, 1862-04-26

MATTERS 1T PII,TSB URG,
Health Of the Army---ProspeCts
Of a Battle.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.

11IIsatRi LAhDlS1. april ~, lo51.
For the first time for nearly i week, the sun
shines out brightly this morning, the atmos-
phere is clear and the air bracins. Yesterday
ii rained and stormed, and in the camp ne
could hear the trees, which had been pierced
with shot and shell, como down with crash,
occasionally, as the wind howled through the
woods and the pitiless rain pelted the tapping
canvass Of the tents.
As might be expected, large percentage Of
the army is. on the sick list. Out Of some regi-
nents Of five hundred men, two hundred and
twenty arc in hospital. Out Of SONG Of the
batteries Of one hundred and thirty men, thir-
ty are on the sick list. The new comers ap-
Fear to suffer the most, although large NUM-
bcr OF the troops engaged in the late battle,
having beer for nearly ten days without proper
food, were attacked with diarrhea and much
prost1ated. The late wet weather has not I'M
proud th,m. 4 few fine dnrs like the pres
ent would, however, materially benefit the
health OF the camp.
yesterday, notwithstanding the storm, rode
oat to tie trout; found the advanced camps
much better located. The ground was not so
much cut up, OF the mud So deep. a week OF
coed weather wonld.dry up the roads eonside-
rably. Still there is much to be done here;
stores are yet to be prepared, tents received,
etc.
MSj, Gen. Pope's division of the Western
army, numbering some twenty or twenty-five
thousand men, arrived here in some thirty
| steamboats, this morning.
I have heard that they were expected From
this change in the original programme, it is
evident that tic plan Of sending strong col
umn down the river has been abandoned,
| whether because Fcrt Pillow has been found
| to be too strong, or for other reasons, know
not. This army will accordingly be the main
| force destined fer the subjugation Of the reb-
| els in the South West, by an advance on Mem
phi6 and the river cities. By penetrating to
| fortified positions Of the rebels on the Missis-
sippi between that city aud Cairo. They can
! not bold them any more than they could CO.
lumbus alter the tall Of Forts Henry and Don
| olson.
The afmy will probably wait for further re-
| iuforrcments from Buell. before moving It is
| bard however, to push them forward, on ac-
count Of the condition of the roads in all this
region Of country. The rains have SO iu-
crvastd the volume Of water in the river that
| it noT runs like the tail Of 8 miltr1ce.
| Gen. Pope and staff landed last night, but
the army remains on board the boats The
General appears 10 be in excellent health. To
move his army, with all its baggage and mate
rial Of var is a hcrrulean task. The bluffs
here are from sixty to seventy feet ligh and
are only surmounted through ravines which
arc very steep and in which the tenacious
mud is more than knee deep.
The following among other Illinois regi-
ments are here: 9th, 1lth, 18th, 18th, 20tfs,
lott. 5oh, 31st, 41st, 57th and 6lst. They arc
u General Grant's Division OF the army.
vidcd with tents. Ihaye seen some imptogiscd
With the aid Of rails, on which blankets ard
old oyrrcoats arc laid. They arc generally
about two and half aud three feet iu the
ctar at the highest part, and must be about as
d1, Is IS one OF the sewers Of your city. They
'ru in excellent tvuts. The unfortunate Goa.
t.ahards are satisfied with shakedown auy.
where. They arc really some Of the most use,
iul persons, IL lhrir way, i. tlc t..c irnly and
probably from the fhct oftheir being cmIloyed
by tie officers and soldiers On errsnds
through the camp, are well acquainted witt
the location Of the headquarters Of the v4riou:
generals and of the different regimcnts Incy
eT ful to be- correctly directed BY them
y f1ilc on the contrary from prigates, and ever
officers. I fhd it generally impossible to gel
satisfactory directions
Tic army is gradually extending its lines
ard the pickets are said to be nearly nin'
miles out. On their side the rebels are ais.
| said to have thrown out their pickets som
five miles further; 80 that the distanc
from this point :, to Co1inth bcin!
only twenty miles, the advanced
| Picket duty and scouting in such weathe
as wa have had for the past few days, must b
in the Last degree unpleasant, for above, uu
| der1oot, and all around is nothing but waite
rot dIIy spot to be found TOR the sole Q
THE 1oth {ours Reri,ncot end ba~a neart
ali hccn taken prisoner It the lst
| battle. Some five or elk Of the officer
!: are now In steamboat alongside Of mt, o
their way homo, having rendered their rcsie
nations. Talking Of the nght, good story
} told here. Of a Colonel Of au Ohio regiment
boats like deer, and, rushing aboard one c
/ them, declared that eYerys man In his reg
, ment had been killed; he was the last of til
: Mohegans.' Shortly afterwards the entiz
r regiment came down the bluff Oh the rul
; scnrccly musket among them. That Co
; again during that day or next; they had ha
i enough Of fighting. But such panics are NJ
| unusua1 among raw, or even disciplined
troops. In another action thai regiment nz
cover itself with glory
. Company 4, ghicsgo Light Artillery, Lieu
Wood Commanding, hare refused to recei,
their rifed cannon, ard they have according
been turned over to the ordnance Office
d | There iB much prejudice among the q
4 companies against rided ordnance vi
c the green companies they are all the rage.
e is evident we hare not Is get been enabled
e iurn cut the best form Of ri1ed guns.
S Tax Plan ef the New York Ohamb,
!. OF Commerce.
n NEW York, April 25th.-The Chamber
r Commerce has adopted q memorial to Co
: gress, proposing the raising Of two hundn