, 1862-06-02
Down the MissiSSjppi.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
MIss1ss1rR1 FLo1uLA, ]
NEAR Fort PILLOW, TENNESSEE. ! .
Nav 1aS9

lopec1al correspondents OF the Chicago TrlhUne.l
MIss1ssIrR1 FLo1uLA, ]
NRAE FoaT Pillow, TENNESSEE,
May ~, 1869,
TIE FATE OF BOT soLD1ERs,
We can all 1ecollect how, as we stand at
some street corner, watching the passage
through the city Of some Of our oHn OF some
Minnesota, Iowa or Wisconsin regiments, nc
make the observation to friend or aequain-
tance, What a number Of these soldiers are
but beardless boys!'' What weremarked early
in the var is as true Of the present. Too great
a proportion Of our patriots are under the age
Of eighteen years, mere lads, full Of courage,
and inspired with just the spirit to fight until
the last gasp, but lacking the maturity Of
frame and muscle, the strength Of constitu-
tlon, to last through . protracted siege, in q
climate to which they are all unaccustomed
and with whose rigors their Elgor Is no match
They are Jealous Of the undying love of cpun-
try and devotion to our flag, but their years
have not prepared them to do more than sud
den, fitfu1 service in Tar. However COM
mendable and praiseworthy their desires, they
should not have been enlisted, and it is to be
hoped that in the new call of the Secretary Of
War for troops to fill up the ranks Of existing
regiments, or for creating new ones, just and
proper discrimination will be exercised BY the
recruiting officers to the exclusion Of youth
and poor constitutions from the ranks. Sick
men require nurses. On the principle said to
hare been lately recommended By q rebel lead
er, that his men should fire Low, and endcaYor
to wound and not kill, Bays should be exc1n-
ded from the ranks. One sick man is as bad
as two slain. In this vicinity, the boys are
generally the soldiers who are sick.
The ranks Of the 43d and 10th Indiana regi-
ments are daily being greatly reduced by the
rarages Of disease. 1t is one Of the most
painful epectacles I have ever witnessed, to
see the poor lads put aboard the mail steamer
to be sent home to die. The bodies Of men
already dead; the forms of those maneied and
manned in warfare, are not 30 much the SUBJ
jects Of horror to me as the pale, emaciated,
helpless creatures, . majority Of whom arc
under eighteen years Of age.
THH UNION RAAs
The Federal rams are now complete in num-
bers, two having made their appearance here
yesterday, one being the flag boat Monarch,
1hls makes the complement OF eight, aud as
they are undoubtedly equal to those in use by
the rebels in size, celebrity OF movement and
strength outstanding their uncouth ap-
pearance-they go far towards constituting
the perfection Of our fleet as whole, and it IS
to be hoped they will do efficient service
should the t1otlia ever go into battle. The
idea seems to be that the rams are not to-caTry
guns, excepting rifles in the hands Of sharp
shooters, but arc to depend upon their ram
ming capacities and swiftneEs, the eeamen to
be defended By the rlfemcn, and somewhat
protected BY the barricadcs of heavy oaken
timber eneircling the lower decks. The prov
Of each steamer to the distance OF twenty feef
1SffFu fjlTif with E13i1 Su1bo
being tipped with iron This, in connection
With the great amount OF timber in the hulls
is supposed to render the steamers very buoy.
ant aud incapable OF being sunk beneath thei1
Ordinary load; certainly very desirable
quality. ~
THE ENEMY GROWS 5oCULAR.
Last evening at six o'clock the enemy sen1
us their regards in the shape of four Or fiye
large shells, evidently emanating from the
works at the fort, which came whizziae orcl
Cr2jghead Point and burst some hundreds O.
feet above the timber, working no damage
Whateyer to the dotilla, which received then
with all the composure of venerable clerpy
man listening to the bad jokes Of come whim i1
sical gentleman who knew not to whom ht
vas speaking. No notice was taken OF thf
braEado Of the Confederates, and not sho.
returned By our mortaTs, which in fact vert
not in position. No firing has beer
ence e9ne fFfm tha gun at,.s Or mortar By our fleet
IAnsS LIZ AAtaSh ApOu tuE SLCIG1
| er St. Louis on Friday last. It ha:
lately become current report here that tbs
enemy at the fort has been strongly raiuforc
ed. This may be SO. They will ncsd it badly
| enough when once the Federal forces move
! upon them. The rumor seems also to gathe1
some little probability from late articles il
Memphis papers and the acts OF brayado
| hare just related. It is as well worthy O
cfcdence, at least, as one half the rumors tha1
| get into circulation from differen,
sources. From reconnaissance recent
u made, during which gooi
| view Of the works at the fort was obtained, 4
is very evident that the number of cannon
| has been Increased. And from the ocula
demonstrations Of last evening We are led tt
suppose that they have in some monner pro
cured moitars of larger size than were in us'
in the earlier days Of the siege.
| Fort Pillow will undoubtedly be found
much harder nut for Capt. Davis to crack, a
the present or in the future, than it was be
fore it had reached maturity. Commodor
! Foote, when lie first arrived here, could haT
cracked it without the loss Of q man.
| TIE PROSPECT OF BATTLE,
There has nothing transpired within til
| past four days that seems to portend the nea
] presence Of a battle, We are well prepared
Ne are anxious. The 1otilla will make
| good fight, but will not do it until events be
come ripe and the appointed time shall arrive