Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-20
InatIca 1o Iien Poll.

From the Memphis AValarchss Nov. Is
The following communication addressed to tht
Editors of the Appeal, was denied admission unit
they could consult with the author of the attack
Gen. Polk. 1t is inserted in the AVALANCHE By
request:
To THE EDITORS OF THE APPEAL have Just reat
your article of the 18th our late vctoryn In it
after suggesting that the attack of the enemy
worked very like a surprise, and INDUCING in
certain observations which SAVIOR Of censure to the
officer in command, you remark We throw oui
these reflections merely because we deem it duty
to the people, The duty you owe the people,
take it, is not to mislesd them by any sided OF
imperfect statement of facts, or TO indulge in any
harsh or unwarrAnted criticism of their ofhcia
agents without being well informed of the facts of
the case. To whitewssh their defects" would be
wrong done the people, truly, but that's not the
only wrong conductor of the press can commit
in that connection. Now, it so happens, that my
opportunities are such as to enable me to know
exactly what occurred on the 9TH, as 70 the sup
posed surprise, AID the incidents making up the
generalship of the day.
In the first place, l happened to know, that sys-
TEN of active and vigorous scouting and picketing
mas been kept up by General Polk on both sides Of
the river ever since he has been command at this
post and know that no General officer has ever
made greater exertion, or more successful, to be
well posted to the position and condition of his
enemies. know thst he had reason to apprehend
an 8bLAcK on DOM SIDES OF the EIVeE Tor several
days previous, against which he had no provision,
Also that this apprehension was strengthened by
q dispatch he received between two and three
O'Clock on sthe morning of the 7th that he was sp-
prised by one eff his staff through sentinel of the
actual appearance of transports and gunboats in
the river immediately after day light, that he
promptly informed his general officers of the fact
and proceeded to make the proper disposition for
defense. He proceeded to the river bank TO see
that Colonel Tappan was duly advised In case he
had not already been by his videttes where he met
the Colonel and gave him the information he pos
sessed.
He then gave orders to general Pillow to pass
four of the regiments of his division to Tap
pans relief This was done as soon as in the ma
tnre of things was possible and in ample time to
make all cessary preparation for the reception of
the enemy. From Col. Tsppan, who has just called
my attention to what he regards the injustice of
your article, learn that his command was 10 posi-
ten at least one hour before the enemy made his
appearance. AS to the earthWork, to which allnA
sion has been made as important to enable Tsppan's
force to hold its own until relief could be sent, it
was determined that the labor employed in its con-
structon could be better spent in sweeping away
the forest on the opposite shore, to place it
under Of the guns of the fort, especially as
the result has shown, it was practicable to support
it in ample time from this side of the river. So
much then for the alleged surprise As to the suc-
ceeding operation of the day. his official report will
give truthful account.
D. BLAKE, Capt. C. S. A.
Act. Adj Gen.