, 1862-12-23
FROM CAIRO And Below
THE REBEL RAIDTOWARD
COLUMBUS.

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribunc.l t
CAIRO, December 81. 1852.
Local news is completely absorbed in that
from Columbus and Trenton
Coutrabands are dying off here very fast
from fevers and colds. The small pox is
abating, and only afew cases now exist in the
city
4 large quantity Of cotton is arriving and
being shipped Ono firm made transactions
on commission, and their OWL account SUM- |
ming up not far from $500, 900, in couple of |
days.
Out Of the 100 Confederate prisoners
here awaiting exchange, thirty-slx took The !
oath of allegiance, and enlisted in the 18th
regiment Illinois cavalry. They: have been
supplied with clothing, &c.
Tie g1mboat Gen. Price, captured at Men,
phis, and lately lying up ut Mound City for
repairs, came to the naval wharfboat to-day. |
The steamer is to be used as Il dispatch and |
towboat, being one Of the most powerful on |
tic rivcr.
The capture Of Trenton ia confirmed by ar
rivals from there, at Columbus last night.
a gentleman Informs me that was there TN
Saturday. when the attack WAS made, the
rebel force numbered about 4,0c0; tue Union
troops only 200, under Col Thrush of the 18th
Illinois. Notice being received that The rebels
were coming, just before 3o'c!ock p. H., Col.
Thrush had cotton bales piled around the rail-
road depot, forming breastworks, behind
which he placed his men, and located three
field pieces with which he Was provided. Be-
ing thus readiness, he allowed the enemy
to advance close and then gave the command
to fire, when the reports Of musketry and ord
nance burst simultaneously upon the astound-
ed rebels, killing many. They fell back and
fired in tnrn. 4 fierce but brief contest en-
sued, and after thirty round had been fired
their cn,non, HE Union troops were frcedto
surrender
Some stores, two locomotives. and other
property were captured Seren hundeed tons
Of sanitary commission stores, intended for
Gen Grants army, had been detained at
Columbus and thus preserved
Colonel Fry and Colonel Hawkins Of
Illinois, WERE south of Trenton and fears are
entertained they may have been captured.
Dr. Mossiner Of the United States Sanitary
| Commission, bad just departed to Jackson.
| Gen. Davies started out from Columbus carly
I this morning with a force several thousand
| strong to drive off The rebels and rcoccupy
Trenton and as much other territory now in
Confederate bands rs possible. It is thought
! he will succeed in rcpossessing Trenton, Tut
the question is can they hold it, probably not.
Passengers On the late boats say that Kick.
! Sr e4s 1t-E En1nrn3
| To-day Gen. Tutt}e, commander ft1hs post
Temporarily turned over his command to Col
| Hill of the S5th Iowa, and went to Columbu:
tl,is Il. H. on a tug This evening he has sem
for his staff, and its members so down before
| morlling-t1lc General having decided to takt
the field
The rebels are reported to be advancing o.
| Columbus, and tearing up the railroad tract
is they advance. They are said to be 7,00'
: strong with seven pieccs Of artillery. Firing
/ was heard at Columbus when the boat left
. There does not appear to be any occasion TO
fight at Columbus, though there arc yer.
l | considerable amounts Of stores, etc, there
| It is supposed VIC have troops enough ther
| 10 defend it and drive off the Confederatcf
under the cool gencralship OF Gen. Tuttle, t
| defend it and drive off the Confederatcs. Bu
that they are advancing is positive, and tha
: they are tearing up the railroad track as the
= come, and that Gen. Davies is trying to kce
; Them back; these arc unques1ioned faets
FL LATER.
CARO-, Dec. a2.-Jhc rebels have advance
It | to within seven miles of Columbus. The
r number about 1000. Part Of the nation
&c force at Columbus went out this afternoon
o meet them. Firing is heard at Columbus th
evening, and it is supposed the advance Of Il
is two forces have met Our strength at Colu1
1t bns is deemed sufficient for the occasion.
q. Gen. Tuttlc went down This afternoon a,
4 his staff 60 tonight. They will take the tie
&c On arriving at Columbus.
Gen. Shcrman's great expedition left Mcl
6 phis on Saturday night.
~ Especial Dispatcht totae Chicago Tribnnc.l
IL MEnru1=. Dec. 20. via CAIRO. Dec. Il. 1stsas
- Citizens here are all agug with the gra
m movement Of troops going on to-day:
Ill Sherman's division is just entarking to
IL down the river. Our entire army will lea
here before tomorrow night. Speculation
IT rife as to the destination of this force. T
w general impression seems to be that it "
I'LL be Vicksburg, but there arc those who i
aginc it will cndeavor faux movement up
n the rebels now concentrated IN great force
u. the vicinity Of Grenada They are erecting
he tensiye Notifications on Big Black RiS
sn. The statement that Grenada was occupied
IN / the Federal troops vas premature.
M Col Anthony, late Provost Marshall Ae
has just returned and states he has seen Il
~. ia o3x,v