The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-06-07
FROM CAIRO AND BELOW.
A Forward Movement Antici-
pated in the Tlotilla.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUST BE OPENED
FURTHER FROM COL. ELLIOTT
GALLANT ACHIEVEMENT
Further Particulars Of the Reb-
Ell Works aud Evacuation.
Especial to the Chicago Tribune.l
MISSISSIPPI FLoTILLA, NEAR)

Especial to the Chicago Tribune.l
Mississippi FLoTILLA, NEAR)
ToRT Pillow, June 3.
Now that the news of the evacuation of
Corinth has been officially confirmed, we
expect forward movement from day to day
Preparations, not proper to mention in
dispatch, are being made under the orders
of Commodore Davis, which render il prob
able that the event will not take place for
two or three days at least. The ram Fulton
made reconnaissance at Craighead Point
yesterday afternoon, interded as chal-
lenge for the rebels 1t was not accepted
rebel steamer has for several nights
past been accustomed to post herself at the
further side of Craighead Point, aud there
remain as an advance guard of the feet,
watching the approach and movements of
orr flotilla 1t was thought that upon being
properly challenged she would come out and
show fight, but she did not. She may find
it necessary to do so very soon. Large
quantities Of shell are daily being received
here for the use of the mortar boats, by the
mail steamers.
The reduction Of Fort Pillow, or It's occu-
patton If evacuated since the entrance into
Corinth, of the Union forces, becomes mat
ter Of military necessity. We must have
Memphis. The Mississippi river must be
opened, to the end that the army may be
enabled to obtain subsistence. The country
occupied cannot furnish this. 1t has already
been stripped by the rebels, and it was new
err productive. In order to reach Memphis
we must first pass Pillow, Fulton, Randolph
and Wolf river. At the two latter places
only are serious obstacles now expected,
unless Fort PILLOW should be reinforced bv
detachment from Beauregard's retreating
forces. -s# "a
The steamer Meteor arrivedt this afternoon
from Pittsburg. The passengers report that
Col. Elliott, whose expedition to the south
Of Corinth has been previously noticed, in
your columns, has returned having proceed
ed as far as Bonneville, where he destroyed
a bridge and tore up the track in two or
three places and captured 600 infantry and
two squadrons of cavalry. He also destroy
ed train of cars on the road 6lled with
stores of various kinds. ..l
Another portion Of Gen. Pope's force
found a large number of rebel wagons on
their way south, with about six or seven
thousand stand of arms which the guard
attempted to destroy by burning. They
were, however, saved in damaged state
they were doubtless those which had belong
ed to men who had died, deserted, or been
carried away sick Col. Elliott is also re-
ported by gentleman on Gen. Halleck's
staff, passenger on the Meteor, to have in
tercepted thirteen locomotives, and large
number of cars which were being conveyed
South. The force of Col. Elliott was about
1900 cavalry of the I'd and Sd Michigan and
Cd Iowa. n. .-..s .t.
There is also rumor which some Of the
passengers confidently believe to be authen-
tic, that Gen. Pope was in hot pursuit of the
enemy, and that Gen. Mitchell, coming in
their face, some $1,000 men of Van Dorn's
Division were compelled to retreat into
swamp, where it was expected they would
all be captured.