The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-23
IMPORTANT FROM CAIRO!
Great Treshets in the Rivers!
LATER FROM FORT PILLOW !!
Gen. Halleck Prepared!
Gen. Halleck
Beauregard Entrenching!
A GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED
Especial from Cairo to the Times

IIpSLiut IIOu AdIu VI kHG J. iut0.
Chicago, April %.
The Ohio and Mississippi rivers at this
point are still gradually rising. Should
large wind arise the lcvee would be
broken and the town flooded, in which
event the citizens and Government could
scarcely escape great loss of life and
property. Fears were generally preva-
lent last evening that the levee could not
long withstand the food, and there was
general stampede to Mound City and other
places Of refuge, yet the night passed off
without recurrence of the calamity of
1857. The waters were slowly ebbing
over some portions Of the levee on Sun
day evening, when Gen. Strong, who is
ever efficient amid multiplied diversity
Of army cares, oIdered out force of men,
who raised the levee and prevented the
disaster 20 imminent.
The hospital steamer City Of Memphis
reached here this morning from New
Madrid. She had on board FIVE hundred
and fifteen sick soldiers, from the army Of
Gen. Pope. Among them were . nun.
Der who have been discharged from the
service on account of incurable maladies
and physical inability. The hospital
steamer has left for Evansville, indiana,
where the patients are to be removed to
more comfortable qarters. in the hospital
at that place Capt. Polk, who was
taken prisoner at the battle OF Pittsburg,
is among the sick, being wounded in both
legs. He IL nephew of President Polk,
and served in battle as a CAPTAIN Of a
rebel battery from Memphis.
A large number of soldiers have passed
this place on board Of transports from st.
Louis, during the last two days, and are
now on their way to reinforce Gen. Hal
leck. The unprecedented rise Of water
in the OHIO, beside interfering with Rail.
road operations At this place, has also car
RED of the telegraph poles, cutting US of
from telegraphic communication with the
North and East.
On Saturday last the Adams Express
from this place was used, TO the exclusion
Of oil other business, in Transporting
money packages from soldiers to their
families. Over S170, 900 were sent away.
The Postof6ce at this place has been
undergoing thorough examination, un-
der the supervision Of the Assistant Post
master, Armstrong. Of Chicago. When
he came here he found upwards Of 70. 900
letters awaiting transmission. These have
been hurried forward, and no accumula-
ton of letters is now permitted. An ad-
ditional clerical force has been employed.
and the Office is now fully equal to the
enormous business required Of it. All the
letters from the army in Tennessee pass
through here, and an idea of the grea.
number of letters mailed at the Cairo
Office may be obtained from the fact that
one mail from our army brought from
seycnty-Gve to hundred thousand let
tiers.
There are no items from New Madrid
or the guerrilla JEFF. Thompson.
Major Stewart, Of Gen. McClcrnand's
staff, heretofore reported to have been
killed, proved only TO have been wounded,
and is now at Savannah, where he is do
ing well.
News from the fotilla off Fort Pillow
unimportant. Affairs there remain in
strfu quo, as previously telegraphed.--
The mortar boats throw occasional shots,
and the rebels respond at irregular inter-
walls. 1t seems 70 be no part Of the pro-
gramme to fully invest the stronghold I'M
til the battle at Corinth has transpired.
It is reported that the rebels are forti-
flying Fort Randolph, in the stronges.
manner, and that large force Of negroes
are engaged in throwing up intrench-
ments. This is hardly probable, from the
fact that Randolph was originally The
strongest fortified place between Colum-
bus and Memphis.
The steamer Musselman arrived to
day from Pittsburg Landing. having left
that place on Saturday evening. She
brings no news Of special Importance,
but passenger reports that the Ten
nessee river has again commenced rising
rapidly, and that the roads in the vicinity
of Pittsburg are ia wretched condition,
by reason Of late fall Of rain. Forage
can only be distributed by being on the
backs Of mules, and army wagons are
stuck fast ID the mud. In view Of the
present condition of the roads around
Pittsburg, it is fair to infer that the great
battle. which has been momentarily ex-
pected for the last few days, will not
trAnspire in at least week to come. Our
army at Pittsburg Is in excellent fighting
condition. The regiments that were 50
frightfully decimated At the hate contest
are being re-organized, and thanks to the
activity of Gen. Halleck, every division.
brigade, regiment and company are pre-
pared to meet the enemy with An unbroken
| front.
Our sconts penetrate directly to the
enemy's line and bring back intelligence
:ha. Hcaurasara, who IS IL chief CON
mand, j. actively engaged in throwing up