, 1863-02-26
FROM CAIRO AND Below
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribnne.1

panG and the clerks of the steamer Libcrty
No. 2, we haEe the latest Memphis dispatches
and newspapers. The news is given in full
by your resident correspondent
The general reorganization meeting is still
in progress in Memphis. On Tuesday even
ing the meeting was addressed bY.Col. P. E.
Bland His remarks were clear and positive
in the cnunciation of the doctrine Of imme-
diate emancipation, and his reasons why citi-
zens of Tennessee should turn from the
error Of their. ways aud embrace the amnesty
Of the President and take the oath Of Gov.
johnson, and disenthrl themselves at once
from the meshes Of slavery, which has so
nearly proved their min, were Of an irresist-
iblc character.
By the arrival Of the steamer FANNY, which
lett Vicksburg on Saturday last, we have i'm
portant dispatches, stated to be from secesh
sources in the interior, confirming the above
news, which dif1nsed the greatest enthusiasm
among the loyal people Of Vicksburg.
The, intelligence was that Gen. Sherman
and his army, aftes- S5crcomiug or avoiding
an obstacles, had reached selma, Ala, ,rlaioh
was evacuatcd By the enemy, and o triumphal
entry made by our torces. No particulars
hare yet come to hand. i.
learn from the Professor of the Western
University, who arrived on the Fanny, TINT
In military circles in Vicksburg confidence
was felt in the certain truthfnlness of the
above statements -
The steamer Clyde, engaged In the cotton
trade, Wis seized by the gunboat louisville
at Skipwith's Landing, on the Mississippi, on
the 10th, for alleged violation Of the trade
regulations. Capt, Cook, who was in charge
of the Clyde, was accnscd OF having agreed
to convey rebel battery across the river for
$5,CC0 in gold. ,>> :.
learn the following, interesting facts re-
spectiDg the expedition which left German
town on the 18th under Major D. E. Coon:
Starting in the direction Of Olive Branch,
Miss, the Coldwatcr was crossed seven miles
from Byhalia. A battalion was sent thence
to Tullalloma. The main body had several
skirmishes with the enemy, passing within
three miles Of Waterford. Tippah River was
crossed on pontoon bridge. The enemy
then retired to Nyatt's Crossing to intercept
the expedition, bat Tese handsomely de-
ceived By the troops remaining n camp all
day, and then marching for Pontotoc. .Fhe
expedition WIS commanded By the celebrated
raider Gen. B. Il, Grierson, and composed a
tolerably large cavalry force. Tic weather
was pleasant and the roads. good. Before
reaching Oxford, on the Mississippi Central
Railroad, a squadron that had been sent from
the main body to reeonnoiter, returned with
two men wounded, in a skirmieh with party
ofrebcls.. They hnd a Captain of 9 company
prisoner. The enemy had left Oxford, re-
Gently Forests headquarters, for tho South,
ten days before. We found that the rebels
had nearly all left Gen. Grants front to REIN
force the troops lying at Meridian.
Mississippi troops are deserting rapidly and
coming In BY hundreds. 4 captured scout
stated to your informant that neighbor Of
lis who Was In the rebel army had written
to eay that he WIS making up company Of
1C0 men, all Of whom would desert and 70
home and stay there. The cause Of this is
that scouts detailed By Forrest, Chalmers,
Ferguson, Richardson. and other Generals are
speculatfng in cotton taken from soldiers
wives, and the epoils are divided with the
Generals commanding. These scouts get de-
tailed, and confscate cotton belonging to SOL
diers Of the Confederate army, run the block
ade at Memphis, bring greepbacks out and
divide the profits with their brave Generals.
This dissatisfaction among the Mississippi
troops will be likely to demoraltze Bragg's
old army. Poor men in the ranks are suffer-
ing, while the Generals over them are making
themselves rich.
.Grcenbacks are worth as follows: Holly
Springs, 10 to 1211 of Confederate money: at
New Albany, 10 to Is; from thnce to Mo-
bile, to 8-that is,, one dollar in greenbacks |
is worth dollars Of Confederate scrip.
a small detachment left for this city, bring
ing with them Is prisoners. These are the 4
first fruits from an expedition from which |
important results may be looked for.
CAIRo, Feb. 25.-Tle steamer Perry, from
Memphis, arrived with $50 bales cutton for
st. Louis, and the I'D Ohio infantry, veteran
recruits, Gen. Bucklan's old regiment, ,en route
home
a detachment Of cavalry from Gen. Grier-
sons command, arrived from Memphis,
bringing forty prisoners, among them a
Much dissatisfaction existed among the
Mississippi troops, who were rapidlY desert
ing, caused by specnlations In cotton By the
rebel Generals Forrest. Chalmers, Ferguson,
Richardson and others: The cotton,
they state had been taken from rebel soldiers
wives BIZ SCOT ts detailed f09 the purpose, !
who run the blockade at Memphis, and bring
back greenbacks, and hride the pronts WITH
the Generals. ~
The steamer Swan. from New Orleans, 18th
inst, with over 1000 hogsheads an barrels
sugar and molasses for Cairo and st. Louis
has arrived. .
MEMPHIS, Feb. 2S.-Not word Of relia-
bic news yet from either Sherman orSmith's
fhe report Of the Exning Bulletin Of the~
capture Of Selma, Ala, by Sherman is not
credited, although the news came
Gen. Buekland reviewed his brigade on the
Bluffs In front Of the city this afternoon.
They presented 1ne appearance; l.
Cotton isooming in quite freely, the re-
ceipts by wagon for the past week being
much heavier than any previous week of the
season. g.
CAIRO, Feb. 25.-Professor Wlnchell Of
Michigan, who CAME as passenger on the t
steamer Fanny from Vicksburg, informs me
that The news Of the capture Of Selma, Ala.
barna, By Sherman, Was brought to that place
bva courier. direct from Sherman. Win
chel1 cot bis information from Capt. Finkler,
the depot Quartermaster at Vicksburg, and
entire confidence is placed IN Its correctness.
Tbs report is credited in military circles here.
no, v3 No1. /