New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-11-23
Defence Of Memphis.
PUBLIC xzE1.sc 1T ODD FELLOWS HAIL.

From the Msnnphs A vsianrhs of Thursday.l r,
In pursuance Of public call there was meeting
Of citizens at Odd Fellows Hall yesterday morning,
Robertson Tnpp, Esq, Called the meeting to
called to the chair, and J. B. Bingham and w. !
Rossel appointed Secretaries. -.
The Chairman than stated the object of the
meeting in few pertinent remarks. He said that
alter months of preparation, we found ourselves
IN great jeopardy in reference TO the defence Of
the Mississippi Valley. Our force was not large I
enough to protect the city. The time had come |
when we had to endanger our own lives in the de- I
fence of our fresides Every house had arms to I
use when the enemy approached, but it was a sad |
mistake to suppose that Memphis was to be sue |
Gessiq1ily defended when the enemy had passed |
either use it himself Or give it to some one who
would use it. 1t is now time TO act, to organize.
We need an organization which will bring out our |
military resources, our guns and OTHER weapons of
defence. The enemy is marching upon us in i'm
mense fOrce and with iron fleets, and we owe it to
ourselves to make preparations to assist and secure
our friends who are struggling for our defence.
Rev Phil Fl. Thompson then offered the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted: &'&5 A
Resolred, That Committee be appointed by
the Chairman to bring business before this meeting,
and to propose some concert OF acton BY the
citizens and that all resolutions whick any gem
tlemen desire to offer, be read to the meeting and
then referred to said committee. ,, ssl
The Chairman then announced the following
named gentlemen to compose the committee ].
ney, John Park, Rev. P: Thompson, Grafton
Baker, F. NJ. White, E. Bartlett, E. N. Apperson,
". B. Miller Jeptha Fowlkes, H. G. Smith, An
thony Street, Thos. NJ. Allen, e. McDavitt, Robert
son Topp. The committee then retired i1
During the absence of the committee, Mr.. Ma
gevney said that Mr. s. Y Watson had just return
ed from Columbus, and he heped he would be
called upon to address the meeting. -9
Mr.. Watson then came forward and said, that
while at Columbus, he made particular Inquiries of
our officers and men, and all concur in one senti
/ and assist them. They had had terrible battle,
and found that the enemy they had to meet there
was different sort of material from those met at
Manassas, Bull Run and Leesburg. They were
men who would fight face to face until the last
man was slain, as was shown in the fact that one
whole regiment was cut down except43 men,, He
said he knew all about the force at Columbus
that Bowen was at Feciana and so strongly forti.
fed that they could whip the devil. The presump
ton now is, that Lneolns forces will be sent down
the Mississippi from the Kentucky side. They are
| expected to come down from Cairo and Paducah,
| and flank US on the right and left.
If they succeed in aanking Col. Bowen, they have
only few miles to go to tear up the railroad and
then go to the river and sink boats, thus cut
| ting off our subsistence supplies, and take Coum-
! bus without firing gun. He said that the pryates
in the ranks say that if they knew our people here
| were doing their whole duty, it woud enable them
| to do ten times as well. He said that the army at
Columbus called upon us to organize and come and
help them. He appealed to every man to offer
himself and fill up every tery company that has
| not now the means of being worked effectively.
When the enemy takes Columbus, it is folly to talk
about saving Memphis. There is not an artillery
| company but what can find accommodations for
| fifty men. Go and help the flying artillery-go and
| help the heavy artillery. Fort Pillow has not
| enough to man the Notifications. There are
plenty of guns there, but not enough men. Our
great duty now to go where the fight is to be at
| Columbus and Feliciana-and attempt to keep
| them from fanking Bowen and Polk. He said that
Gen. Pillow informed him that application to call
| out the militia for the Western district had been
made to Coy. Harris, and he hoped there was no
man who would wait for the call of the militia. He
said that resolutions should be passed to close bnsi
nesshouses at O'Clock, to drill and that men with
| rifles shot guns, pistols, and even knives and
blades should organize, and by tomorrow night we
| should know how many guns we have in our midst
| Let us organize companies of each weapon
take the blankets Oft onr own beds, and take our
position side by side with the noble men who are
now fighting for us. If we do that-it we shall
thus act--the boys at Columbus would think that
h-ll had broke loose. If there were any that had
no guns he would take them to Bankhead and
| batteries. He would himself furnish transporta
ton to all who would go. Hesaid that even grub
bing hoes would be useful, for men are needed tc
finish the Notifications. In this connection, he
said that he never felt so mean in his life few
days ago, when he was riding along with a ceat
shirt, and found regiment. OF gentlemen down il
q ditch digging. He said he would never do 81
again, but he would go with all who wished to go
and show them where they could work efficiently
| In conclusion, he urged every man. old and young
spectators and all, to go to work, Organize int
companies, or Join the ranks and fill up others
and resolve to tight and die by those now battling
| for our rights. This would encourage our men
and make heroes Of all who can bear gun OF
strike for their country.
| Mr.. Howard then came forward, and briefly but
forcibly addressed the meeting. He said we ough
to fight the enemy at Columbus, for when they
passed Fort Pillow, he was willing, for one, t.
make Moscow of Memphis. He feared that thert
| vhn nrht n hn hnr
| Our movements were all known to the enemy. W,
ought to organize, and if we have no guns, 60 NJ
as blank regiment, and take the guns OF th
, enemy as they fall. He thought we had abou
! 1000 men in our city who could be spared to 6gh
at Columbus He was willing to go with such wea
, pons as we had, and he had some that he wou
loan to his neighbors. s
), The Chairman then announced that the commit
tee would not have areport ready before O'Clock
when an adjournment was hadstO that hour.
II AFTERNOON SEsSIoN.-The meeting rGassemble
! at $3.50 p. NJ, when Rev. Mr. Thompson, Chairman
! of the committee, read the following resolutions
! Resoyred, That in view Of the imminent DANCE
, | now threatening u.s. all business houses, Shops an
! manufactures, except those engaged in manntat
turing munitions of war, ETC., be requested to clos
and discontinue business at o'clock every day fc
+ the purpose of enabling persons in such houses
y shops, ETC., to connect themselves with some mil
~ tary organization and drill from day to day.
hesolued That it is expected that every abb
bodied and loyal citizen will connect himself wit
. some military company and provide himself wit
: such weapons as he can obtain.
u ReSoloed, That the citizens of each ward an
those in vicinity of the city be requested to hol
:, meetings as soon as possible, and organize man
4 companies as can be done, and report such organ
izaton, number of arms, description etc., to Brig
: Gen. Carnes. g
Resoloed, That every citizen WHO has gun an
;, cannot join q company, is expected to place tn
same in the hands of some person who can or WI
| act in defence of our country. p,
Resolved That a committee be appointed to issu
brief address to the citizens of the surroundin
y country in Tennessee Arkansas, Louisiana, Miss
| sippi and Alabama, setting forth the imminent daI
IS gers to which we are exposed from an invadin
|. army; and urging all ableb men to organic
themselves into army of defence and hold then
selves in readiness to march at any moment to an
IS point designated, should the enemy descend Ii
| Valley of the Mississippi.
ReSolUed, That Messrs. Miller, Apperson, M
I, Davit and Nelson, be committee to confer wit
y the commanding Generals at Columbus and to tel
II der to them such pecuniary aid as may be neede
- - to expedite building of the submarine batteries the
'I now have under construction.
Resolred, Th@ committee be appointed to col
Il fer at once with Generals at Columbus, ny
!. and urge upon them the necessity of immedIatel
r closing the, Mississippi river at some point vii
q formidable rats or otherwise, under the superyl
II ion of competent engineer. o..