Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-08
Later from Cairo.


rebel cavalry, numbering so. Captain
Paulding, OF the gun boat st. LOUIS ~
ing at the landing, sent messenger to
Colonel Buford asking if he should shell
the woods in the rear of the town, and
having returned with an affirmative an
swer the St. Louis steamed across the
river, and the mortar boat took position
and shelled the woods vigorously tor an
hour.
The I'd Illinois cavalry was, at last
accounts, in hot pursuit Of the rebels.
At IL O'Clock last night, and again a,
o'clock this morning, heavy cannon.
aiding was distinctly heard at Columbus,
apparently in the direction of New
Madrid. Many Of the Inhabitants Of
Columbus are returning, who report
that they left the town weeks ago, IN
fear Of the depredations Of the retel
army.
The Rev. Gen. Folks headquarters
upon the bluff, present an entertaining
spectacle, being filled with champaign
bottles, cigar boxes, perfumery cases.
toilet articles, and other unmiiitary
utensils. Col. Buford still remains IN
command OF the town.
Adit. Hahn, of the SD Illinois, passed
through here last evening, en- route for
Chicago.
The mortars of the fleet are all mount
ed.
The Cumberland and Tennessee riv-
ers are now, in pursuance OF Gen. llal'
leck's orders, open for commercial nav
igation. The Express is tho first boat
to avail Itself OF the new order, and lett
last night for Fort Henry, with passen-
gers and freight.
A gentleman just arrived from Flor
ence, Alabama, says the rebels OF that
section stand IN mortal terror OF the
pun-boats. He asserts that there we're
but two regiments at Pittsburg when
the late skirmsh took place. The ma
jorty of the people Whereabouts are
strongly Union.
The reports in regard to Gen. Pope
and his force are very conflicting. The
first is a rumor OF the evacuation Of
New Madrid. Second, that our forces
had been shelled out by the rebel gun
boats. Third, that Gen. Pope had lot
been within ls miles Of the place.
The rebel army there numbers 40
600 men, having been swellei by large
.enforcemeuts from Columbus and
Memphis. They have also 8 wooden
sun-boats lying at the landing.
Steamers arc rapidly arriving and
departing.
The weather is very cold here. There
was quite heavy fall of snow last night.
From late rebel papers | CLEAN the
following facts:
Gen. Polk, previous to the evacua-
ton of Columbus, ordered every bridge
on ayfcd creek and other creeks to
be destroyed.
The Memphis -Ippeol says "Colum.
bus, We can positively state, is not to be
evacuated and will not be unless at the
point OF the bayonet."
The steamer Cambridge as sunk on
the Esd near Grand Glaize, Arkansas,
tnd 40 lives lost.
Heavy rains have fallen in South al
ALBANIA.
The machinery from the various work
shops in Nashville was removed prior
to the evacuation 10 Chattanooga.
The wheat and oil ground crops in
the South promise well.
General Bragg is i'll command at Mo.
bile.
The people Of the South are warmly
urging and demanding jeff. Davis to
take the field.
A bitter contest is going on at Mem
phis as to whether the town shall be
burned at the approach of our gun
boats.
A letter written to Memphis from Va.
states that jeff. Davis complains OF lack
of weapons, and Southern manufacturers
cannot even supply the want.