, 1862-12-20
FROM CAIRO AND BELOW.
AFFAIRS IN GRANTS DEPART
MENT.
MATTERS AT MEMPHIS,
THE SITUATION AT VICKS-
BURG---RIVER NEWS,
Especial Di spatch to the Chicago Tribune.

Especial Di spatch to tho Chicago Tribune.1
CAIRO. Dec. 19, 1902.
The train from jackson to Columbus was
fred upon to-day By rebel guerillas, who ap-
Feared TO be in some force. The cars made
their way through to Columbus, however,
without serious loss, and with only slight de-
tcntion.
Fears are entertained that the rebel cavalry
reported to be. in the vicinity may eventually
Interrupt our communication with jackson,
as is Threatened. Indeed are not sure here
now Us to the. condition Of afIhirs at Jackson,
as The telegraph lines have been cut beyond
Columbus. This oeeurrcd about 10 o'clock
this forenoon.
A requisition came from Gen. Davies at Co.
lumbus to-day asking fer infantry and gun
bnat for use at that point. In charge Of Lieut..
Col. Rotlrock, Eve companies Of the 35th
Iowa, and gunboat, will be sent down that
way soon.
1ATER-7 r. M.
TAe line is nosE working to Jackson
Tic steamers David Tatum and Sally List
arrived Today direct from Vicksburg. They
brought no further information With regard
to the sinking Of the gunboat Cairo, the par
ticulars (which have been sent you.
Cpod the David Tatum came l lady, a resi-
dent oC Wisconsin, who has been in Vicks-
burg since the var opened, and whose lus-
band is conscripted into the rebel army
against his Will. From her accounts, which
appear truthful, gather thu following: The
I.,1cr fnr -,1c., u,,1
have already planted about 200 guns, inclnd-
ing those i'll the battery, and in 1ortifca1ionz
extending eight miles back, nearly to the
Yazoo River.
Six thousand troops have recently been sent
across the country to Grenada and jackson
but have now returned, and before our fleet
call reach them and commence operations it
is supposed 100, 900 troops can be concentra-
led at Vicksbu1g, and then it GIN only be
taken after lengthy and toilsome siege. The
force now at that point cannot exceed 1o, 600
Many Of the guns lately planted are cascma-
ted On the hillside and protected from assault
by the river. The troops are well supplied
with subsistence, but have little or no flour,
living principally VI OIL corn meal. They
make their own shoes.
Tic citizens OF 9ieksburg have for some
time past been busy packing up their fur1li-
lure, goods, &C., to be ready to cvacuate the
place upon tho opening Of the anticipated
assault.
Gucsillas still continue burning cotton along
| the river.
Tic steamer Gladiator is ashore back O.
Island No. G3. THO Tecunlseh is aground OIL
Island No. CG, in position easily to be taker
! By gucrillas.
| Mrs. Harvey, widow Of tile late Governor
Harvey, tic Florence Nightingale Of Wiscon
| sin came up Oh the David Tatunl
I Memphis papers Of the 18th have arrived
| The Hsaa4tih recommends the establishment
| Of a marine hospital at that point. The san,t
| paper says secession sympa1lizers in Tcnncs
| see having representatives ut ttRich1noud
want to vote at the ensuing election with
out making record. They are tired Of war
hut want to take half way Union ground
which the editor of that journal stern1y on
poses.
Small rox has broken out at TulIahoma
Tenn, there being twenty cases at tue Crutc1
field House in Chattanooga It, has also u
rearcd 1T Knoxville and Murfrecsboro, .,
cording to the Winchester Bnlzetia.
The following order appeared in Memph
on tue 10th:
OFFICE Of PROVOST MARSHALL,
NENFA,s, Due Il. 1862, !
All drinking 1:ouses and saloons within the eli
Of Memphis. OF thu suburbs, must be c!uscd INN
| tliatcy, and remain closed until further order
All prrsone violating this order, either directly
inire1y 1', VII vi us; b s:srey s:. puniIhsa 3d.
lSigncd) CHAs. n. WILLARD.
Provost Marshal
Maj. Gen. ". T. Sherman and staff. &c
/ Frank Blair and staff, Gen. David Stuart 4,
Gen. Morgan, are temporarily ut Inc Gayo
G House.
4 n Rowe, late Of the Quartermastc,
S Department, las been lately appointed Snpe
intcndent Of the Memphis Navy lard, SO,
: TO BE- in active operation.
J, Fatman & Co, Of New York, have throu.
u Thos. II. Teatman, special agent of the Unit
5 States Treasury Department, contribute
5000 towards the relief Of lhc POOR in Mcl
/, phis.
CA1Eo, Dec. l9-Alemphis papers LII
breu received. The Balttiu says: "Ts
rchcl regiments were seen up the Yezoo
The time of The explosion If the torpedo
AA4S - foSAs4NSat <tSAASA Ny tA4tt{5 tn D0a
| The Cairo.
J. The rehcls arc said to be fnrtifying
Il Virksbnrg: t&at 1hcy have seventy gu
mounted on thu rivyr-&soo in all mountc
h. that their for!ifc:tiolls extend eight mil
back from the river. Most of this is c
is trenle1F improbable They have no su
10 number Of guns, Nor such fortifcations.
is eycr doubted, by good Judges, whether I
s. rebrls Will fight ct al at VicEsbure.
If It is said 5000 rebel troops hare just be
IS sent from E:cksburg to jackson, and that I
- force at the latter place is about 10,o0o.
III Tic rebels sill continue to burn colt
:.lotg the river below Helena Last week
ct S;rtlis, Panola county, Miss, 800 bales, wol
4 / S75,00D, were destroyed. All the wood ya1
y on the river have also been burned.
Willie Gen. 11oyey's late expedition was
Mississippi, some stragg,lcrs who follow
him went to Miss Hits plantation on t
Coldwater, twenty miles from Friar~s Poi
and robbed her Of $50, 600 in gold, !, lot Of &
fedcratc scrr, sixty mules, and other prop
ty- On Saturday she was at Helena, irving
ID recover her property, Gen. Steele giving
| all the assistance i'll his power.