, 1862-05-28

There Was considerable fighting of skirmish- |
ers in front to-day. Some Of our siege pieces |
also opened upon the enemy, for the purpose
Of trying their range and feeling for the posi-
tion Of the enemy, which is covered by the |
woods and thick growth Of undeEbrush. The
firing caused some excitement, as it was heard
throughout the camp and even down to the
bluff above the Landings, and it was supposed
general engagement had commenced. l do
not expect such, however, until all siege pi ICES
IRE in position, and thus that we are ready for
simultaneous attack by our artillery along
the whole line. It may not take place, also,
until reinforccmcnts under Gen. Ousterhausen
arrive, which arc expected daily.
The troops are in great spirits, and eyery
order for an advance has been received with
enthusiastic cheers. The constant picket
skirnishing has also had an excellent effect
upon the morals Of the army, in inuring item
to danger, and flmiliarizing them to the excite
1nent Of action. Buel1's advance was driven
in to-day, but soon after regained IFS former
position, which it fortified. He also occupies
Pennington, with bis pickets, but beyond
that place, it is said, there is a strong
fertilization, at least 70 the contrl-
bands bring us i'll word. An observatory
sufficiently high to overlook the trees, has
been erected in Gen. Sberman's division
| THIS may prove OF considerable value Ia fu-
| ture nperations.
On Monday contraband vas captured in
| front Of OUR lines. He had evidently straycd
| By mistake beFond the rebel pickets When
excaedy * eriad ne be " Out Ths an
| 6and responded, *'Bress MY soul. dis chile
fought 5ou Yankees kill us niggahs." Being
| agreeably undeccived upon this, to him, vital
| Gen. Sherman, where he gave all thu inforula-
| ton relative to the enemy which be appeared
t. possess. During the examination, the fol-
lowing conversation took place between Sam
| bo and Brig. Gen. ", 7. Sherman:
| Cont5abund-'tD Dere is one Gen II, massa, we
henry much afraid of, berry Wuch 'drcd,
| ulassa-"
| Geueyul-ss what's his names''
Contraband-"D Dis niggah disremembers dat
| Gcnrl's name, ma5sa, lie does dat.
General s." Is his name Sherman ~
Contraband-s. OATS not de na1nc Of dc
Gen'rl, massa. We no 'fraid of him."
General S.-s Is his name Baen:''
Co4itTabGnd-" Dat's de na1nr, massa, dat's
de name. We berry much 'fraid oh Gen.
Buell.; hut VIC no more 'fraid oh Gen. Sher-
| man dan muffin, H1asea.
The General could not refrain from joining
| il the burst Of laughter thut followed this,
| aud spen after retired to Ills tent, leaving th
examination oftAe contraband to be conducted
much Information out Of Cuffee, however,
and the opinion appeared to be that he had
been sent as spy BY the enemy.
No account has, as yet, been recciEed Of
Sergeant Mortimer ". PEltt, Of Company A:
Chicago Light Artillery, Lieut.. P. z. Wood,
commanding. The sergeant, as notified you
| in former letter, was captured or killed bS a
purity Of rebels, Ehile he and private Wi!l3rd
]. Wilcox We're ont limiting up stray horses
Private Wilcox received seven buck.shos
wounds in his body at the same time, but es
capped. He will recover. The horse Of the
seig,ant galloped sack without its rider. Pratt
was fire Young man, and his fate, Wheth
, er dtath or capture, is very much regretted b,
the company.
We had good deal3 Of rain to day and las
night which has considerably cut up the roads
The river is rising. The steamboat men ar
| proclaimins that there will coon be too litt1
water in the river tor the 1arge class of boats
: | They are premature in this opinion, however
It viii be the middle Of June, at lest before tn
river will not be navigab1e for the 1atges
class of boats. The gunboats, drawing NOR
water than the 1a1ge5t class Of STEAMBOATS,
l ind no difficulty whatever in Navigating tn
= river from Paducah to long distance soutl
Of this point.
r In justice 10 Prot: ". 8. Pope, who ha
e done more than any other man in providing
transpol talion for and forwarding Iilincis scl
and wounded soldiers, may be permitted t.
make statement Among the first TO repor
Cairo, was Prof. Pope. He came On to Pitts
huTgh, and helped to load the Black Hawk
He vas then Commissioned, and left to TAX
caze Of and procure q complete list OF tn
e killed and wounded. which he did, and fol
p wnr6cd the same to Gov. Yates. He then Re
sand Illinois troops-somc OF them h1dl
: woundcd-and at once commenced proTidiu
d for their removal This he did By piaciu
them on board the varions hospital boats, an
: boat, the Henry Clay, which he furnished wit
r. surgeons, nurses, provisions, Sc Severs
: boaIs were then sent of By Prof P. prevsou:
r ly to the second arrival Of the Black Hawk
Q IN conjunction with Gen. Fuller, he manage
T the loading Of this boat, and also Of the Chat
! other officers expected to employ thi
d last boat at the expense Of the Statt
e but Prof Pope undertook and succeede
+ in having her employed At th
g expense of the General Government, and ais
: had the u s. Quartermaster supply, with a
4 necessary provisions, as well as doctort
d nurses, &c- The City Of Alton, q largr an
;. capacious steamer, was also employed in th
. same way. In view Of his services the Cove,
IS nor has Issued to Prof Pope commission g
9 Colopel Of Illinois volunteers and he has bee
q required to hold himself in readiness to
g ordered to any post where his services may b
I, required. He is nov here 10 aid IN the NJ
, | uointment of twenty-five second sssi6tau
T. surgeons to our Illinois troops. I give th
!, above statement Of facts in Justice TO Pro
d F., az sec that the papers sre attributing hi
IS 1abors and their excellent results to other pa
ties.
LATER.
e. Nav 2t,-Geu. Macarthur arrived last nigh
O ! to take command here. He haa Tecoyerc
d from bis wound. =
d Heavy firing can be again heard IN tho ii
a. guns There is no news Of special moment.
l. -.
!, The Egyptian Constitution In LaSa11
18 County.
4 Correspondence Of the Chicago Tsibune-1
~ OTTAWA May 26, 1861
re- The prospects for the Egyptian constit7
A | ton are by no means hatterlDg in this count
r All the better portion Of the Democracy q