, 1862-12-29
FROM CAIRO AND REl0lMV. M.
Grant Reported Falling Back to the
TaIlahatehie.

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.1
CAIRO, Dec, q, 1852
have just seen two gentlemen who left
Jackson last Saturday, and have been since
then getting to Cairo, Two trains left jack
son on Saturday, at i p m, one carrying two
companies Of the 126th Illinois and part Of the
7th Tennessee, all under the command Of Col.
Rodgers of the It'll Tennessee. The other was
regular passenger train They proceeded
up the road eighteen miles, and within three
miles Of Humboldt, where they reached a
bridge guarded BY two companies Of the 106th
Illinois, commanded by Capt, Hartz, about
120 men in all. They had been attacked by
SEQ rebel cavalry with two pieces Of artillery,
and had held them at bay two hours. When
the train came up, the rebels fred four or five
shots at it, two Of striking the locomotive, but
but not seriously injuring it. The men
On tie train returned the fire and the rebels
fed. The train then backed down to the first
station. There they found that two compa~
MES Of rebels, with one cannon, had torn up
the track, and burned a small bridge. The
train then went up to the first bridge, took Oh
tic two companies, and By repairing two
bridges got through:to Humboldt. The reh-
els had already burned the station house and
other property. By Monday morning the
39th Ohio and one other regiment and bat
terry had arrived from jackson there, and went
to work, and by Wednesday evening had re-
paired the bridges to Trenton, SO that the
train could pass over, Thursday. The rebels
destroyed two bridges and about two miles Of
.trcstle work on Obion River bottom. My in
| formants eaw about two rebel regiments at
| this work and came near being caught by
them.
In places the telegraph poles are cut dowr
for miles together, and wire broken up. II
some places the rails have been piled on tht
track and burned, thus bending and destroy
ing the iron rails. Our informant came from
three miles this side Of Kenton, yesterday
They saw nc rebels. Forests headquarter
have been at Middleburg, SIX miles east 0
CrocIett's Station, for several days He hi
about 6,000 cavalry and no infantry, as ha
been reported. An officer came through to
day, who SAYS trains run from Jackson t
Trenton, and that 1900 troops are now q
q Trenton No arrival from Memphis. -. =.
CAIRO, December 27.-Persons have reaehc
Columbus, KY, who report that Jackso
| has not been taken Grand Junction ais
was still in Federal hands.
It is reported that Van Dorn's rebel con
mand bad come north Of the Memphis III
Charleston railroad; also that Grant had falie
: back north Of the Tal1ahatchie. I give this
. rumor only. :,
! Van Dom and his men have burned, it
r said, 5000 bales Of cotton, or nearly Sl,5A
l Forests rebel force is 1000 strong so
f cayalrv and $3.50 mounted men, armed vi
, Colts revolving rifles. They have ten piec
i Instead Of attacking Columbus it would a
% pear they have passed down behind H1cknla
~ A gunboat and two transportsports VIC
Ie down from Columbus today. After passi
Hickman the gunboat shelled the shore
the Tennessee side, and it is reported hi
L. that all order has been givento spike the gu
n at Island No. 10, blow up the magazine a
n eyacuate the place. This is doubtful:
IN CAIRO, Dec. 27.-From DR.. Reed, Of
- :. Louis, who has just reached this PLACE trt
Il Jackson, Tennessee, have these parEcula
Id The rebel force is t, 900 strong under Forrc
:, Cheatham is not with them, nor has ne oe'
Il, The cavalry has no infantry support
&. 4 great many Bridges have been destroy
but The greatest damage is in the Obion ri
bottom, where two long bridges have b'
DESTROYED, and about two miller Of tres
work at Midd1eburg, four miles east Of Gro
N ut station.
Dr.. Reed and three companions came fr
three miles this side Of Kenton Yesterd
and Saw no rebels. No reconnaissance
vet been made from Columbus.
These desperadoes seem pretty much
mr. home, and manifet no anxiety about geti
~ away. For the time being cur forces 81
~ uff 1,era1yyPH