New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-30

and specially designed for ram She is almost en-.
tirely covered with fiat railway iron; has 81 pound
pivot gun at her stern and place for one, though
none is mounted, at her bow. She was formerly
tow.boat and has been cut down and rendered quite
effective.
STRENGTH OF TIE FLOTTILA.
The Mound City, Capt. A. II. Kitty, has resumed
her position in the feet, being fully repaired and
much stronger than che before the battle. The
Floi lila now embraces, Independent Of her, seven
gunboats, the Benton, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cairo
Carondelet, st. Louis, and Conest0ga; the six rams
and sixteen mortars-certainly formidable enough,
it would appear to compel the surrender Of Pillow,
and take care of the enemys fleet at the same time
ADVANTAGE OF AN ADVANCE.
The opinion is still prevalent that We will make
an advance on the fort within two or three days,
and though frequently deceived, cannot think our
inactivity will continue much longer. Our men have
been occupied all day, and still engaged in erect
ing battery on Craighead Point, which, with other
signs, yet preseYveslour faith in early movement.
Economy as well as policy, should prompt speedy
action; for the daily expenses OF the Flolla alone
are said to be nearly $4,000. Some Of the Govern
ment contracts seem to have been more peculiarly
than financially managed.
As an instance, the Government pays $50 per day
for the Of the commissary transp0rt-Over
$65, 900 per annum-when she could easily be pur
chased for $4,000 $4,000 Many other contracts
are Of the same sort; and though doubtless very
profitable TO private parties, cannot be very profit.
able to OUT muchesteemed but quite extrsvagant
National uncle.
MODERN THEBAN BROTHERS.
As proof of the bitter hatred this has engen-
dered between the North and South, even among |
former friends and relatives, ] may mention that
Commodore Edward Montgomery, during the light
of the 10TH said he would like TO obtain glimpse OF
bis brother, Capt. Sam Montgomery, one Of the pi-
lots of the De Soto, that lie might shoot him Ike
mad dog in the street.
C,n, Ga, a. n. y;,la,t b;a faal;p0o hia Rehel
relative and has stated that he hoped be would live
long enough to see Ed Montgomery hanged; that he |
could look st his brother dangling from gibbet
without the least emotion or regret.
RIVER MEN AS UNIONIsTs.
There aYe at present no more ultra Unlonlsts tnan
the engaged in the river trade on the Western |
and Southern waters, especially those who call ~.
Louis and that vicinity home and yet they were the
last to advocate coercion or any course that would
tend TO annoy or inflame the citizens OF Secessia.
Indeed, for some months after Fort Sumter had
fallen, there were very few river men in the West
that were not thoroughly inOculated with Secession,
believing their interest lay with the Southerners
Now they favor the most extreme measures, such "a
tho burning Of Memphis, Charleston and other
Southern cities and the hanging Of every Rebel;
and recently have heard not few who were strong
Pro-Slavery Democrats six months ago declare
themselves Abohtionists.
SO much for success.
Men NAV do much for principle; but nothing in
the world gains 20 many sdherents to cause rs It's
prosperity.
MORE SOUTHERN REFUGEES.
| Three refugees arrived at the fotlla yesterday
afternoon from Memphis by the Forked Deer klver
| In a canoe. They left the city on account OF the
consclip,iou, and say everybody who can get away
is leaving for the sane cause The woods along the
shores OF the Mississippi full Of mon who are
1yiur 10 the North 20 avoid impressment into the
Rebel army; and feeling OF desperation and the
greatest Distress prevail in Secessia
The enemy see their cause is hopeless. Their sol
d,ers are every day growing more disaieeted and
disgusted with the Coniederacy, and the Slave
! Power is steadily dwindling into insgniilcance,
while the leaders are peroeiving more and more
clearly that they have built their vast expectations
on the sand.
| Parties of armed and mounted scouts have been
cent from Memphis and other towns in Tennessee
and Arkansas, and are prowling through the woods
10 capture the fugitives, and not q few refugees
have been taken prisoners, while others have been
shot and hanged because they refused to enter the
ranks Of the enemy.
GRAND fToRM on THE MISSISSIPPI.
night or two ago we had grand thunderstorm
on the Mi.slssppi. and about midnight twotempests,
ore from the east and another from the west met In
midheavens. and poured for three hours their eie-
mental fury upon the earlh.
The rain descended rs il might have done al the
time the great Cataclysm Is believed to have
taken place the SLY shook with the deafcning thun-
der and seemed rent III fiery shreds with the llyid
| lightning.
The Mississippi appeared like vast sea. and it
was feared for while all the boats Of the hoiila
would 20 adriit, and some OF them be wre,Se
When the storm from the east was gathering, the
thunder exactly resembled the rosr OF cannon; ana
even the ear OF the most practiced soldier would
have been deceived by it, Nearly all Of US supposed
FarraQut must be contending with the eDemys gun
boats a, or near Randolph for we could hear peal
mon peal in regular succession, and with equal pro-
longatiOn. ,
| No one in the feet could sleep, and indeed the
tempest was well worth rising 10 witness. IL was
40 magnificent III its scope and details, could not,
when observing how il swept in splendid range
along the foaming river, resist clapping my hands
like the venetians and crying Bravo to the cleo.
trical performance.
who has travelled mach abroad, aud is now one OF
| the Bobemisns, declared he never witnessed such
storm. and said il made him feel how insignificant
Art was, compared to the sublimity Of Nature.
Oar vessel lay alongside OF the ammunition-boa',
and when the lightning ran IN hery streams above
our heads, and flashed about us with binding
baze giving the impression that tremendous ex-
ploson might blow us any moment into atoms, there
was the sense Of wild excitement in the storm that
there is in the midst Of terrible battle
UNION RECONNAISSANCE.
Yesterday afternoon Lieut.. McGonnigle OF the
St. Louis made reconnaissance along the Arkansas
shore opposite the works Of the enemy, aud saw all
had no steam up, and the Fort and the vicinity
looked very dull, and bore rather deserted appear
once showing that the Rebels did not expect either
Themselves or us to do anything for the present
There can be but very few men defending Pillow
Most of the force formerly there has been sent TO
Corinth and the foe must be greatly disappointed
that the Fort was not in our possession weeks ago.
cannot believe the Rebels ever hoped to hold the
Fort more than few days. and If the Flotilla had
pushed on actively on its arrival, it would have been
81 Memphis weeks sgo. We hear pothing more OF
- and III inclined Ia think