The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-22
story 81 . Heiinblc Gentleman.

slsry Of N Reliable Gcntieman.
Cairo, March Fl.
|. The Cairo correspondent Ut Tribune
tc,egraphs, date 10th !: At one o'clock this
morning messengers arrived at Cairo, and
report bombardment still going on with
satisfactory effect upon the enemys works.
There is considerable sickness among the
troops stationed at Cairo.
A report was received this morning
from Sikeston, that jefferson Thompson
is marching upon Cape Girardeau and
pressing men and horses into Confederate
service. A skirmish had taken place be-
tween Union forces and advance of the
enemy; were killed and wounded; rein
forcements have been sent to Cape Cir
II leau.
A gentleman who has been contractor
aud who formerly resided in Davenport,
Iowa, arrived from Memphis direct last
evening by way of the Tennessee river
He left Memphis last Thursday, was
passed to Paris, Tenn, by Confederate
authorities, and FROM there escaped to the
Federal lines, and arrived at Cairo ycster-
day. He reports that Governor Harris
disappeared from Memphis the End day
after the one to which the Legislature ad-
journed, and has not been heard from
since. He is supposed to be at Corinth,
Mississippi. The Legislature had ad-
journed and scattered, no one knew
where TIE question of burning the city
in case of Federal attack WAS openly dis
cussed, and the Colonel Comd'g. Con-
federate forces there referring to the pro
clamation of the Major theatening to hang
the first person attempting to FIRE the city
said, that If evacuation became necessary
the Major should be the FIRST man hung.
There has been no impressment Of Union
men into the Confederate army to any ex-
tent except for guard duty at Memphis
until within the last three weeks since the
fall Of Fort Donclson Since the pro-
clamation of Gov. Harrison impressments
have been general and hundreds are picked
up in the streets. and taken from stores,
and dwellings, and marched of to the
Camp of instruction, just outside the city
at the point Of the bayonet. There are
no soldiers or Notifications at Memphis
A floating battery, called the Pelican, so
constructed a. 10 be sunk TO the water s
edge. leaving nothing exposed except the
armament which consists of nine nine
inch Dahlgreen guns and which was built
at Memphis for the defence of that point,
was last week towed up the river to Island
No. 10. Hollin's steam ram, Manassas,
was also sent up to the Island. Union
men are leaving 10 great numbers, leaving
their property to be coDliscated, and
ar, thankful to escape with their lives. -
The rebels are aware that the North has
q superior force in the field, but think the
strife will be prolonged indefinitely until
both governments are wearied out and
broken down with load of debts. Quar-
rels in the streets are Of frequent occur
renee between Union men and seces-
sionists and shots are hourly exchanged.
The rebels are in need of workers in iron.
and have offered twenty-five thousand
dollars to any citizen who should discover
the process of making malleable iron. Am-
munition is plenty and manufactures are
in operation in the vicinity of Memphis
day and night in endeavoring TO supply
Confederate wants. The glorious Con-
federacy is destitute of mail facilities cx-
cept along the lines of the rail roads, and
letters and papers are carried from town
to town by private enterprise. Mail con-
tractors had generally thrown up their
contracts, the payments being wholly in
Confederate scrip;this was being converted
at heavy discount into lands and negroes
Another correspondent telegraphs- -.
/ left the feet above Island No 10, yes.
terday, at p. m. The firing was onl,
moderate from the Benton and Mound
City, ut intervals Of fifteen minutes each
the object being to reduce the upper bat
terry, two guns only of which were left
standing, from which occasional shoti
we're fred, some Of which came very neal
our boats. The distance is at least two
miles, showing that the rebel guns arc
not only riHcd, but Of FIRST class. Th,
works, both on the main land and tho
! Island, are much more extensive than gen
orally supposed, as there are at leas
eighty heavy guns and over twenty thous
and troops. | saw ten regiments at on,
time, on dress parade. on the main land
These have moved their quarters out o
reach of mortars, but the Island is prett.
well covered with tents. Many OF th'
guns are Of The largest size, and severa
rifed The shells reach all parts of tn
works. It. is evident that all of the rebe
batteries have enough bomb-proof case
mates for the men, as they can be seen 4
disappear when our shells fall into thei
batteries.
! AS soon as the upper fort or batter.
is reduced the gun-boats will advance OF
| the others in detail, and thus reduce them