Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-15

--"~~
authority and with the sanction of Gen. Ma
gruder, determined to make Of it a Moscow,
and the place was fred that it might no longer
afford a shelter to the minions Of Butler against
the burning sun of a Virginia August, or serve
as a rendezvous for negroes induced by the en-
envy to run away from their masters. shall
next expect to hear that Hampton has not
been burned at all, and that what was taken
by the people of Norfolk for a general contia-
grafton, was nothing more than the burning Of
a few whisky barrels.
For, you must know, the news has reached
US ria New York and Washington that Butler
has forsworn his regular tipple, and declared
a temperance reformation among officers and
men Of his command. To this end, he caused
all the liquor at the lower end of the peninsula
to be destroyed, not in the usual way, but all at
once, by pouring it out into Back river to the
great discomfort Of the sheepshead and hog-fsh
which inhabit that ancient stream. This vast
libation to temperance must have caused an
immense accumulation, in Hampton and its
neighborhood, Of empty barrels, and the com
bustion of these NAV possibly have caused the
report Of the destruction Of Hampton. !
merely put forth this suggestion in advance to
meet the possible announcement next week that
the village is still standing. Mark, l do not
state that it was the barrels and not the build
ings seen on fire by the citizens of Norfolk.
With regard to operations in the vicinity Of
Newport News, it is said that Gen. MagTuder
thrice did offer to the enemy battle, which be
did thrice refuse. Their wholesome dread Of
The "masked battery" has disincliDed the
Yankees to come OUT from their entertainments,
and moreover Professor La Mountain has been
making discoveries by balloon ascension from
Fortress Monroe, which makes Butler pause.
Professor La Mountain had a BIRDS eye view
of several uncomfortable things. He saw
some twenty thousand men under Mag5uder at
no great distance from Newport News, which
plainly demonstrates that the professor some
times sees double, as Butler used to do, before
the burnt offering of whiskey. He saw the
rebels erecting formidable guns at Sewel's
Point and Willoughhy's Point. He saw a
large force marching aboEt Norfolk and naval
activities around the Gosport yard. Plainly
TO a man up in a balloon it looked as if the
rebellion was not altogether crushed, nor the
United States property at Portsmouth likely
to be taken in a hurry. But the federal com
mander at Fortress Monroe bad best not con-
fde too much in La Mountains aeronautic OBJ
servstions. Professor Lowe went up high
several times from the grounds Of the White
House, lust before the battles Of Bull Run and
Manassas, and upon his representation, the
{" On to Richmond" movement was ordered.
If such disasters as those of the 18th and 21st
of July can be attributed in any degree to the
" airy uothingsn of Lowe, the loss Of the
Fortress itself might follow from too implicit
a confidence in the atmospheric reconnois-
sances Of La Mountain. One rathey striking
spectacle the a~sronsut might have seen, on a
fine evening Of last week, had he been hover
ing over Hampton-Magrude firing bis lsngest-
range rihed guns, three times against the walls
Of the fort as a signal Of defiance, and then
drawing off in profound disgust at finding it
impossible to induce Butler to meet him.
There has been a good deal Of discussion
here in military circles and other circles,
about the operations in the western part Of the
State under General Henry A. Wise. That be
should have fallen back as far as the White
Sulphur Springs creates surprise and dissstis-
faction. Clearly he mission Of this officer to
the disafected portion of Virginia has been a
failure. Issy this with no disposition to IN
1 dervalue the services or the talents Of the eX-
governor. Great expectations were aroused
by bis departure. His legion was to be called
into being as be advanced by the magical pO-
tency of bis name aEd the electric inspiration
Of his personal qualities. His friends claimed
for him a popularity with all classes of the
people Of Virginia beyond that of any man in
the commonwealth. It was predicted and be-
lieved that he would carry everything before
him, from the Allegheny mountains to the
Ohio river, and that be would take no step
backward until the last supporter of the Lin
coin government had been driven from the
borders of the Old Dominion. OF tbe
ex-governoT's lofty courage, enthusiasm
for independence and whole-souled devo-
ton to the cause Of his native State.
no doubt could be entertained. But mark
the result Of his expedition. Instead Of The
thousanos that should flock to his standard, be
with great difficulty collected men enough tc
organize into a brigade, and many Of thest
have now deserted him. Without the ability
to hold Charleston on the KaDawha, be fell
back 10 Gauly bridge, which in turn be aban'
doned, after burning the structure; and from
this point to Lswisburg his retreat is said tC
have been attended by as much confusion al
most az if the enemy under Cox had been clost
upon his rear. The truth has been made ap,
parent that Henry A. Wise has not the militia,
" capacity for a general, and, indeed, wheI
we consider that his acquaintance with militia
~ affairs has hitherto been confined to thr
militia musters Of Accomac, and the little
episode of the execution Of John Brown, VIZ
NAV not wonder that be should have small
knowledge Of what is demanded of a genera
Of division in times Of active hostilities. Tbt
Confederate government, it is to be feared, is
likely to fall into the same bIunder, which hal
already cost the Liccoluites so deaT-that Of
appointing civilians to high places Of com
mand. It would be Just as reasonable to eX'
pect that a man who bad never acquainted
himself with finance should manage the con
Germs of a large banking establishment with
success. as that politician should be qualified
to direct the movements Of an army.
This same false system of appointment tc
Office it was which gave to England 30 many
" Judges without law and diplOmatists without
French" and which led to the nnmberless dis.
asters Of the earlier portion of the war between
the Allies and Russia in the Crimea. IL Gen
Wise, or Mr.. Toombs, or the Hon. Howell
Cobb, like your " patriotic bishop of th,
Episcopal church, had received a thorough
military education, their cases might be differ.
ent, but as it is, recognizing fully their states.
manship and tee value Of their c~ounsels in tbc
Cabinet, we cannot hope that they wilI do much
better than Banks, or Patterson, or Butler, mol
forbear the regret that they should have beer
transferred to positions of such great import
ance to the safety of the new republic.
We have a world of telegraphic reports thi:
evening-one that Gen. Lyon has been killed
in battle in Missouri, which is regarded as toe
good to be true another that Lord Lyons, the
British minister at Washington, had demanded
his passports, because the government retained
his official dispatches as contraband of war
and a third and a fourth, which, if they have
apv foundation in fact, you will have heard