CAIRO, March 21. — Affairs at Greenwood are improving. The Chillicothe was not injured so badly as reported, the extent of her damages being some battering of her casements. The Forest Rose was not sunk. The largest gun in the rebel battery was dismounted. Continued firing was kept up Saturday between the Chillicothe and the battery, with but little effect. — The battery is surrounded by water in the rear, so that assault by infantry in the rear is impossible.
During Sunday night the Federal force landed and planted battery guns taken from Dekalb, 800 yards in the rear of the Rebels, making use of cotton bales for breastworks. With this it is believed the Rebel battery will be quickly demolished and their entire force, 4,000 to 6,000, captured.
The rebels have built their batteries with direct reference to an attack from the river, and are not prepared for a fire in the rear.
The Vicksburg canal is reported to be washing out very fast. Our informant says that acres of land on each side are tumbling in, and it had deepened some 20 feet. Our largest boats can now pass through.
N. B. Buford assumed command of Cairo today.
The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, IA, March 28, 1863