Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-01
THE GREAT TEvNEssEE RIVER Elk.
Petition,

Rebels Concentrating at Coyinth-Bsauys.
gard tn Troops Arriving Con-
stautIy from Southern Sf1tss-Desertions
from Bsaursgard's Army-Gredt Capture
of Pork-Fight Betwesn a Gun5oat and a
Rebel Battery.
The correspondent Of the Cincinnati Gazette,
writing Savannah, Tenn, NJ arch 18th, says:
All our scouts concur iR ne statement that the
rebels are concentrating the main body Of their
forces at Corinth Miss. Troops arrive there daI ly
from Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi
and Tennessee Scouts estimate them now at
IS, 600, but 10000 Is doubtless nearer correct
Beautegard Is In command. Hesent out several
regiments yesterday TO take position six miles
nearer our lines Our scouts have returned from
within the rebel lines at Purdy this morning
But two rebel regiments were there, with a sec
ton Of artillery and two companies Of Mississippi
cavalry. They have no intention of making a
stand there, and are at that point simply as an
outpost and to impress Union men.
All the transports returning TO Paducah are or.
dered to take down any cotton that NAV be broupb
to the river bank east Of Corinth.
The rebels have force at Inca and other points
on the Memphis and Charleston railroad
Rebel gunboats are In this neig hborhood
Deserters continue TO come In from rebel posts
They say half the soldiers would desert, ii they
could.
Our troops, for a week past, have been unde,
rations.
A correspondent Of the same paper writing
from Cairo on the same day rays:
That on Sunday and Monday last, Gen. sher.
man made reconnaissance In force to Pea Ridge
near the line Of the Mobile x Ohio Railroad
where IL bad been reported the rebels were forti.
tying. The reconnaissance was complete In every
particular. No enemy was found, however, in the
neighborhood: The expedition returned to Pitts.
burg on Tuesday.
Our forces at Pittsburg are being rapidly aug
mented, steamer after steamer arriving continual.
ly, laden with fresh troops.
The latest advices from the rebel camp at Cor
NTH give the strength Of the force there at
strong. Recent indications relative TO the per.
sistent efforts Of the rebels to fortify the town OF
Corinth, would seem to demonstrate an intentio on
to make vigorous resistance there. IL is, how.
ever, the general belief of all the prominent Off
Gers OF General Grants command that the rebels
Will retreat on our approach; but Should a battle
occur at Gorinth, II will doubtless be one of the
hardest fought and bloodiest affairs Of the present
war.
He states that party under Msior NJ Smith. o,
the i5th Illinois regiment, had found at Nicholas
Landing and confscated Is 600 pounds OF fresh
pork and IS 600 pounds Of ham and shoulders
On Monday the gnnboat Taylor ran up the river
to the vicinity OF Eastport near which point a
masked battery opened on them at the distance OF
200 wards, one shot striking the smoke stack of
the Taylor. number Of shots were exchanged 4.
with what effect on the enemy's works 10 un
known. The engagement was extremely spirited
while 1t lasted, upward Of fifty shots being fired
The Taylor received no other Injuries than those
above stated, and nobody was hurt. W.
capt. Bedard reports strong loyal sentiment
In several districts Of Tennessee between Column
bia and Savannah
A steamer, arrived from the fotiha early this
morning, reports no chance In the condition OF
affairs at Island No. 10. The bombardment Is
continuing with but little intermission, but the
results are not known. There were no signs of
evacuation by the rebels
Rumors were current that the rebel gunboats
had passed Pope's batteries at Point Pleasant from
below, but they can be traced to reliabl source
The story Is undoubtedly a canard.
Ihe rebels are impressing citizens Of Ken.
lucky and Tennessee into their service, and
arming them with axes and picks. Four rebel,
armed with Arkansas tooth picks were arrested
near Charleston yesterday, and brought TO thI,
point. They claim to be refugees from Tennes
see, but their story is disbelieved. They remain
In close custody. Gen. Strong visited the is and
to-day.