New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-26
FROM CAIRO AND BELOW.

The Battle at Arkansas Post-4,9s2 Prize
oners-Their Arrival Mt Cairo-Geu
Grant, with his Army, ON the Way %
Vicksburg-The Great Qaessien OF the
Hour.
From Our Special Correspondent
CAIRO, jan "a, 1869
The recent battle at Arkansas Post, which is about
so miles from the Mississippi was, as You are al
ready informed an important victory. The attack
was made simultaneously by the Infantry, under
Gen. McClernand, with force sufficient to sarround
the enemy, and the gunboats. The battle was verW
sharply contested the boats suffered considerably,
but the affair could have but one result 1t was
Fort Douelson over again. and they surrendered.
The number of prisoners we took has bAen estimated
too low-the real number is now definitely settled,
for they were brought mp yesterday in three steam
ers, and they are 47S2, including about 200 officers
The fort which cur boats attacked has been supposed
more capable of resisting cannon shot, or other pro-
ectiles than any means OF defense. II wac built VI
railroad iron, strongly occurred 10 heavy .inloers,
deeply imbedi led in earth but our excellent guns
tore them from their fastenlngs and demolished tne
whole works. This was AZ distance OF aoous wv
wards The recent rise Of water 10 Gil our weetern
rivers now enables boats to push mp even nsiS-
nificant streams while it sweeps away or renders
useless the torpedoes and submarine batteries tie
enemy have relied upon, and by which, III soLe lh'
stances, they have done much miscniei. EslasnVy
Nee passing months should be improved TO pere"
trate iuto the heart Of the enemys country Arail-
road line IL broken in place, destroys our COM
municaliOa, and mas proved very uncer''"' h'er
Is perennial line. . $1,000.
They ara the same motley, butternut indlviduale--
no two dressed alike. Nor can they as whole 90
considered more Intelligent than any army wnlcn
marched 200 years ago. The most OF theih az hot
l 4 in fha yya fhQvt rftfv
ii.tle Of the real cause; bnt they anxious for
neace aud vii ingly will submit % Whichever side
il victorious. This statement IS TO be relied upon az
the real truth regarding the great mass Of the
Rebels. The officers, aud some privatee 'yhe ean
read clearly desperate and determined, and are
charged with all the venom mahghity, and deVlhsn-
ness of their own rattesnakes. These facts gather
from converting with the prisoners.
I These boat-loads Of captives are 81 this time the
mos. important Of any taken during the whole war.
They Immediately follow an equal pnmoer taken
from Gen. Rosscrans a. Murfreesboro and the proc
lamation OF JEFF DAVIS that our officers will not 10
held subject to exchange, and will be imprisoned 20
criminals One now cries, Every we'll" Ii tho
black hax is TO be raised, let them raise IT, The
officers among these prisoners are looking 10 Jen.
Davis not 10 Abe Lincoln, for decision OF their
fate, and they are full OF approximations.
Gen. Grant, having Withdrawn his entire army
from Northern Mississippi is emUaTkllg LIS forces
at Meaphis for Ycksburb. His attempt 20 bold this
REGION has been found attended with few results;
he has stuggled faithfully along perhaps few would
have succeeded 70 we'll. AS his different DIVISIONS
reach the river they attended BY immense NUM-
bers Of fugitive slaves, many of item In Il foriorn
and desti:ute condition. In the two principal rail-
road lie pots at Memphis nearly 1900 negroes are
Quartefed, AID suDslstlng On army stores. when
People of this kind always poorly fed and clothed,
leave their homes they are likely TO safer much.
The mortality arising from their crowded condition,
as well az from anxiety, exposures and a want or
sympathy Is great. Their ability TO Withstand hard
ship is very lItle indeed it Is less thsn with white
men, ewing 10 the low condition Of their bodies, and
Il want Of the nervous energy which beongs to men
Of Intelligence.
II i. not TO be disguised in view OF all there facts
tha. gTeas erie not only IL our national affairs,
but in tue condition Of the negro, ID raj oily ap-
pro5chinC. Ii Gen Grant takes Vicksbnrg, rs be is
quite certain he will do the whole interior Of Mis-
ss,ippi viii be opened. ana mass Of enterprislDg,
and might say, desperate negroes will De LIBERATED
for is this region that they have been sent from
the Border States for many years. And WI en- theee
hosts are liberated what IS 10 be done with them
Lot as come back to Cairo to took az the question
whore we plainly see l.. There are at tHIs post
not far rom a thousand negroes. The able.b bodied
are supposed 10 DO employed; but the Of them,
TO tell the real truth, are shamefuly cGuelIy and
wiekedly neglected. l am informed that ten or
fifteen die daily, AMI that on cold nights some are
certain TO freeze to death | know not VINO is TO
blame out 1t ia certain that they are not provided
with wood or clothing. IL is half mile 70 water;
they carry il buckets. Ii there Is anything under
the heavens needed in this crisis 1t is Bureau VI
Emancipation. It cannot be created too
To dare, il to DO. 5000, we shall want more sol
diers. Let tie negro fall Inlet him earn hls liberty
aud uelp 10 save the Union. N. c. N.