Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-29
TALLAHATCHIE RIVER. MIss.,l
April "a, 1863,

EDITOR STATE SENTINEL: | cannot give you a
complete history of the namesake of a place
which stands out so cOnspicuOusly upon the pages
of history, and which once rested on solid founda-
tons.
However, we know that ancient Cairo was
in Egypt, and that modern Cairo was in what is
called the Egypt of the great Sucker State of
Illinois, now a province or satrapv of the kingdom
of Abe |, the Railsplitter, as som Butternut
would say.
Many years ago, an English joint stock com
pany OF which the Rothschilds were members.
bought mp the site of this Cairo, on which the
surveyors laid off an extensive plat, containing
many hotels, banks, churches, and other ''insti-
tutiouS" also found ia "a modern railroad town
plot. Local history does not inform Us whether a
Typographical map presented the darkest features
of the site upon which "a splendid architectural
foundation WIS to be raised that should rival
ancient Cairo. Indeed. it is not probable that
the criCrs Of town lots would lGlve been a%rtistical,
or eloquent on the picture OF a bottom which was
needed for all this it would have been expen
sive-and the visions Of engineers. at slight cost,
would obviate all objections.
'Old MassaSsip" became enraged at this for
eign Intervention. He wiped the whole concern
out. if we except an old hotel anil Il. few shanties
which were the rendezvous of all that was virtu-
Gus. vicious. mean, aud refined and squalid-all
that was left Of Cairo.
Thus the town remained until the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad was projected and begun. 1t was
then resurrected. 1t rapidly grew into impor-
tance-nothing retarded it, but the rival City of
the Mound.
Cairo now contains about eight thousand peo-
pie. From the river il presents a fine view. Its
levee is exciting and lively. But back Of the
levee. description beggars; it has no parallel in
the world; it has not it's counterpart on this con-
tinent, sure. All that is needed to render it the
most outre place in creation, would be some John
Cinnamon.
The levee is n kind of boulevard for Cairo,
at least in the modern Specification of the term.
Afternoons and evenings, it is filled ITO use the
Eastern phraseOlogy) with the houri and peri of
the city ana neighbOring towns aud those from
far distant countries, loahng army officers and
other vagabonds. aud salmagundi strollers.
Yesterday, the Federal gunboat Cl.octaw sailed
for the feet of Admiral Porter. She is a mag
nifcent iron-clad carrying an armament that
ought to do heavy work.
1t is supposed that the Choctaw will not be of
much use to Admiral Porter. Vicksburg is on
the eve of evacuation.
The idea of Dlpont's feet arriving to help
Porter and Farragut, is simply absurd. but such
has been the on dit. If the Monitors can run the
bayOus, let them come on.
Down here, we think that the Monitors were
not tested before Charleston. AT Fort Pemberton,
the Rebels threw the same Iroiectiles at the Chilli
cothe and Baron DeKalb, that they did at the
Monitors, and at "a like distance. The Chillicothe
had three inch iron plating with nine-inch pine
board for backing. The Monitors had nine and
and eleven inches of iron plating with oak back
ing. The Chillicothe remained in action longer
than the Monitors. The Monitors had full crews,
whilst the Chillicothe and DeKalb had but half
crews. The Chillicothe bad tour killed and
eighteen wounded: the KeKalb three killed and
two wounded. The niue Monitors did not have
more than eight wounded. The Chillicothe and
DeKalb had t~orpedoes and RATS before them
Fort Pemberton and a willy enemy behind them.
The Monitors had only torpedoes and stone forts
in front of them. Fort PembertoD is an earth
work, but practically it will resist the impact Of a
projectile better than stone. The Chillicothe, in
fifteen minutes, fired seven times-eleven-inch
Dalhgren guns. Some of the Monitors did not
fire more than one time in fifteen minutes.
W. e. f.