancing to attack Cairo Ny information ia de.
rived from an intelligent railroad man who has lived
for many years in Tennessee Trey offered him post.
ton in the Confederate army which be most respectfully
declined In consequence Of such decnaiion upon his
part his hdety suspected nd he deemed II prudent
TO leave the country.
Memphis, as you know, u l. basis Of operations. AT
that point there are 1000 men, Upca tho Mississippi
river, on the Arkansas side, there are two fort
erected, with pieces mounted. which sweep the river
The names Of these two forts are Harris and Randolph
Harris Is the lower and Randolph the upper.
There is however, railroad cang Along The rennes
see side Of the riy~, whose northern terminus Is at
Columbus, In Kentusky twenty miles south q Cairo On
this road. six miles north Of Memphis. there camp,
at which there 500 men. md another nrccn
north upon the same rcad In which there 2ooo
At Memphis there p,esty Of cars 10 convey lhes
troops north 10 Columbrs.
BY locking at a railroad map you win perceive that
railroad leads from Memphis TO oornth, and from the
latter point railroad runs northeasward also 10 uonr
is a station known as the Graz Junction Prom this
point also leading eastward there road which taps
the road leading from Cerinih to Columbus NJ a tosn
called Humboldt. IT. therefore, your readers will take
the trouble OF drawing diagram upon paper, they will
understand at once the whole state o. the cage
Al Grand Junction on last Wednesday there 600
men, having sixteen railroad and two locomotives
at Corinth coo men and fifty cars, with the
Der OF locomotives. On the road between Cornth aud
Humboldt my informant standing upon care switched
oil two ten inch coumbads, with abundance Of shot
and shell to serve them
When he passed through Humboldt there had not as
ye any soldiers reached that point The purpose OF the
secessionists s TO concentrate all these iorccs-to
l5,s00-at Columbus, and construct military road
through the dense forests lying along the Kentucky shore
Of the Mississippi out Of sight OF the river They
their engineers corduroy and bridge the swamps
that they carry their forces sufficient numbers TO
point directly opposite Cairo and erect batteries upon
which they can place their columbads beyond the
range OF the ordinary twenty FOUNDERS with which
the federal batteries armed at Cairo These coumbads
they claim can throw from half mile to mile farther,
both shot and SHE'LL than gun Genera Swift, has The
battery upon which they win be mounted will be erected
under cover OF the forest the standing between
II snd the river are eed Thus the position ami range
or the battery will be discovered until the
1t opens IT, therefore the range Of these guns proves
greater than any artillery IL possession Of General swift
pect of success than 5000, the number reported TO be
eLcamped there
My informant passed northward to Louisville and
made the rest of the journey. He has just called my
tenon to an important omission. There 900 troops
besides those mentioned before upon the Arkansas side
yond and above the 900 il Memphis. This makes a to.
tai dsposable force, beyond the sarsons Of Harris
Randolph of 10 500 mena number greater than JEFF Da-
Wis claims to have had within the limits Of the Conede
rate States at the time he sent in his est essage My
informant thinks most Of them have been sed in Ten
DeSSee
will write you from Camp York Tomorrow A for.
ward movement from that point is eypeded hourly.
THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN COLONEL TILGHMAN AND
COLONEL PRENTIss.
HEDPu ARTERs CAMP DEFIANCE
CAIRO, H., May 6, 1851
Colonel Lloyd Tlghman commanding the Western di-
vision OF Kentucky militia, including Paducah and CO.
lumbus, places that have been considered as menacing
our troops here, called in company with Colonial Wick
life, Of Kentucky upon Colonel Prentss, commandant at
this place The following the substance of their inter-
view It is Important
Colonel TnGDAN-I have visited yoa sir for the pur-
pose of little official intercourse with reference TO the
late questions which have excited the people of Kentucky
and to cultivate, far my power peaceful relations
Some portions Of public press have enormously used
the name Q. Kentucky the name of her organized militia
the hostile movement Of troops ag anst you from Tennes
see. Colonel Tghman referred to article In the
Louisville Journal which stated the hostile movements
from Tennessee could 90 through kentucky only by the
aid OF troops under Colonel Tlghman's command de
characterized the statement in terms said that
Kentucky was still in the Union, and had stronger
with than to remain go
Colonel PRENrlss- can hardly express gentlemen how
gratifying is TO me to find these the sentiments Of
all the Leading men have met from your side OF the
river. assure you that 80 far as understand the sen
friendly feelings are cordially rcciprocated We must,
however, when understand that certain points in
either Kentucky Tennessee or Missouri are menacing US
prepare TO defend them.
Colonel TnGHAAS-Iet me say in Difference 10 Tonnes.
see that 30 far her authorities and official are
concerned, she was, three days ago. in the Union |
have just come from there where in official capacity,
defined to them, firmly and eilectually, the policy OF
my state. She has q mercuria population, like every
State that is hard to control But feel fully author lied
TO say In Difference to Governor Harris, with whom
had an interview, and in difference to the State OF Ten
netsee that there hostile TO wards you
Colonel PREsTIs-I want you TO understand that
designating certain points Is hostile and menacDg
reliably informed that bodies arming and drilling
with proposed destination to some place North and
win cay to you frankly that we prepared for the at
tack and await it, But am inclined to think they
the mob. without official encouragement.
Colonel TnGHAN-Yes sir, feel authorized to express
that view Of IT, The press ought to be restrained in It's
ready circulation OF errors There word of truth
tie statement OF there being IL 600 men at Paducah
for Invasion to the concentration of troops any
arrival Of arms at Columbus, they the property Of
the state This as her right, Illinois cannot raise an OBJ
lection to. Kentucky las her rights 10 defend and
no State do it more powerfully. She ia and
generous frieId, but hearty enemy We do not wish
war. We are now eecting our representatives TO Con-
eess with the intention Of holding the olive branch
But the Of Kentucky is large and people
GO rot under stand how much o. il is to be interrupted
in 7daSia They feel that they ship barrel OF
-four without being subjected 20 this system Of epoHdg
which lg entirely inadmif siblc.
Colonel PgESTSs-I instructed To seize property
unless have Information that such property consists Of
munitions of war, destined to the enemies Of the United
| Coorel THCnNAS--Tben you would rot consider NUM-
TORS Of war shipped to kentucky, under her authority
| Colonel PRESnss-Tbai would depend upon the point
| whether Columbus is aiming and menacing us.
Colonel TuGHNiN-rhey have not been and are not
Colonel PIuSTIss-Then have been misnrormed
Generally there would be detention OF munitions OF
| war destined to the authorities of Kentucky.
Colonel 1nCHMAS--rhe position I wish to is
that Kentucky the peer Of Illinois and would not
sent anything of the kind under any pretence Ken.
lucky probably would consent 10 the blockade Of
| the Ohio.
Colonel PBEsTss-But If, as you say, Kentucky Is a
oya state she would have to allow the bockadng Of the
Ohio assure you 1ls,is would allow II required by
The general govcrnmen. Kentucky has not done her
quota Of troops lyon the demand of the President in de-
Of the patona Gag aud this shows we right in
nyehtnaing certain dsaleced and disoyal communi-
tes which ruie to some extent the sentiment Of the
4 State.
Cor TGfHMAy-I frankly admit that you have the ad-
vantage Of me there But after my intercourse with you
--~-'-- Of the groundlessness or your fears in
and reass.-e wild ba fsry inconsistent with
my official capacity, "a credit counter ru
your previous limitations, for you ICED fifty me-
inors. Ny dear cir, there are not orgaL..