New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-21
From Our Special Correspondent.
MISSISSIPPI FIoTILLA MEAN FoRT PILLOW
SEvgsTy-rIvK MILES ABOVE MksPnIs,
-I-.... AI...la

Fort Pillow.
From Our Special Correspondent.
MISSISSIPPI FIo1IILA, NgAR For PILLow,}
SEvgsTy-rIvs MILES ABoyy MKsrnls, (
Thursday noon, May 10, 1907
Various are the reports that have reached us from
above in regard to the naval engagement Of Sa,ur-
day, and the statements that have appeared as dis-
matches in the public prints have been far from the
truth.
At Cairo the story has been circulated that the
enemy captured the gunboat Pittsburgh Capt. Eg-
bert Thompson, with all her officers and crew, and
learn the same falsehood has been telegraphed to
the Memphis papers. If the Rebels undertake to
come up again, as they daily threaten to do, they
will have an opportunity TO determine TO what ex-
tent the Pittsburgh is in their possession. OF course
they knew how untrue the statement was, for they
can see from Craighead Point the position of the
gunboat which is lying near by to give them warm
reception whenever they repeat their experiment OF
Saturday last.
FALSE SENSATION DISPATCHES.
The special dispatch to The Chicago Times, in
Tuesdays seue was written at Cairo by person
who did not witness the battle, and who
had not been near the hotilla for some time.
Su Ii limited information as he gathered was from
parties who knew no more of the battle than he him.
SELF and yet, for The purpose Of giving reputation
for enterprise to his Journal be filed ell the blanks
of hs intelligence with sensational fancies. To one
who witnessed the engagement, or was at all ac-
Quanted with the facts, his account Is ludlcorousiy
absurd, and bears about the same relation 10 truth
that Ansdis of Gaul does to NewtOn's Principia
Apropos Of this, may remark that nearly all the
special dispatches to the Chicago papers, in regard
to the condition of affairs the Otlliia grossly
incorrec. CT purely imaginative; as have had occa-
sion to know since Commodore Foote left Cairo, on
the 4th of last March for CoIcm9us. considerable
rivalry exists among the Chicago papers p 70 which
OF them can tell the biggest story without tne ras'
regard facts; and he who relates the most ipfop
able tale is the best journalist.
observe that the agent of the Associated Press at
Chicago daily teleyraphs all over the country Inc
coDtents of the dispatches and letters TO That uty
and strange to say, the metropolitan papers PRINT
tLem although they have trustworthy Information
from their own correspondents at the various scenes
of action which contradicts what the Garden City
scrbblers invent or merely conjecture.
wonder. indeed that the Associated Press pub
fishes much stuff as IT does from such an apochry-
pha source for the Chicago correspondence is usual
Nv little more than series Of blunders or AL accu-
mutation OF both.
OUR DISABLED GUNBOATs.
The Mound City, Capt. A. H. Ky, has been
taken to Mound City for repairs and Will be ready
for service again, il is said before the middle OF
next week. The Louisville, Capt. Benjamin III.
Dove. which has been lying for weeks at Hic kman,
has taken the Mace of her disabled sister and il now
The Cincinnati is still near the Tennessee shore,
and, as pumps have been at work upon her since
esterday morning, she is nearly II not quite airy,
and will be sent up the river, probably, tins alter
neon. II il thought she will be fully repaired II
fortnight hence and ready to fight her battles o Ell
again.
DIVISION OF THE FLOrIILA.
The National Flotills now has two dlyisions-the
Il. n. ut.ncf and nYI
vile. under the command OF Capt. $. l.. Phelps and
the second division Of the Carondele CAIRO, and 81
Louis under the command Of Capt. Henry Wake.
/ The first three boats are lying OIL the Tennessee
shore a mile below their original position, 20 ~ TO
command a view of the bluff below Cragheai
Point while the other three are nearly mile above
the others, of the Arkansas shore. The Conestoga
Capt G. W. Blodget If ordered to take the advance
in the next cement, acting IA klnd OF marine
skiflnisher, as she is wooden, and OF course has
superior running capacities.
/ Capt Winsow of the Navy, who has Just recoy-
cred from very severe wound, received by the
breaking Of chain on the Benton, has been az
pointed TO the command OF the rams now on Their
way here and has gone TO Cairo for the express pur
pose of hurrying them forward with the greatest
possible pIomptitude. II 10 thought the rams will
be here before the close Of the week. They are
much needed and will prevent recurrence of Satur-
days disasters.
CONTINUED THREATS OF TIE ENEMy-JHER
INSOLENCE.
The enemy still threaten to attack us again. and
have made their appearance above the Point, and III
foil view of the lag ship, every day since the fight
One of their tugs was sent up Tuesday afternoon
under flag OF truce with prisonera surgeon taken
from Gen. POpes column only ria or seven days ago
whom they released parole for the purpose OF
obtaining another view OF our position. Whenever
the Rebels wish to take look al us they probably
order prisoner from Memphis, and pay him to us
as the price of their protected reconnaissance.
! As soon a. the prisoner WAS surrendered one OF
the Rebel gunboats ran up the rver above the Point
10 the Tennessee shore, and turning round steamed
down again with very large Secession flag flying
at her stern If 10 throw the hateful symbol in the
dag ships face.
The Rebels have grown much enboldened snce
the battle and have fired good deal from the ioft
and from the new l3-inch mortar, which they will
soon burst. az they did its fellow II they have not
already done so.
A nigat OF two ago, they fred nearly all night,
dropping shell after she'll just above the Point under
the impression doubtless that we were planting IA
battery there. Perhaps we are. But let them dis-
cover what they for themselves IL is not my
principle nor my inclination TO give them lnforma'
tion.
Our moriars have not been fred for two days.
They bave been withdrawn from their former po-
sition to one higher up the river, and protected
by the second diyision of the iklla.
PREPARATIONS OF THE fLOTiILA.
Though your correspondent does not believe the
Re bells will venture TO make another attack, our
off csn generally hold different opinion and have
prepared themselves for renewal of hostililies at
any moment. They have surrounded the gun
boats with small RATS bound with chains-it Is
called booming" think, in the Nayy--to ward
of and break the force Of the rams They have
also provided the boats with grappng-hooks and in
the event Of the attempt Of tho rams to pass them
they will grapple ths raIDs, and then either blow
them to fragments or board them and Fight them TO
the death-going down with them, If need be, but