New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-16

ton tobacco. and sugar, of which there were I'M
mense quantities in the town; and the sooner W
reached the place the more OF those Staples W.
ave The foe was despondent everywhere, uouSn
many pretended 20 have hope and aith s'l - 'uv
"Conf,teracy" The Re ellion was conceutn oS
many 70 he crushed and some confessed that noths
but an immediate and great charge III e'en'e "0u''
save the South from "subJugation'
A., E,,,on Tenn there were eight gus boats lar
:, ,fsror IN ours and of the kind have before de,
scr,bed jeff Thompson was tnere WIN :e..ia .t
hundred men; but one was auo"eo W N'si' VIC
fort, where it wss believed t9ese wero o. mo HI ,e
nnns The fort, they believed from what they had
heard. could he readily taken by the hotilla, ana
Cen Vilipigue in their opinion, had expected to be
attacked weeks ago.
JEFF. THoMPsoN's VIEWS.
Tbompson came up with the two prisoners from
Memphis, and was in Lis usual garrulous, gsseon-
sdipe, easy, impudent, huff goodnatnred mood. lie
said :" The id Yankees have played the devil with
ms. like them good deal better than l used to:
They have fought themselves into my respect ana
esteem. the id scoundrels. We have all found the
Yankees will fight-fght vary mooch, as the French
man said-and, by -, shouldn't wonder II they
thought we wouldn't-wed had 80 cursed many set
| bao Ks lately. =,
" But the South can't fail. Her Losses will make
her stronger. She will strke great piow wneIe
you least expect it. Slse is done with defensive
warfare; she will carry the war into Ainca, 9e
sure. - 4 ,ome morniog YOU will wake to fipd the
Copfederates laundering at the gates I" 'he great
cities of the North
INTERESTING FROM sECEssA.
The prisoners state tbst in the portion Of Secessa
through which they paesed they heard many mur-
murs agsinst Beauregard, who had lost much or ms
reputation by the battle of Shiloh The MemPhians
were particularly indignant because he had made no
effort TO defend their city, and several ID 'he PaPeis
declared him q humbug and charatsn, who had
. stumbled into victory at Manassas, and had since
beeo living upon the false fame Of his accidental sue
, Gers on that held. - r.,
The prisoners say they were strong Pro-Slavery
Democrats and ardent advocates OF pence anu com.
of extreme measures, and Of exinguishing the Pc
cuar institution if il lies in the way OF our success
SPIRIT OF THE MEMPHIS PRESS
The pilot of the Rebel lug which brought up the sur
geops gave the pilot Of the !essie Benton We Mem
pbs papers of the 9TH and Ssh inst which endeav.
ored TO purchase in vain, though they contained
nothing of special interest l heard them partially
read and one editorial complained bitterly of the man
ner in Which that city had been misrepresenttd ana
abused Memphis had contributed moro men and
money to the rebellion, and had made more sacri-
fces in every way than any city OF its population In
the Confederscy;" and yet 1t bad been called q
Lincoln hole, and all it's devotion unaPPreeiated.
Business was stsgnant, and the city like grave,
yard. Great uneasDess prevailed, ana shrm Hho
gloom occupied thousands OF hearts.
One of the journals contained Gen. Is. +. Futlers
proclamation to the citizens OF New Orleans
From Our Special Correspondent
NATIONAL FLorILIA Down rHn MISSISSIPPI. !
NnAn FoRr PnLow Is Mils: sssve N Memphis
, SATURDAY. Midnight, May 10, 1867
Contrary to expectation, general engagement has
occurred near Fort Pillow. The enemy paid us q
ysi. at last and have been 90 warmly received, we
A fear they will not call sgsin. We have gained o
decided victory, and officers feel in the best Of
> spirits.
) GENERAL VIEW OF THE FIGHT.
Considerable curiosity was excited yesterday after.
by the sending Of the flag Of truce TO the Beo'
ton, and the cause thereof became theme Of speeu
q ton. No one doubted the enemy were anxious to
learn something of our position, but no one cared;
for, as was remarked by Capt. Phelps "the more
i they see Of US the better. They wont like sny
: more for what they witness They sre welcome to
n all they discover"
Q About O'Clock This ulorniug tie ani-nus OF the
white flag was developed through the appearance OF
four or five, some say six, Of the enemys gunboats
:, and two rams above Craighead Point. They opened
fire. and three Of guDboats the Benton, Cincin-
;, natl and Mound City, Immediately answered
Tie other boats did not participate, but coon the
|, bosom Of the river covered with thick blue
vapor, which the close hot atmosphere did little TO
lift, and frequently shut out the enemy from view
~ apd epdea ored TO shelter themselves much as
a possible, while our three vessels moved steadily
% toward them, the Dsblgren aud Parrot rife guns
being plainly oiscemible above the Test The
IT enemy she'll and shot fell several times In close
proximity boats, but generally short, az they
- seemed very anxious TO keep us at tafe dstance
The roar of the cannon the still morning was
q quite stirring after the monotony OF whole month
,e and brought For.s Henry, Donelsoh, ana lslaho
,e Ten wildly to mind.
y THE REBEL GUNBoAT M'RAE.
e But ie. me give the battle from the beginning and
10 in detail. TIE Cincinnati, which lay of the Arkan
eas shore, and nearest 10 the point as guard OF the
d mortar.boas, was approached by the largest Rebel
gunboat, provided with sharp iron Prov, and
y known as the McRae. She was formerly schooner
has her engines protected by railway iron, is mount
ed with heavy guns ut the bow and stern snd prob
ably has revera otherr bu, they were not visible
It She was defended by bales Of cotton piled rome Elk
q fee, above her deck and had syied and tattered
II ensign dened doubt, ior the Secession colors,
+ flying from one Of her two masts.
The McRae did not fire any of her pieces but ran
with grea, force in the direction OF The Cincinnati,
O evidently designing To smk her. Ar she was within
n twenty eet OF the Cincinnati the latter discharged
her bow gun nj her, but without any seemlng effect
II aud then, swinging round, let off broadsidc AT
that moment the Mckac into collision with her
on the port quarter, knocking large hole III her,
Q and causing her partially 10 fill. BY this time the
!, Cincinnati had turned round, and the hostile craft
v struck her again on the starboard side and was in
y time TO receive second brosdside that seemed 10
n lift the foe out Of the water
One of the rams, the Van Dorm, within
a few yards Of the Cincinnati, and though fired st
and struck, still came swiftly, and into collision
with the Union boat, exactly between the rudders.
d INCREASE OF INTEREST.
e The Mound City, lying just above the Cincinnati,
i saw the danger Of her companion and steamed down
TO her aid. The enemy was preparing TO fire the
bow gun Of The Mcliae, when the Mound City