Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-24
9ailv 9preal,
ADVANCE az ne FhnEHAL ARMY

AuyANCE e. RE FEEEHAL AHmA
TOWARD MR@A>NA%.
The Herold's special correspondent ACCOM-
psnvipg the right wing eff the advancing col
umn Of the grand army of the union' tor"afus
the following dispatch Of the first days oPe-
~rations
THE FIRST pAY;s OPERATIONS OF THE RIGHT
WING OF THE ARMY.
VIENNA. Julv 16. 186I.-The long expected
order to move forward was telegraphed from
Gen. McDowelPs headquarters, at Arlington
Rights, to all the division and brigade com
matders OF the grand army, az O'Clock yes
terdav afternoon, and was communicated TO
the different corps during the brigade Parades
held in the course of the evening. tn order
was rece we'd BY all the troops with the most
rDthusias ic demonstrations OF s~atistac ion.
The regimentsl commanders were instructed 20
held heir commands really tie move at P. III,
provided with cooking "a iOBs for three days.
Accordingly the greatest activity prevailed this
morning throughout the eG~campments, from
the noTthprHm0st post, near the Chain bridge,
to the southernmost, near Alexandria. Tents
were taken down and tied up, wagons loaded,
arms put in order, ammunition deal out, Tatlons
cooked, etc, etc.
At noon everything was in readiness, and
precisely at two O'Clock the $4,000 men COM
posing the grand army about entering upon
the great work Of sweeping secession out or
the Old Dominion, were moving from their
different positions toward their respective des-
tinstions.
In accordance with my instructions to follow
the movements of the first division, under the
command Of Brigadier General Tyler, Of the
Connecticut brigade, lef- Gen. McD)wei's
headquarters At Arlington house. at the hour
Of march, for Fal's Church, for the last three
weeks the headquarters Of Gen Tyler. Srik-
ing the road from Georgetown to Fairfax
courthouse near Fort Lorcoran, | found It lit
orally coyered for z distance of over three
miles With moving masses Of infantry, caval-
" and artillery, composing the four brigades
Of the first division.
Passing Fsips Church, I soon came up with
Gen. Tyler and bis staff, directly behind the
advance guard. The three first brigaaes fol-
lowed he Alexandra and Leesburg turnpike
to d point two miles this side Of Ealps Church,
and then turned of to the left for this point
the fourth, under the command of Col. Rich
srdson, took a more direct route from their
position near the Chain bridge. The march
was necessarily slow, the road being narrow
and extremely broken, and the nearness max
ing i incumbent upon the advance guard 70
feel their way slowly and cautiously. As the
twelve thousand men composing the three first
brigades moved solidly and measurrdly on,
they presented a most magnificent spectacle,
when gszed upon from one Of the many eleva-
tons overlooking the road. The seemingly
endless forest Of glittering beyOnets. unduiat-
ing with the ascents and descents OF the road /;
the dark mass Of humanity rolling on slowly
but irresisttbly, like a black stream forcing
it's way through a narrow channel the wsv-
ing banners, the inspiring strains of the nu-
merous bands, the shouts and songs Of the
men, formed a most inspiring and animated
scene, which was contemplated with both
amazement and terror by the unpTspared coun-
try people along the road.
Some Of these Tustics manifested signs Of
qualification as the troops passed their several
hsbitstions. Others looked upon them with
hostile suilenness, while again some made of
for the woods as soon as they caught sight Of
the head Of the army.