, 1862-12-17
LETTER FROM CAIRO.

q
LETTER FROM CAIRO.
.,.:;s
Especial Correspondence OF the chlcsgo Tribune.l
=. - CAIRO, December is, 1S62.
There is not much news Of Importance in
Cairo upon; which to make entended com
ment. In fact, excepting in the naval depart
uent, 1t is remarkably quiet.
TIE DESTRUCTION OF 1Roa-uLADs.
In your issue OF the 18th you published as
a Washington dispatch to the associated press,
the following brief paragraph: =:
Much has recently been said about the inyeu-.
ton of First Assistant Engineer Whitaker for fir-
ing guns under water: A. dozen persona have
Department. Il is no new Invention or secret.
having been successfully applied by Fulton and
others. No practical, importance seems to b.
attached to the subject
The same amount of nonsense has not lately
been put eren into: q Washington or Cairo
telegram. In the first place, the writer ofthe
item knew absolutely nothing Of what he
treated. Mr.. Whitaker's mode Of destroying
iron-clad steamers may be firing Of gums under
water, and may not, Of that pretend to have
10 knowledge, but am inclined to believe it
to be nothing Of the kind, from the fact that
when his invention was first presented to the
War Department, Fulton's experiments we're
at once shown to him and compared with his
own. It was acknowledged to be something
stnew, simple, safe and practicable" BY the first
engineers in the United States service, and
among these the gentleman having charge of
Ericsson's extensive works. "Similar plans''
had not then been presented to the depart
ment. So worthy was Mr.. Whitaker's inven-
tion considered that the commander Of his
ship, then of the coast Of Spain, sent him
home to have it examined. Further than
this, great stpracHeal Importance is attached
to it. So much 80, at least, that Admiral
Porter has obtained permission from the
Naval authorities to apply the apparatus to-.
the Ozark, 8 new Monitor now being built at
Mound City. Mr.. Whitaker has received his
orders, and is even now engaged in arranging
his plans SO as to go to St. Louis Immediately,
there to report to Commodore Hull, and per
sonally superintend the manufacture Of the
machinery to be pnt upon the Ozark. But
enough has been said to show that the tele-
grapher from Washington vas mistaken.
That is all thatis now called for, as in at least
a few months the public will Judge Of the in
yention-aaot for ''firing under water,'' but
for g the destruction Of iron-clads''-by the
results Of practical illustration upon the
waters Of the Mississippi or the Gulf OF
THE TRADING SPECULATION.
The Memphis Bulletin Of the 18th has the
| following in regard to preparations for trad
ing with the people south Of Helena: 'sRe-
cent accounts Of the proceedings Of trading
| boats, which sold stores and bought cotton
| along the river below Helena, have made the
public acquainted with the fact that the que.
ri1las along shore had SO far departed from tue
policy OF firing On boats-a policy which
General Sherman puta check upon-as to en-.
ter into business transactions with those
boatE. The gueri11as we're usually the PARTIES
who held the cotton and traded it off for sup
plies: -lteppeafs, however, that this change
Of policy was confined to those living neal
the river, and .was not countenanced By tht
Confederate military authorities Of Arkansas
for, on Tuesday last, a band Of cavalry undel
I Captain Writ Adams; burned the steamboa
Lake City, which was on trading expedition
from this city. The Lake CITY left here unde
loaded with stores for Planters by the firm Q
Cunningham, Kelsey 4 Co.. who had specia
permits from the proper authority in this city
At Carson's Landing: she lay opposite Col
Blanchord's plantation. The citizens Their
were anxious to trade with them and behavc'
in friendly nlanner.''
CLAIMS DAMAGES.
One Of the citizeus Of Carson's Landiu,
where property vas destroyed, was capture
ers as hostges, for the careful usage Of SOM
men it was found necessary for !. time to leav
on shore at that place. He claimed to be
British subject and valued his property q
$4,000. Competent judges say it Was reaIl
worth but 5000 A brother Of his lost sc, ,Oo(
given aid and comfort to the Confederates
From the appearance Of the man when
came away from protracted audience wit
+ Admiral Porter, on Saturday, I would nc
judge that he considered his chances for re
claiming or receiving pay for his propeFt
. expressing bis feelings. He was certaint
I much chop fallen. TO this man belonged til
negro man, Joshua, who warned Cnpt. Nee
, that danger was nigh, and but for his cautio
. he might have been captured. Joshua, whe
captured was standing beside his maste
Capt Need ordered him on board the Desott
Turning to him the contraband whispered
II want to be forced q little, you Know.
Taking tile hint, the officer drew his revo1vt
and reiterated the order, saying he would bio
him through unless he complied. .Joshu
compiled very readily and is now in goo
quarters, free man, on q United Sfate
{ ! steamer. His master is not yet through vii
his difficulties.
COL. HovEY's EXPEDITION,
Col. Hoycy's expedition, which only fe
: days since returned frond the successful IA
q into mississippi was composed Of the 1st
+ diana, 9Th Wisconsin, ,5th Kansas, and 9Th &c
Brackett's) Illinois cavalry regiment und
the command Of General Washbnrn, the Ill
0 lndiana-Gencral Lew. Wallacc's old Zoua'
n regiment-nndeT the command Of the galla]
= Colonel McCaulcy, 24th Indiana, Col Spicel
. 43d Illinois, Colonel Mclean, 46th Indian
Lieutenant Colonel Gould, 24th Iowa, Colon
Smith, and the 2Gth Iowa infantry regimen
Y Four new regiments, whose numbers Ia,
= ot1earned, followed as reseuers:: with the
- and 10th Ohio and Dubuque batteries. Fl
g history Of the raid has already been give
: The enemy lost twenty killed, forty-t
= several officers The entire Federal loss
~ the expedition was four killed, twenty woun
ed, and ten prisoners. Gen. Hoyey upon I
return issued the following congratulate
,, order to his troops.
e HEADQUARTERS, O. s. FORCES, !
# EXPEDITION TO MISS, Dec. &, 1860. (
!. The General commanding the E1peditiont to n
y Essppf desires to express to the officers and 8
3 dlcrs under his command, his qualification for t
cheeTtalnees aud ID bravery displayed By. them
tie ce1 Th91gh whe
- heavy reads, they have accomplished one Of t
5, most remarkable marches made during thew
Try, cutting their roads and safely returning thou
# 5eTs. This has been dong NIth he alacrity "a a
commanding takes pride in announcing to you tt
the object Of the expedition has been fully acco
g Br1cadier General Washburncs energy and 81
Ee deserves particular mention. ID.
= By order OF
A1SE 2. HovEr, Brig. Gen. comd'g