The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-04-24
Cairo Budget.

CAIRO, April 21.-The Ohio and Missis.
s'ppi at this point are still gradually rising.
Should large wind arise the levec would
be broken, and the town flooded. in which
event the citizens and Government could
hardly escape great loss of life and proper
ty. Fears were generally prevalent last
evening that the Lcvee could not long with.
stand the fiood, and there was general
stampede to Mound City, and other places
of refuge, yet the night passed away with
out recurrence Of the calamity Of 1851
The waters were slowly chbing over some
some portion OF the Levee, Sunday evening,
when Gen. Strong. who is ever efficient amid
multitude and diversity Of army cares, or-
dered out force Of men, who raised the
Lcvce, and prevented the disaster so i'm
minent
The hospital steamer City Of Memphis,
reached here this morning from New Mad
rid. She had on board five hundred and
f1fteen sick soldiers from, the army OF Gen
Pope. Among them were a number who
had beer discharged from the service on &C.
count of incurab:c maladics and physical in
abilities.
The hospital steamer has left for Evans
vile, Indiana, where The patients are to be
removed to more comfortable quarters in
the hospital at that plac.'.
| Captain Polk, WHO was taken prisoner al
the battle Of Pittsburg Landing. is among
| the sick, being wounded in both legs. H,
| is nephew of President Polk, and served
in battle as a captain of a rebel battery from
Memphis.
Large numbers of soldiers have passed
this place on board Of transports from st.
Louis during the last two days, andare now
on their way to reinforce Gen. Halleck.
The unprecedented rise Of water in the
Ohio besides interfering with railroad opera
tons at this place, has also carried away the
telegraph communications from the North
and East.
On Saturday last the Adams Express
| from this place was used TO tho exclusion o.
all other busin, SIS, in transporting money
packages from soldiers to their families
Over ! 70, 900 dollars were sent away.
| The Post Office at this place has been IN
dergoing a thorough examination under the
supervision Of Assistant Postmaster Arm
strong, of Chicago When he came here h'
found upwards of 10000 letters waiting
1transmissi n. These have been hurried for
ward, and no accumulation Of lettcrs is nov
permitted. An additional clerk force has
been employed, and the Office is now full,
equal TO tn. enormous blu ,ine,s required o.
| it, All the letters from the army in Ten
nessee p,ss through here, and an idea of tl'
number Of letters mailed ut the Cairo Office
may be obtained from the fact that one mai
from our army brought over seventy five e
a hundred thousand letters.
There is no news from New Madrid.
News from the flotila off Fort Pillow re
main in "statu quo" as previously telegraph
cd. The mortar boats throw occasionally
shots, the rebel respond at irregular int rvals
1t seems to be no part of the programme Il
fully invest this stronghold until the battle
at Corinth has transpired. ~
i 1t is reported that the rebels are terrifying
Fort Randolph in the strongest manner, and
that large force of negroes are engaged IL
throwing up entrenchlncnts. This is hardly
probable, from the fact that Randolph was
originally the strongest fortified place be
tween Columbus and Memphis.
The steamer Musselman arrived to-day
from Phtsburg Landing, having left tina,
place Saturday evening. She brings nc
news of special importance, but passenger
reports that the Tennessee has again com
menced rising rapidly, and that the roads
4 in the vicinity of Pittsburg are in wretch
ed condition BY reason Of the late fall Of rain
Forage can only be distributed by bringing
II on the backs Of mules, anG army wagons
are stuck fast in the mud.
In view Of the RE ,cnt ition Of the