Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-29
FROM FORTPILIoW.

Cessation of dctIUs Operations against ths
FoTt-The Story Of Rebel DeSertsr-
Shipment of Cotton from the Vicinity of
Fort Piil0f0.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Times /
fLoTILLA OF THE MISSISSIPPI, OFF FoRT
PILLOW, Tenn, April I9-Operations at this
pace are temporarily suspended, by reason of
the recent movement Of Gen. Pope,s army M the
Mississippi and Tennessee to Piitsburg. Tive
infantry regiments, the FOrty-.hird and Fortv-
fourth Indiana Volunteers, constitute the oniy
land force now remaining here and these are
stitioned On transports In portion to guard the
under cover Of Craighead Point The original
programme, looking 10 the Immediate investment
OF the rebel stronghold, seems to have been ad on
dOned when POpe's forces moYei up the river
And, now that his army Il gone, the hotilla is
merely intended TO harass the enemy by occasional
shots, and keep them IN preseat position until
Be2uregard's armv Is routed. Halleck will then
proceed by forced march upon Memphis, while
q portion OF his army move Iurthef north, over
good roads, and gobble up Forts Randolph and
Pillow entire. II would be a masterly bit of
strategy where this plan adopted, and would be
recorded In history as one Of the gteatest military
achievements Of the rebellion. Fort Pillow is q
strong fOrtifeatoR, com handing the entirs bend
Of the river In q diagonal line lor a distance Of
bluR, and surrounded On three sides by over.
flowed land AID tangled morasses IL offers no
easy capture The batteries mount guns OF the
heaviest callbre, and are msnned by a force
planter OF Louisiana.
The mortar- boats Of our osilIa have been shift
ed from the AEkansas 20 the Tennessee shore
where they will be less liable 20 capture. The
woods on CTaighead's Point On The Arkansas
shore ara infested by parties Of reksls, pfowling
around 70 gain Information. It was houg ht that
the mort ars might be captured while located
along the Akansas shore. This apprehension
undoubtedly led 20 the change OF their position
although II Is believed that better range can be
CHAINED from the present location near the Ten
nessee shore.
The rebel gunboats, Of which there are seven
snch hored In the stream just below Fort Pillow
and near the Fulton Landing. Although a full
view Of these Doats IL shut of by The intervention
Of tue woods on the Point, smoke from their
chimneys can be seen arising over the tops CT the
trees Whenever our n0Ftars open fire, a lively
lodging among these boats can be traced from
tie course Of the smoke, and the transports are
speedily known 70 be steaming DOWN the river
These transports are OF invaluable service TO the
rebels at Forts Pillow and Randolph, afording
them easy trans spostetion OF all supplies from
Memphis, only seventy FIVE miles distant The
feet T. now commanded b7 Captain Engee Com.
modoIe Hollins, who was here, having gone to
New Orleans RI. ..ss'- =, .a
The De Soto today will take to Cairo cargo
Of 100 bales Of cotton, the nrst shipment up the
Miss ssippi since the commencement of the war
TITS cotton belongs 70 planter In the vicinity Of
Gsceo!s, for whose loyalty RrigHdier Gen. Buford
yOuches, and on whose representations IL Is per.
mitted TO be shipped on tie owners account IL
discover on bis late inglorions flight down the
river. or which perhaps he had not time 90 pick
up There Is reported TO be another lot Of $50
bales concealed 10 this vicinity, which will be
brought yut in due time. This Is ali prime qnal-
Icy upland cOtton- X.