, 1863-05-15

Memphfa-Busfn Military Lnw-
RnilrUAds-E Illinois Eavnlry-if{ch-
ardeOl1:e GuerIlfna-Gen. LcOucy.

MEA1H1s, May Q, 1868.
This city presents fine appearance as you
approach it On the river. On the North is the
Navy Yard, with Its long dark looking machine
shops now occupied by the Government. The
high bluffs orerloo:ling the river are covered
with bales Of cotton, and crowd Of people
sit here laziy watching the busy lcvec below,
where all day steamers are loading and unload
ing, troops emhazking and discmbarkfng,
Government wagons driving about and1pae-
sengers lurTying on board Of boats, or lust
stepped ashore.
1t was from one Of these bluffs that jeff.
Thompson watched the fight Of the gunboats
and rams. When the fight was decided, JEFF.
walked into the Gayoso House, lit cigar, pub
two or three others in his pocket, and-left.
The river now sweeps majesticalIy past, and
there is no sign Of t!,as short but decisive and
glorious victory. On the opposite shore are
few dcsolate chimneys, which mark the
site Of q village which was great resort of
gucrillas, aud which our forces destroyed.
The guerillas still linger about and this af-
ternoon q troop Of them rode out In full view
on the bank and planted their Gags. A couple
Of shots were fired at them from Fort Picker
ing, and having feasted their eyes with q view
oftheir beloved Memphis they left.
Military law prevails everywhere about
here. No courts are held, except 4 sort Of
police or Justice court. There hare been one
or two military commissions, who hare taken
Jurisdiction Of cases Of debt, in some way con
neeted with the army or the Government, but
as near as I can understand the Pro-
yo5t Marshal is about the only tri-
bunal; here at present. It is fortunate
for the Government and Memphis that this Of
hcc is filed BY Lieut. Col. Smith, Of Rockford,
ILL.,, one ofthc best and most efficient officers
have met in the army.
Tic railroad to Corinth Is managed by Gen.
J. D. Webster, who Is always found equal to
| any place and any emergency. The country
| is infested with guerillas, but tho ruute ia
now so etfcctually guarded that thcy tiutl cap
turing railroad tr;ains an expensive amusement
| One of their last attempts was made by a
| leader named Bob. Smith, but Bob was killed
and his party scattered by our cavalry day
or two after, aud Gen. Huribnt sent into the
Confederate lines dozen of the most proni-
nent secession families Of Memphis. If al.
| other attack Is made he will send another lot
South. The secessionists dislike this kind Of
| retaliation.
have spent considerable time with our
troops cncamped along the line Of this rail-
road, and hayo accompanied our cavalry in
some movements further South. The general
condition Of the troops is yery gratifying
| In point Of health, discipline and hardihooI.
! they could hardly be improved. If these reg
l1ncnts could be filled up to their maximum
number, they would mako d splendid army.
Several Of our Illinois cavalry regiments arc
IN nv nralf IN H.,n&
! guerillas. One Of the most efficient of these
regiments i the old 4th, formerly command
| ed BY Col. Dickey. and now by Lieut.. Col.
Wallace, Of Chicago.
The country south Of the railroad has been
| pretty much cleared Of guerilla bands. Hero
scattered and his camp plundcred by our cav
airy, and he Is reported to hare died of bis
wounds. This fellow carried On business on
4 different s7stcm from most Of the gnerillas.
Instead Of burning, the cotton, he used to im-
pose tax Of fifty dollars q bale and let the
planters take it to Memphis. Then, Ike
Falstad, he used to conscript "none but good
| householders," and lei them OFT on PAYMENT
81 fair SUM of money. Col. Prince, Of the
'th Illinois cavalry, has got the old fellows
asconnt book, showing that he received from
over for wages to his men, arms, &C., about
zle,tlV, leay1ng profit Of about $4,000.
| whether ne kept his accounts as correctly ~
| captain NfaEge, cannot say, but presume
| they nre correc1. Before the war, he was a
dealer in patent rights, and a member Of the
Methodist Church.
Gen. Looney went up into Richnrlson's g
bailiwick in March to get his guerillas to
make up brigade. Richardson preferred to
do business on his own account. and declined
to 60 into Gen, LIS brigade, While in this
business the General and his staff spent the
night At the house OF a wealthy planter Sew
eral Indies we're there from Memphis, aud the
evening passed away very pleasantly. The
next day passed away very pleasantly. The
next day tt ralned hard, and the General did
not venture out, but stationed u negro for a
picket guard some distance from the house.
Col. Na}lace, with detachment Of the 9Th
llliEois cavalry, happened to be taking i little
excursion i'll the vicinity, and while Plodding
along through the pouring rain they discried
tue Generals picket OH tic full run for the
horses, and before the negro could give the
alarm tic house was surrounded and the Gen.
cral and his staff were taken prisoucrs, The
| General WAS little sensitive TO Jokes abont
| his jacket.
In this warfare on the g1crillas our trnops
have many obstacles to overcome, The in
/ habitan's give no information, except such AZ
/ they think will mislead our soldiers, and &C
tiyely assist the gucrlllas, aud are In fac1
nearly all gueri1as themselves. The eountr,
abOunds with cross roads and. now the denst
GUNNER foliage makes it easy for them to liz
in ambush. Notwithstanding these dsffical
| ties, our boys arc too much for the scamps
They follow them by day and by night, aIt
they fight them at every chance and at ever,
| odds, r.