, 1862-03-04
FROM CAIRO.


~&AAA~
Especial Dispatch to the Chicsgo Tribune ]
CAIRO, Monday Evening, March 3, 1852
Capt. Noleman Of the. 7th Illinois cavalry, |
with forty-sx men, while making reconuois- |
Eance of the country west Of Charleston, No,
came ac10es 90 rebel cavalry, commanded by |
the veritable JEFF. Thompson, and after pursu-
lug them 4 long distance forced them to mike
a stand about fire miles below Sikeston. Jctf7s
artillery was planted in the road in such a
manner as to command all approaches, and
onr forces were compelled to charge in the face
of his battery. This they did with great gsl-
lantry, and succeeded in capturing four guns
and putting the confederates to fight, with
. loss on5our part Of one man, who struggled
from the command and was taken prisoner.
The rebel loss not ascertainel. #:
The steamer 1Eetta arrived from the Ten
nessce river yesterday. She reports that as
the gunboats Tyler and Lexin::ton, accom-
panied by the transport Ietta, were approach
ing Pittsburg, small town on the Tenr essce.
river, about eight miles above Savannah, and
when within half mile Of the town, they were
fred upon By = battcry, located upon 4 bluff
overlooking the river. The gunboats rcp9ed,
and for one half hour shot and shell fell tltf:fk
and furious. At the expiration OF that lime
the battery was ailenced, The gunboatE coz
tinued to shell the battery for halt. an
hour, when so marines and infantry left. the
boats. They went ashore, burned one house,
and visited one of the Confederate camps.
The enemy again opened fire, but our forces
repu1sed and drove them over the lin. The
enemy's force, consisting Of cavalry and in
fantry, being larger than the Federal=r they
were enabled to flank them, and retreat WIS
ordered This was accomplished in good
order under heavy fire. Previous to the
the retreat our men captured drum,
upon which vas painted" Captured from
tie Federal army at Manassas : The
battery at Pittsbur< had been established
since the first visit Of our gunboats to Ten
nessee river. It is supposed that thcss were
about LOCO Confederate troops in the vicinity
of Pittsburg. Our loss is one killed, four
wounded and three missing.
The Izetta brought down about 500 bushels
OF contraband wheat belonging to one Rus
sell, ! notorious rebel, formerly Of Louisville.
This was taken at Clifton. The Izetta also
| brought down tWenty Union refugees.
| The officers Of the boat represent Tic exist
| ence Of considerable Union sentiment in that
part of Tennessee visited by our gunboats,
and Eay that the woods along the river are
| full Of Union men who hare been driven from
| iheir homes, and await the arrival of the Fed
eral forces to rid them OF their persecutors.
| At an election held at Savannah on Satur.
day for sheriff, and clerk Of the coarts, The
Union ticket received $50 votes, and the seccs.
| sion ticket but 45.
CAno, Monday 1.u-Marcl ., 1862.
The gunboat Lexington lad an engagement
day OF two since with rebel battery at Sd
yannah on the Tennessee river.
CAIRO, Snnday March q 1862.
a gentleman just arrived from Char3cstown
NO., brings intelligence Of the capture offoftJ
men belonging to JEFF Thompson 5 command
and four small onc-pounder guns. The 1oca1i
ty Of the capture was five miles south o
Sikeston.
Col ]. j. s. Wilson las resigned his posi-
ton as Assistant Military Manager. Of Telc
graphs.
CAIno, Saturday evening, Aarch 1.
The sky Is now (nine P. ny most arillinntl.
illuminated By the reflection from & large con
| lsgration directly in the line Of Columbus
and apparently IS far distant. 1t is The opin
ion here that Columbus is burned. Rumor
Of its evacuation have been current in th
streets all day
C4mo. Saturday Eycniqsx March ]
Fresh ralmors are rife here, this cTtaing, c
the evacuation Of Columbus. It is reporte
41,.f}f %n1 f1T Tz1,
and will make stand there. They claim it 4
the strongest position on the Mississippi
River men and pilots hero, however, deny Il
claim in That respect.
The transport "Economy" sunk in Ii
Cumberland to-day.
; No boats from up the river have arrived t.
day.
Secretary Stanton's recent order is still
theme Of discussion here, and especially Il
| Sd regulation. Various views Of 1t ore ente
tained, the most recognizing it as judicior
order. Northern newspapers find their vi
10 tile rebels with the utmost regularity. s
5 Louis papers reach Columbus daily, probab
by bottle navigation
t The various newspaper correspondents
: Cairo paid their respects to Gov. Knkwood
!, Iowa this evening The Governor has bet
, here for some days looking after tho Ioy
i wounded. He is firm in the belief that the I
bellion is in process Of rapid extinction.
= The Cumberland River is very high and n
[ idly rising.
d The Tennessee Legislature is st1l in sessi'
/ at Memphis.
t Avery bright light as Of 4 large conhag'
d | lion in tho direction Of Blaudyille, was Sc
Il from here Last night.
The fng Of the gallant Iowa ed, I
l. first Which was planted on the ene1ny's wor
at Donelson, arrived yesterday en- route
Iowa. Three of the color bearers were kill
. and three wounded It is to hang oycr t
Z Speakers Chair in the Iowa House Of Rep
Is sentatiyes, and after the adjournment Of t
- Legislature will be deposited in the Archis
E, of the Historical Society. The flag bears
marks Of the terrible conflict At Donelse
- having no less than sixteen bullet ho;
/, through it.