Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-28
our Army Correspondence--Ca and
the Condition of Affairs ON the Mis-
sissIppi.


the Condition of Affairs ON the Mis-
sissIpPi.
CAIRO, April 81, 1862.
]. j. BINGHAM, ESQ: The situation of this de-
lectable city is deporable just now. The river
has been rising and il has raned, with but one
days lntermssion, since my last. The foaming
flood of the river is with the top of the levee
and the pools and puddle holes and well worked
mud are deep and everywhere The inhabitants
are momentarily expecting and dreading the
breaking of the barrier that keeps the great bulk
of the Father of Waters" from sweeping their
habitations away. The steam pumps are no
longer of avail and have stopped. There is no
way yet devised by which thew can throw the
water above the river at its present elevation.
The town, consequently, back from the levee is
pool of water varying in depth from six inches
to six feet. Families are seeking shelter in the
upper stories of warehouses, in boats and in the
cars. Confusion regns supreme To add TO it,
transports loaded with troops have been crowding
the landing for three days, and the soldiers seek
ing, as they always will, change of fare have
literally eaten the town out. thousand amusing
scenes and incidents occur every day. and some
distressing ones. 1t would be a great place just
now Tor "local" hard up to fill his corner
Birds Point is all under water and the country
for miles back on the Missouri side. The Skies
town railroad is submerged and for the present
abandoned. Mr.. Coyner and Mr.. Gale, with
their force, have taken refuge here to wait until
there is some spot on the line of their road where
weary dove might rest Its wing. The cars of
the Illinois Central road no longer run here
mails. passengers and freight being sent to Mound
City by boat to meet them In short, we have
water above, below and all round US, and little or
no whisky.
Steamers were sent out yesterday to bring in
the farmers and planters on the coast whose ha5-
itations were in danger. Some took advantage
of the kindness of the Government, but many
would not leave their watery localities unless
their stock-horses, cows and pigs-were also
brought off. This of course was impossible. and
they had to be left to herd their focks on RATS
tied to trees, as best they could.
THE SITUATION BELOW.
Commodore Foote, and the army officers ope-
rating in concert with him, have no doubt of their
ability to reduce Fort Pillow at any time. They
make it already very hot for the rebels What
the views of the higher powers may be know
not, but 1t does not seem to me important TO pos
seSs that point, good policy to go below it, un-
nj the force at Corlnth is scattered or driven
back The land forces can not operate to any
advantage while the country is submerged as it
is Whenever the waters subside and the signal
is given, Fort Pillow will be ours.
The cavalry and light artillery of the army of
the Mississippi with some of the infantry have
gone up the river, leaving sufficient force how
ever, below to guaru every point and operate on
the offensive when it is deemed expedient. / have
! already told you that Colonel Fitch commands
the advance. He has his own regiment, the
47th, and the 43d Indiana, Col. Mclean, in his
brigade. What other troops are with him don't
know-none, however, from our State Notwith-
standing the difficulties of his position Colonel
Fitch has mastered them all. A mind like his
can never rust in inaction, and physically he has
not lazy bone in his body. He has all the quail
tiles that go to make up good General-an act
i've intellect. untring industry-the dash and snap
OF twenty five added to the cool Judgment of
fifty. 1t he does not make his mark it will be be-
cause he is not properly supported or that be is
bound hand and foot by the red tape of the Ma
jor Generals.
Our scouts are making themselves familiar
with the swamps and have had several skir-
mshes with the enemy's pickets who cross over
below the Point and pull about in boats protected
by the guns of their fleet below. Our Indiana
boys, however, can live like alligatOrs if neces-
sary, to aid the glorious cause in which they are
engaged, and eagerly meet the enemy more than
half way There will be an active bombardment
kept up, but DO not look for any definite results
from it for some weeks yet.
THE SITUATION ABOVE.
The army at Pttsburg Landing has been and is
being reinforced largely. All accounts concur
that the troops are in fine condition. and the pres
ence of General Halleck has inspired them with
the utmost confidence. He has brought order out
of coniusion-for confusion there was after the
dearly bought victory there. No one denies it,
! The Southern papers still claim Shiloh as a vic
tory, l see. They are easily satisfied. 4 con-
traband who came into one of our camps below the
other day seemed to understand their claims
"Sambo," SAID the Colonel, "what do your folks
say about the recent battlesp "Oh, dey say dey
always whip you, massa." "And what do you
think about it?" The Garkey scratched his head
and grinned from ear to ear as he replied, "Dey
can't fool dis nigga-dey neber advanced
OUR TowNsMEN HERE
There are a number here in the several depart
ments of the army from indianapolis. They are
all well. Paymaster Hanna has just got in from
below, and leaves in the first boat for Paducah
Mr.. Burgess of the 34th has gone to Louisville
for supplies, and Mr. Lichtenhein is here wait
ing for transportation to New Madrid. By the
way, | must not forget our friend, Mcknight.
Peter is the managing director of the 47th suter
establishment now at TiptOnville, and takes
kindly to the discomforts of his post. He is very
popular, and tells story with as much vim as he
would at Martin Hugs or Beebes. Mr.. B.
f. Reed is chief of the issuing department of the
| Post Quarternlaster, and has his hands full He
is now seated at a desk just opposite me with a
bible OH one side of him, and the army reguia-
tons on the other, up to his eyes in voluminous
returns. 1t takes watching and praying to keep
things straight Capt Bradshaw's business is
misunderstanding, l think, that done in the
Quartermaster Generals department at lndianap
oils when the troops were being fitted out.
could have had no idea of it had not become
familiar with the different Offices through which
the machinery under his supervision is kept at
work
Our Army COrrespondence-.-F
| Winchester.