New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-11

IAudefdae Co., Tenn, IS miles above Memphis.
Thursday noon, June s. 11t2.
Pillow has fallen at last.
After a most tedious, monotouous, and nearly
nominal siege of ifty-two sow-pacng, weary, tire
some days, the last defense of the Rebels on tno
Mississippi has yielded to tho irresistible power q
the Union.
Over the famous fort, the National coors sre
waving in tue Summer breeze, and it's late traitorous
defenders have departed from it forever.
The enemy's works look desolate and melancholy
enough. Everywhere pereptible the rage and
malignity Of bafied foe of one who determined to
destroy what he could no longer defend DC alt
sides is shown the spirit of insane wrath and sui
cdal revenge. Yet the presence Of the Banner IL
the Country declares that all ia changed that Ordery
Law, and Justice are restored and that the glory Cd
the Future will compensate for the infamy OF tho
Past.
THE EVENING OF THE EVACUATION.
In my last letter. bearing the sterec.yped date near
Fort Pillow, mentioned that we were hourly exc
pectiDg the evacuation Of the enemy. Before the
day had passed on which the letter was written, the
evacuation occurred.
A little after 6 o'clock last evening, we noticed
from the aota heavy volume Of smoke rising above
the trees on Craighesd Point, and knew that ii was
too great TO proceed from the hostile gunboats. We
suspected the cause, but closely watched the smoke,
which increased rapidly, uutil we knew the Rebels
were burning their works.
As the evening advanced, and the shadows. fell
deeper, we could perceive the flames flashing up tho
horizon, and spreading steadily down the river, show.
ing that the entire Notifications, 30 far as they were
con,bustible had been given to the torch. Sdll,
/ pnmarful o!a a the dim
Tennessee shore, and q number Of times we OBJ
served q vast lifting Of the fame, and dull,
heavy sound, that seemed like distant thunder. Ihas
sound was an explosion, but whether from the blow
ING ND Of the works, the bursting OF guns or the
destruction of machines, we could not determine.
The reports were not loud nor penetrating, and
might easily have been mistaken for the countless IN
explicable noises that had greeted ears from tho
same vicinity, for weeks previous But, taken with
the pecuar action of the fire, we could give only
one solution Of the mystery.
sKEPTICAL OFFICERS.
Some of the officers were very skeptical about lhe
belief that the Rebels were destroying their worksa
thinking the fire was ruse to induce us/o psss
Crsiphead Point with two or three Of our gdnboats,
and then attack and overpower us with superior
force.
The lsst accounts received direct from Pillow had
been through prisoner, John Ralston, mate OF tho
Gen. Beauregard, who had expressed no little regres
n, his connection with the war, and had shed tears
when he saw himself treated with every Kindness on
,h. ,laosbip by several officers that had known hiw
intimately in other days. 81
The mate stated that the leading Secession .ds had
assured him thew would not abandon PllO a without
,La. 6obf apdy
perste effort for victory. Jea. Tho >mpson had de-.
CARED he would do or die; that he would not give
M the last stronghold of the sississipp withou. .
heroic struggle. Com. Dav , added tho mate, might
look fer the enemy's f.eet any day. and need NOS
expect an evacuation Anlil after second battle. {
The intiated-p1ose who are acquainted with tbs
idiosyncraces the Secession character-were fully
aware what % do or die means in Rebellion; that
it is fragment of cheap rhetoric indalged IN by tho
: ohivalry' prelude to running away.
That this instance exception, tile sequel
proves.
The Rebels neither did no! died.
RECONNOIsANCES FROM THE FLOTnLA
Just before o'clock, Capt. w. l.. Phelps. Of the
Benton, went down the river in tug to reconnoer.
and discovered that the enemy had quilted Pillow,
having previously set fire to the cotton-bales they
had used for breastworks, the barracks and gun
carriages, and such articles and stores as they could
not remove. IL was too late at that hour to make
further observations. aud the Captain returned 10
the flagship.
| a little earlier reconnaissance was made down
the Arkansas shore. and the Rebel feet consisting
OF seven or eight rams and gunboats was seen lying
at the little village OF Fulton. From this it was Ia.
leved they would attempt to dispute the passage u
the river with US OH the morraw, and. If they
unsuccessful, that they would abandon their boats
and burn them.
Every one was anxious for the morning-snce We
had all grown weared to death Of the protraced
and truifless siege, and were burning with deeiro
TO do something see something done.
An order was given to the gunboats to be ready to
move before sunrise, and long before that hour tie
crews of the dotilla were turning out Of their
hammocks and turning anxious looks toward Craig.
head Point, which had 80 long and 70 vexa,iouslv
shut out from their view the vision of Fort Pillow
THE VISIT TO PILLOW.
At O'Clock the gunboats, five In number the
Benton, Capt. w. L. Phelps; it. Louis, Capt vii.
son McGuncegle; Cairo, Capt. Bryant; Carondslet.
Capt. Henry Wake; and Louisville, Capt. b. n.
Dove, the flagship in tho van, turned their bows
down stream AID were soon below the Point The