Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-06-13


rie CAIRO, June 5.
Yesterday was an unusually lively day in
the tiotilla. Our mortars which opened fire
earlier than heretofore, ELECTED brisk can
nonade from the enemy. The shells of the
latter were accurately aimed, though they did
no damage. 1s .s
About o'clock last evening three of our
rams-the Queen City, Switzerland and Full
ton steamed down the river and around the
Point to make q reconnaissance OF the enc
my's works. .a .sHi
They reached the Point in safety and con.
tinued down the river towards the Tennessee
shore, exposed in the meantime, to tte fire of
three rebel batteries. At this moment the
wind was blowing cloud Of mist over the
surface of the river, shutting off from our
view the accommodating rams. Almost sim
ultaneously with this loud report was heard
from Fort Pillow, which was Immediately
followed by another discharge, and still an
other, until there came booming over the wa
ter deafening and quick csnnonaoe. Moth
ing could be seen of the rams, for the clond
Of mist which hung oyer the river. Every
one was intent upon the peril of his position,
and there was none in the feet but feared for
their safety. Suddenly the mist lifted, and
in the distance was seen the rams safely hur-
rying homeward. In another moment they
had passed the fiery gauntlet AID reached a
secure position behind the Point A few
minutes afterward the rebel gunboat Gen.
jeff Thompson was seen approaching around
the Point. The craft was allowed to continue
unmolested on its way unt'l it had reached a
poirt far i'll the bend Mean while, the Mound
City and Cairo, which were nearest, were
being cleared for action. The enemy's gun
boat was still slowly steaming up the chan
mel, when q shot from one of the Mound
City's port guns struck her amldships. The
Mound City having thus led off, the Cairo
also opened fire, and fer moment there
raincd around the rebel craft q dangerous
shower of shot and SHE'LL One of our NOR tar
boats now opened fire and threw shell,
which exploded in mid air nearly over the
rebel gunboat. The latter, however, was fast
making its way out of sight. and finally man
aged to elude the missiles thrown
There can be but little doubt that one Of
the shot from the Mound City struck the
jeff. Thompson in the wheel house, and it is
thought that shot from the Cairo caused q
little damage. The Jeff. Thompson is consd-
cred by the rebels as one of their best gun
boats. 1t is protected around the SIDES by
railroad iron, and casemated with cotton.
On Monday party of our scouts on the
Arkansas shore overlook and captured the
mate ard seamen of The rebel gun-boat
Beauregard. The prison 5 were at Lincon's
plantation, opposite Fulton, whittier they had
gone in search of ice. They made little re
sistence, and were placed in confinement or
board the Benton. The nate of the Beaure
gard was formerly empl' ed on steamel
running out of St. Louis and has wife liv
ing in Louisville, Ky, Z the prisoners ar
very sullen, and decline tho most part t
answer questions.
| HALLEcK's HEADQUARTERS, juno 4.
Midnight.-A man who left Grand juno
ton this morning says Memphis and For
Pillow were surrendered to our forces on Fri
day night. -....-.. ....-..... ...--
/ CAIRO, June 5.
Ten refugees arrived here to-day, direc
from Memphis. They were railroad eng
neers and employed by the rebels, and sa
that they ran their locomotives out of Meu
phis, on the Mobile and Ohio railroad t
Humboldt, where they switched off and too
them North of Trenton, running till tn /,
found the bridge over Olion riv,r destroyed
i. and were compelled to run the engines o
the track. They cut the telegraph wire an
burnt two bridges behind them to avoid pul
suit. When they arrived here this morning
ria Hickman, they brought Memphis ps pei
: of Monday, June Cd The Eosning Argus
: the above date refers to the 20 called Cor,fe,
crate victory near Richmond. but contains 4
particulars.
Yicksburg is not yet in possession of IL
9 Federals.
Gen. Villipogue has asked for reinforc
i ments at Fort Pillow.
J. 1t was reported in Memphis that Polla
y had taken Grand Junction.
A meeting Of the citizens of Memphis W
}. held at the Mayors Office, on Sunday,
which resolutions were adopted that the ci
would never be yielded to the enemy while
q could be defended; never voluntarily, q,
u that the citizens no do not take up arms q
ID expected to give pecuniary aid to the reb
lion.