Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-26
LETTERS FRom COLUmBUs.

80 -4@- '-o
nature has transpired in or about Columbus
since my last. The mastery inactivity that
has 50 long characterized affairs in this depart
ment, still leaves its impress upon things here
and hereabout though the impression IS gam
ing strength every day that Something Is about
to be did" and l have good reason to believe
that the impression is strengthened by drop
pings from the sanctuary of authority" What
and where it is to be l know not, and should
doubtless be constrained in my liberty to COM
municate if 1 knew.
Recent accounts from Paducah are to the eff
feet that the Federalists have reconstructed the
bridge of boats across the Ohio at that point,
thus securing to themselves an avenue of retreat
in case some military necessity" should force
upon Gen. Grant a hasty surrender of that, to US
as well as to the Federals, important military po-
sition. There are now about six thousand troops
at Paducah, two thousand of whom l am credibly
informed, are in the hospitals, but the other four
thousand are strongly intrenched behind works
which our delay has given them ample time to
construct.
Besides the formidable earthworks which have
been thrown up by the Federalists at Paducah,
l have it on the best authority that a novel
and most effective method of securing their po-
sition from attack on its most exposed points by
artillery and cavalry, has been adopted. On all
roads leading to Paducah with the exception of
one, it is said, at points where the means exist
for such a novel defense, trees have been fallen
across the roads in such a way as to block up
the avenue, the tops lying from Paduceh, and
the limbs carefully sharpened so as to impail
anything belonging to the animal kingdom
larger than a weasel, whose pathway may lay
across them, and who persist in their efforts to
reach Paducah without the necessary delay of
their removal.
The residents Of McCracken county, or that
part of it, at least, lying Immediately around
Paducah, who are at all in sympathy with the
Confederates, are suffering both in their liberty
and property, from the despotic and mercenary
character of the policy of the FederaliStS, and
are loud in their supplcatiOns for release from
their worse than Egyptian bondage. l am
aware that it is sometimes necessary that even
innocent individuals should suffer for the public
good, but where policy and justice demand the
vindicatiOn of the rights Of a people who are in
sympathy withus, and the military arm is strong
enough for the execution OF the demand, 1 car
see no adequate reason for delay in the circum.
stances that surround Columbus and Paducah
The enemy are evidently making their prepare
tons to give it up to us in case we shall show
ourselves worthy of occupying it, and I expect
ere long, to date a letter from that point.
Some days ago two young men, from tn,
neighbOrhOod Of Padueah, brought to this mar
ket fifteen fine mules, which they offered fo
sale at the unprecedentedly low price of on,
hundred dollars a head. Now, there was moth
ing remarkable in this, if the mules had no
each borne upon the left shoulder in prominen.
capitals, the initials u. S. They were bad boys
who had evidently appropriated somebody.
property to their own use, and you will do tn,
publica favor by advertising the fact, 50 tina.
the OwEer may come to Columbus and claim his
property. l understand the young men effected
a sale, and after dividing fifteen hundred dollar.
equally between them, started off on another
enterprise of the same sort. It is said that an Ole
gentleman bearing these initials has an extern
sive plantation Just north Of Paducah, and is a
present herding large quantities Of his stock il
the bottoms on this side of the river, so it il
quite probable the young men may carry on al
extensive business in this line, to their own ant
the purchasers benefit, since one hundred dol
lars is about half price for such stock as they
are able to pick from the old mans flock.
have understood upon good authority, tina.
one George Mex. Luken, a native of Illinois, anC
for some two year previous to the breaking on
of the hostilities between the North and South
resident of Memphis, is now in Cairo, engaged
in the business of " spotting ~ southern mes
who touch at that point. 1t will be remembered
that this young man was urged to leave Mem
phis last spring by the vigilance committee, ant
while very reluctantly complying declared hi
intention to merely go home and see his friend.
preparatory to going to Virginia and taking VI
arms in the Confederate cause. l mention tht
fact merely to give his friends a knowledge o
his whereabouts.
No further news of interest has reached me
from above, though there are rumors of engage
ments throughout camp both in Missouri anC
Kentucky, which are, however, so intangible il
their nature as not to bear repeating.
80 YERITAs.
COLUMBUS, KY, October %.