Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-14

interesting frsni Forts and
Pickens---GeneraIs ana
bragg.
A correspondent Of The Selma (Aia) Re
porter, writing from Fort Barsncas on the 9th
inst, says
Since this place has become the focus Of
public interest, being the "ssat ot WARP a
few items and observations from one on the
spot, may prove acceptable 10 your numerous
readers.
Preparations are going forward here On a
grand scale, for the enthronement Of august
battle, and the place is being set in order for
the bloody carnival that is expected to tran
spire soon. The roll Of drums and g%u.teral
commands Of The drill O%ficers, salute the ear in
every direction. In addition 10 the guns Of
Bsrsness, batteries are being erected along the
shore at points that command Plekens. This
fortress lies IN the lap Of Q ereseent-shaped
shore that sweeps around It, md is exposed to
the coneeatrie ere Of a chain OF batteries that
stretches from horn 10 horn Of tbs c%resceut, a
distance OF over two miles. This is too ex-
iensive a line OF defense 10 support, and In the
pregsnce OF a large hostile force, would be ex-
eeedingly hazardous. In the opinion OF your
correspondent. Slemmer has Il In bis power to
capture the most formidable battery on our
| side, at any time, and render useless the huge
eelumbtsds mounted in It. But for the anom-
alous state Of Affairs vibrating between peace
/ and war, as we are In a negative condition as
70 both, or IL positive war existed, our general
would not sspread himsslfD over 80 much ter
1 ~ritorv. with so small a force, or If he did a
sortie from Piekens would teach him the folly
OF SO doing. The Confederate forces now
number between three and four thousand men,
TO be augmented to i've thousand as soon as
ibey can be assembled. Alabama has now
here twelve c~ompsnies. A regiment has
been organized and feld officers appointed.
| Msior-G General Clemens was down for that
purpose.
saw the General, and his bowed form,
loose aud Stacking gait, Was but poorly sug-
! gestive OF martial qualities, he seems broken
and l~istless, snd better suited for the eloister Of
an anehorite than the business Of "%setting
squadrons in the field"
Gen. Bragg, in command Of the Confederate
army, is a tan, gaunt, eadsyerous Son Of Mars,
about fifty years Of age, and, whe the game Of
bowling IRON balls across the inlet begins, be
will show himself an adept at the art. Hts
bravery and skill as an artilleriss all admit
but whether be has calibre for grand strategic
combinations, remains to be tested. His beinE
called to this position by JEFF. Davis is good
assurance that the right man is in the rigb'
place.
Your correspondent is not connected with thl
army, bot is here in quest Of adventure, aad
like Mr.. Micawber, not only waiting" bu
anxious "foF something to turn mp TIT
prospect is good, | think, for : display Of pyro
technics soon, and as distance lie said to len,
enchantment to the view, In imitation Of poe
Campbell at Hohenlinden, from a safe position
out OF range, l nay prefer to witness the "fsi
flash Of the red artillery or ] may desire
place in the picture somewhat nearer the flash
ing of the guns. A look across the pass int
the yswning throats Of those huge engine
that bristls upon the parapet Of Fort Piekens
is calculated to induce a weakness in tn
knees, and inspire decided sympathy with Boil
Acres, and one feels that oozing sensation il
the finger ends OF which said Bob spoke 81
feelingly.
The army in Flanders. in comparison t.
ours, were ignorant Of the first Tudiments Of
swearing. Ihave heard more " cussing" FOL
the two days that have been in camp thar
in all time past, and have known some "gooC
cussers,7 and in days agone mixed much with
publicans and sinners. Every preparation IL
about complete foI the reduction of Pickens.
Some think the appliances at hand ample fol
the business, others think differently The
fort IL certainly an ugly looking customer, and
seems as If il might "lsugh a seige TO scorn.r
On the sea side YOU might as we'll lombard a
bill side, for the damage that you could DO
but luckily the weakest point of the work il
exposed to our heavy guns, and when a can
nonsde is ordered, the concern will soon melt
away, and the federal rats that infest it will
be driven to take shelter in their ships. A.
any rate this is the conclusion to which I came
after a careful examination Of the subject.
In my opinion Pickens will be a pile OF rub.
Dish in ten hours after the thunders OF our bat.
teries open upon it.