Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-03
FROM THE SRAT OF WAR IN vHR-
E
fso,ei.l e-orre,popdence Of the AppealI

equinox q little Dtninu us tlnle- 1He lchpSl
AZURE, withal, is high uncomfortable out of doors,
uncomfortabl within doors, window shutters slam
ming, ~dlapidated chimnies losing now and then
a brick, and threatening 10 topple over, clammy
pavements, interior walls streaming with mos
trre, and the continual suggestion Of the roof
flying off overhead. There is some alienation
of the discomfort in thinking that the Yankee
ships on the coast are in danger Of STANDING,
and that the armada, which lately set ont from
Fortress Monroe, may, after all that has been
said of its probable destination, be going 70 Davy
Jones' locker. That it viii have q pretty rough
time of it tonight, wherever it may be bound, is
reasonably certain.
News was received last night from the COM
mand of Gen. Wise, down to the morning of the
2jth al nine o'clock. The force was on the sum
nit Of Big S-weI mountain. in what was pro-
nounced by Gen. H~onningsen IN impregnshle
position. Gen. Lee, with four regiments from
FIoyd's brigade, had moved forward to reinforce
him and TO assume the chief command Of the
entire division, and 1t Was confidently cSpscted
that the combined forces of Rosencranz and Cox
would make an attack upon our lines at any
moment. We are therefore prepared to hear Of
a Sanguinary engagement either TO night or to-
morrow. As the enemy cannot turn our position
on the Big Sewell mountain, but must make the
assault directly in front, there will undoubtedly
be hard fighting, should they come on.
A spiriied little conflict might have taken place
on the Potomac, day before yesterday, between
Walkers battery and the United States steamer
P~oeahontas, if the steamer had not sought safety
in fight. Fer several weeks past the Yankees
have been endeavoring to find out Whereabouts
We ara engaged in erecting batteries on the river,
and fer this purpose their vessels have been CON
stantly moved up and down, firing at random
anywhere it was thought probable the Confed-
crates were at work. The Pocahontas, on the
afternoon Of the 25th, came 10 rest at a point not
far above Aqua Creek, and squared herself off
to pour a regular brosdside into the Virginia
woods. Capt. Lindsay Walker, of the far
famed Walker battery, had observed this move
ment from the shore, and quickly getting one Of
bis rihed pieces to bear upon the steamer, gave
her a salute. Al the first fire, the planks few in
III hA4t[tiNiLS IOui nc mp : IA tt| rNNtAh
brought tue nlainIiggin down upon the deck,
and the third lodged a ball securely 10 the hull,
whereupon the Pocahontas made off at the top
Of her speed, to bring up aud repair damages out
of the range OF the audacious rebel artillery. SO
far the Yankees have not discovered exactly
where the permanent blockading battery on the
Potomac hiss been constructed, but they viii
probably be- made aware of its location ere long.
An officer who has been directing the operations
at this mysterious spot, told Inc the other day
that it was the most difficult thing in the world
to resist taking a crack at the Federal steamers
as they 90 by. Last week, be says, one went
along so near TO the guns that he could plainly
discern the officer who were playing cards on
deck, and with the glass he could almost tell
what was trumps.
The talk ON the street now is that Nj. Benja-
min will be retained in the War Department as
Secretary, and somebody else will be chosen as
Attoney-GeneraL He has devoted himself to
the laborious duties Of his new position with so.
much zeal, industry and intelligence, that fresh
vitality end yigor seem TO have been infused into
the service. Tn amy transportation win no
longer be a SLOW co~ach-rpgiments are ftted out
and sent of to different points with the least pos
sible delay, and the change may even extend 10
the army Of the Potomse and erminate the mac
ton Of that splendid body OF fighting men. /
have heard that among other matters determined
upon under the new regime, IS 4 reorganization
Of the cavalry, with a view TO the increase and
greater efficiency Of this important arm of Inc
national defense oHd oFezsc. Already we have a
N magnificent corps of hOrsemen in the field, men
Of great endurance and audacity, who can ride
and hgft, 10 whom the saddle Is better and
suTer resting place while in the charge than the
slippery turf, and when they shah have been
marshelcd into grand cavalry army, they viii
prove far more terrible TO the people OF The North
than ever the CosSacks or the MamelukeS were
10 Napoleon. The officer whom it is proposed 10
place over our bold Dragons, il a mau whose
name gives promise Of the most brilliant and
complete success in whatever he undertakes.
This Is General Earl Van Dorm. lie viii be as
signed to service, It is said, ct an early day, with
Johnston and Beauregard, where he win find, in
the Back Horse trooPof Payne and the dashing
followers of the brave Col. Stuart, the material
on which to form the invincible cavalry that
shall stable their horses, before the war is over,
in the markethouses of Philsdelphia.
Apropos of the onward movement, / have good
reason for believing that the Cabinet are not
divided, as some journals and le.ter-priters have
supposed, upon the question Of carrying the war
across the Potomac. On the c%ontTary, it Is said
that their opinion Is unanimous that the advance
nlent must be made. What il j., therefore, tha:
rerlrds it, Is more difficult to comprehend than
ever. Probably we ,hall know one Of these days.
MessTs. Mason and SlidcI, Commissioners to
England and France, with their Secretaries, will
leave Richmond tomorrow, on their way to Eu-
rope. They viii proceed by way of Quebec to
Liverpool, and their iaoog. will be so closely
maintained in passing through Lincoln's terri
tories that all lhe DETECTIVES Of New York and
b. .on win not find them out.
BTis-Gcn Snecd and staff, of your State, passed
through this city yesterday, on their way to Ma
nassss. Their friends in Tennessee who desire
to communicate with them, are requested TO ad-
dress their letters to the care of he Hon. B. y.
Clements, Of ibo Post Office Department, Rich
mond.
As / sn writing, there j. a wild report that
Gen. Wise has been takea prisoner. As usual,
is responsible for it. DIME.
The Surrcad,r Of Lexington, .MSs0an, Just
EaorH IN decentralization Of -4fajrS "a
Var lork Gig, as Described By n Late Prisoner
ef Bgr at Fort Lqtageae-The Naoat E5Pe-
d'ioa fcoa 0d Point turns Ep at Wilmington
~ C.-iisath Of 6s Troops Improving.
Iu...nr...n N-L..l-r b. ~ --..;.- L