David Davis to Richard Yates

Danville. Ills

May. 9. 1861.

His Excellency

Richard Yates

Gov of Illinois

A reliable merchant of an adjoining county in Ind. at my request wrote out the statement on the two preceding pages. I thought that I ought to send it to you. He is only one week fr N Orleans. He went by rail road & returned by boat. He had--to insure his safety--to hail from Ky.

He feels persuaded that an important movement is to be made on Cairo. The information is very fresh & from a gentleman of position.

He represents the people in the South as being united and determined.

Yrs Most Truly

David Davis

In passing from Columbus to New Orleans I overheard considerable conversation on the subject of capturing Cairo. I was not known as a northern man. In fact it was frequently remarked that no northern man would dare to travel on the road at that time. I think therefore they spoke their sentiments without reserve The feeling was that Cairo must & should be taken at the junction below Memphis a Gentleman came on the train who said he was authorized by authorities of Memphis to purchase Sharps rifles to be used in taking Cairo. he did purchase all he could find between that point and N. O. and shipped immediately back He also said that they were expecting rifles to reach them from above. they were packed in china ware crates and were expected to pass for that article. He said that they had permission from the Gov. of Ky. to establish fortifications in Ky. if necessary and they had also recd a despatch from the Gov. of Missouri

stating that he was ready to send troops to meet theirs at Cairo whenever they were ready to attack it

There are considerable numbers of troops at Memphis Columbus and a few at Randolph I could not learn exactly how many In returning from N. O. by boat I saw some heavy cannon, powder, shot and shell shipped at Baton Rushe directed to the Mayor of Memphis. they were however put off at Randolph some distance above Memphis

At N. O. troops are arriving by every train and boat, ordered, they say, to the Potomac They are generally well armed and drilled The determination is every where expressed that Cairo must be taken and I am quite sure that a vigorous attempt will certainly be made. They expect to be able to erect fortifications opposite Cairo batter down the Levee and by letting the water into the town force the soldiers on the Levee where they can reach them with their sharps rifles

I left N. O. about a week ago

Danville May. 9. 1861.

Anonymous

In regard to movements in the Southern States

No Answer needed