The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-30
IR0M MEMPHIS, CAIRO AND
RITTNUURG.

Sir refugees from Memphis arrived here
this morning. They left on Sunday. April
99th, ia = skiA and reached our feet OPP
posite Fort Pillow on Friday. Five Of
them are natives Of Tennessee and the
other from Illinois. They crossed the
Mississippi six miles below Randolph,
making the rest Of the way to Osceola
through back water on the Arkansas
shore. being often compelled to carry the
skif oyer bluffs and through fields. They
represent that strong Union feeling exists
in Memphis. Several Union clubs NEE.
nightly and are constantly increasing in
numbers.
Gen. Prentiss and other Federal pris-
oncrs taken at Pittsburg Landing battle,
were in Memphis two hours and taken to
Tuscaloosa, Ala. They received marked
attentions from Union citizens while in the
city, who are becoming holder daily. Gen.
Prentiss made speech from platform
Of cars, assuring the people they would
all cheer for the stars and stripes in two
or three weeks. Our prisoners united in
singing the Star-Spangled Banner and
were loudly applauded BY the people.
The refugees Left Memphi. to avoid be-
ing impressed, as the conscript act re-
Gently passed by the Rebel Congress was
being enforced. All male inhabitants be-
tween IL and 85 are compelled to take up
arms. Large numbers were daily leaving
the city and making their way towards
our feet.
Van Dorm, Price and JEFF. Thompson
were 1t Memphis with about 6, 900 troops,
poorly equipped and most Of them in
rags. Gov. Harris is Mt Corinth.
Twenty mine deserters from Fl. Pillow
arrived At Osceola yesterday. Some g.
900 hogsheads Of sugar and between TO-
900 to $4,000 barrels of molasses were
piled on the bluff ready to be thrown in
TO the river on approach of the Federal
feet, which was daily expected, as it was
generally conceded by rebels that our
fleet would COMPEL them TO evacuate Fl
Pillow, where Gen. Villipigue was still ii,
command.
It was reported that Gen. Curtis scouts
had reached the mouth Of White River,
and that his advance was within one days
march.
All idea of burning Memphis had been
given up. The gunboat Mallory bad been
in course Of construction for some time
and was rapidly approaching compilation.
She is plated with railroad iron. Rebel
gunboats were constantly plying between
Memphis and Fl. Pillow. Fortifcations
near Memphis have been abandoned, there
being no guns mounted on any Of them.
All rebel stores and machinery had been
removed to Columbus, Miss. Negroes
had recently advanced considerably in
value. At an auction sale two weeks ago
several were sold. prices ranging from
$500 to sll00. Coffee retailsd st 80 cts,
rice II cts, bacon IS cts, chickens 81
each, eggs 40 cts. per dozen.
Boats from below report nothing new.
Mortas fire occasionally but with what f
feet is not known.
Gen. Halleck is moving forward slow
ly. A reconnaissance in force, command
ed by Gen. Garfield, went out on Friday
and discovered the enemy's advance,
about three miles beyond our outposts,
encamped on Pea Ridge. Pickets are
constantly firing on each other Our
heavy seige guns are being moved to the
front ~ fast as the condition Of the roads
will permit.
River continues to rise. Rain has set
in, accompanied by strong wind, which
may send the water over the levee.