Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-06-05
FOr the JOurna
Personal Experiences In LIncoIndon.

No. 20.
Arrived in Cairo, We put up the Planters Hotel which
was literally crowdcd with officers Of all ranks from Cen
eral and Commodore downwards likewise every
available nook and corner in the town This was head
quarters Department of the Southwest General u
s. Gant commanding General MCClcnnd, also was here,
although think his headquarters were then at ST. Louis
Here first encountered the Provost Marsha-an officer
pretty familiar to all, bat at that time he
garded with feeling of awe and dread as the Crsasn of
of some horrid dream. His functions vugary
posed be little short of nquisitora with absolute CON
troll the estate liberty and lite Of every iege Now,
from familiarity, hold intercourse with this officer,
dream of looking for his horns cloven
hoofs From the best information could CLEAN there
this time certainly not 5000 loco troops
here including Birds Point and Fort Holt % Three reg
ments cavalry The town was under strict military
rule and intercourse permitted with the soldiers
any allowed to visit the fol- catoas or war
In this connection, and by way of Parenthess
erenO, allow draw attention to the extreme laxity
and general that precaution absolutely necessary
during ar especially to provide against teach
cry when, IN too many instances mans foes are those
of his own Household. Tie South is at war with race
crafty cunning beyond parallel ard it behooves her to
We write in no spirit of captousness, but in earnest,
warning, when state that general thing
picket and guard du preence, and by no means
calculated TO the end desired For instance and we
of speak from actual at almost
any time e7ade pckets in the enVirons Of the city
You reach station situated pond and ten to
you find the sentines fishing at another, two are
pa7ng some game in the field adjacent, having stacked
their rifles against tree the public road again, at
another station the in his tent lying on his back
house. you shall inst likely otherwise find the
sentry setting in neighborng store, chaag Two par
try advances examine the passes but hs never thinks Of
carrying his piece with him.
The Southern people frank and ingenious to fault
themselves sincere they too to suspect nsln
cerity hers Let any read the history of this
and what suffering has been entaed on individuals anC
communities by this easy, careless confidence
We were lately in Fayetteville and were astenlshed tC
find that at such critical time the present no let hin
drance precaution are exercised at the Arsenal we
had almost said the gates stand nvngy open, but they
gone 1--WE presume necessity has converted them
other es No permit is required, and single soldier
guard any kind to be found upon the premises.
" All the world and his Wife, may come and go at pleasure
and freely examns al the machinery workshops, stores
&c, and if inclined, may remain concealed safe beyond
any contingency and at ght set fire to the whole esab
shment 1t would be mpertineht work Of snpfreroga
ton point out what sentiDes and pickets duties
and how they ought to be performed; but may,
have give experience of how they performed. T.
doubt is due the loss Of Government from ia
steamer Planter the INTRODUCED of spies into our YER
stronghOlds at Roanoke, Newbern and elsewhere w
are hsewsg OF the OPINION so wei IN af uu
tutousy furnished the Federasts by well meaning bu
nconsiderae editors in the interior themseiveS remove
from the of danger they must not oich-ke thn
they may give publicity to what, puo'hed mere Tor IN
stance, might very properly be severely reprmanded.
iro would be, almost man cessiOn indeed ali South
ern Illinois loyal to the utn and will it when tn
opportunity arrives and think begin to da
, breaking through the long dark Western night.
When the Union army arrived n Cairo, the only flag fly
ing the Southern and the troops attacked Will
cars by the citizens. 1t rash attempt and thu
leaders had to seek safety by gh 10 Kentucky Many
probably half, at least of the troops in town, were I'LL
noians, but scarcely of them from the Southern
ton. One town, small place, before reaching Cairo W
forget the NAME intensely Southern, III depot
men, who recruiting there hid to quit the place
they subjected to such hosi from the Citizens
I, The only fertilization there line of earthworks ex
tending the elbow Of levee, the Ohio and til
bank of the Mississippi for as well as We could udg
from our standpoint our bedroom window mile
and mounting apparently heavy guns. This proece
the infantry winter quarters which were at times ankle
deep The cavalry eneamped behind the towr
at the bend Of the river Opposite, the Missouri shore
The encampment known as Birds Point while across
. on the kentucky side. Fort Holt ~ between whc
posts ferry Piled and the spacious bay rcds Comm
dore Foote's feet There completed and under
cess nine gunboas think sd fourteen mortar
ID The work was being hurried light and day, week day
!: and Sundays The Benton was tbs only truly formidab
a looking customer, well could judge. We
a. ned her infinitely could standing the plan
gapgWay which was as tar as they would allow as to GO
The mortar boats the most absurd looking machine
we ever saw-open on top like fat boat only to
square shape, and built of thick plates
they seemed huge Cyclopean ya in which squatSet