, 1862-12-22
CHICAGO. MONDAY, DECEMBER ~22. a1s62.
From Cairo and Below.


From Cairo and Below.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.l
CAIRO December 20, 1852
From passengers coming here on the boat
from Columbus last night, I learn that the re-
cent scare at Jackson is not wholly without
foundation. It seems force of about $500
rebel cavalry had crossed the Tennessee River,
rs reported few days since, and Friday after
noon either tore up the rails or attacked
the train on the 1ailroad from Columbus, near
Trenton, about thirty miles this side Of Jack
son, Tenn. It is supposed to be the Same
body Of rebels that under Forest is reported
at s GOO or 10000 strong, and mcnacing Jack
son lastweck- They were evidently fright
ened off by the formidable appearance Of
the Federal troops and prompt precautions
taken by the commanding officer Of that
place in building barrieadcs, planting bat
teries. &c. The passenger train went no far
ther than Trenton on Friday afternoon. It
did not go out as usual, this morning. The
freight train passed out short distance, as q
Reconnaissance, but raturned reporting
portion Of the road torn up. The Federal
4N4AO db 41NAlOl Il AUuui s11u1G uuuul-
full whether the rcinforccrncnis sent from
Columbus and This placr Will reach there in
season to prevent dcfcat They will fight
| nobly, without doubt, and do all men can
| against an overwhelming force, and it is to be
| hoped that help may arrive in time to prevent
| the capture.
| This evening, at dusk, fighting was report
ed as still going On in Trenton, but as tele-
| graphic communication is uninterrupted, it
| is supposed the rebels arc not successful in
driving off and whipping the Union troops.
The city is full of run1ors, none Of which
arc deemed reliable. Some say jackson,
Tenn, has been captured and our troops mas
| sacred. Others that seventeen miles Of rail-
road track has been torn up north Of that
place and the country fully occupied by
80, COO rebels. All that can be relied upon is
that fighting is now going on at OF near Tren-
ton. The telegraph still works to that place,
showing that it has not been eyacutcd. The
line vas free as far as Lagrange this afternoon
What tomorrow may bring forth cannot be
said. An inference, drawn from the know
ledge Of facts, is that the rebels will be
caught in a net Of their own setting.
The steamer Maria Denning passed down
; today with the 2Gth Missouri regiment. This,
with the 35th Iowa, will make a. tolerable force
to bring to bear rpon any Struggling body o1
gaerinas that may be found in the Ficinity o1
Columbus.
It is doubtful whether gunboat will bt
needed at Columbus.
The people at Columbus are terribly fright
: cncd tonight Some. Of the papers in re
porting an account Of the disaster to the gun
boat Cairo, place Capt. Il. Z. Hazlett in com
mand. The fact is that Hazlett, as reported
in the TRIBUNE, vas executive officer. Capt
T. O. Sclfridgc was commander Of the Cairo
| and s1nccthe loss Of his ship is transferred II
the command Of the gunboat Concstoga, il
| place Of Capt. Blodgett, deceased. Capt
Selfridge is i competent officer, and he is no
: to be blamed for the destruction Of the gun
t boat Cairo.
ANOTHER DISPATCH.
CAEo, Dec, 90 1852.
Abody Of rebel cavalry, number yariousl
| estimated at from 1000 to 5000, made
:. raid On the railroad about three miles thi
+ side Of jackson, Tennessee, yesterday 1norI
+ ing. They had intended to capture the pas
senger train, but it had passed the point
: | attack before they reached the road. Th
: wood train which passed by shortly afte
| was fired into by about 800 rebels, bu
= it escaped. They then tore u
- | the track for . considerable di
evening. The operator at Trenton reports a
attack on that place. There has eycn bee
considerable settlement at Coiumbns in IL
). ticipation Of D rebel visit to that place. Som
Of this is report merely, but it is certai
: that no trains have arrived at or dcparte
+ from Columbus. Capt Thos. Q. Selfridge ":
;, the commander Of the Cairo At the time she VI.
= blown up, and not Master Haz1ett, as some
:. the papers have it. The Captain has bee
| ordered to the command Of the Conestos
i Especial Dispatch to tho Chicago Tribune.l
l, MEMPHIS, Dec. 18th, via. CAIRO 20th.
Nothing particularly exciting here to-tla
lc Adyices from Little Rock, Of the LIST, state til
is there have been few if any troops remoy,
ID from Arkansas to Vicksburg. The rebel troo1
i'd i'll Arkansas are divided into two forces, ,und
rs ! Generals Holmes and Hindman; the form
?. OH White River, the latter ut North Mountai
e, | Hindman's troops are mostly Texans and Lo
I'd isia1nians. A majority Of all Arkansians a
n, | with Holmes, on the east side Of White rive
r; Proyisions are scarce and dear. Bacon
8. selling at fifty cents per pound; flour scve
K, ty-fvc dollars per barrel. Corn is the chi
s. article Of consumption and the only grain c1
r. tiyated this year in the State. Quinine
Y. worth from forty-ivc to sixty. dollars T
3. ounce.
IN. As late as last week the Confederates We
~ massing their entire forces III Big Bia
n River, near Canton
20. The Grenada -appeaz has not been. publish
E. since its removal from Grenada. It will
p- started again at Atlanta, Ga.
.p- Rev DR.. White, Of this city, preached
F; sermon Last Sunday. Gen Sherman and otl
er- officers were present. White was forme
C.. one of the most rabid secessionists in
B. country.
1sf |