Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-31
# Prov ~PADUdAu.

EDITORS APPEAL; Permit nae to communi-
cate to your valuable paper, for the benefit of
your readers, especially those that bail from
Kentucky, a few items relative to affairs in this
section. For prudential reasons I omit the
names Of parties and dates, but for the truth Of
every statement made you may rest assured.
Paducah is at this time occupied by about
$500 troops, two-thirds or threc-fowths of whom
are Germans. They are tolerably well equipped
and drilled, and are better Differed than is gem
orally admitted concerning the Federal troops
| Very little reliance, however, is placed upon the
troops by their own officers and upon every
occasion when an attack on Paducah is expected
the general spirit manifested by the soldiers is
Of great dizziness, not to say cowardce.
Some exaggarations have been entertained
about the Publications constructed about the
place. The breas1works aye small, and mount
inc only two heavy guns-thirty two FOUNDERS
| the balance being six and twelve Founders.
The bitches are only FIVE feet wide and four and
a half feot deep. Tho greatest obstacle TO be
! encountered by an assaultng force is an abauis
Of trees. which extend from three to five hun
bred yards in half circle in front OF the whole
work, giving a clear range 70 then guns and
making the obstruction complete against a
| cavalry attack. That It would cost some lives
now to take tine place, is undoubtedly true, but
that it could have been done a month ago with
out any severe loss is equally true. Butt to con
| slider the feat as impossible, or the object as not
worth the cost of the undertaking, is rather be-
yond my understanding, and such an idea hyors
too much the plans and views Of the Federal
officer have, 70 be accepted.
The accumulation Of stores and provisions
here is immeuse-wouh at least two millions Of
| dollars and WITHIN the last few days some lum-
Der has been purchased for The purpose Of build
ing winter quarters. Large numbers OF mules
have been bought and are daily being trained to
harness. The hospital is used as an arsenal,
and everything looks as if this point is intended
to be made the headquarters of a large army to
operate in Western Kentucky and down the
river.
Few Of thc hrcastuorks and iutrcnchments
are completed yet, and only a portion OF the
guns are mounted aud this, added to other
reasons, makes the apprehension Of an attack
felt the more truly here.
You are aware tbat the bridge broke loose
some time ago. The fats yet De on both shores,
mostly Gu this side. 1t may be reconstructed,
but with slight chances Of ever standing the fall
rise of the Ohio. 1t was %ayowediy built for the
purpose Of retreatng III case Of a successful at
tack, and our Dutch heroes feel rather sadly the
loss OF it.
1t is impossible to imagine anything 50 dull
as our streets at present. We are all looked
upon with suspicion by the HesSiaus, and the
few who remained TO save their property have
dearly paid for what benefit they have derived
from doing so. Tie oath is administered to
everybody, even women and boys.
Gen. Smith and the whole army feel that they
are surrounded by enemies, silent or avowed,
and the officers of education and refinement,
experience Leenly the modification of meeting
no sympathy anywhere, and are getting every
day more Disguised with their mission. The
lower class of soldiers hate Us for it, and seize
with eagerness every opportunity OF revenge;
but the men Of more refined sentiments see that
we oct as a free and brave people and they
suffer from the cause 20 no small extent.
Lately this,spir, Of revenge had q fair occa-
sione 10 manifest itself in the destruction Of all
the trees around Padueah. The finest residences
of our place were cleared Of their ornaments in
a few minutes Nothing was respected, from
the oak that bal protected the Indian before our
day, down to the shrub planted by our Own
hands last spring
The loss to private property is immense, and
the scene Of desolation most sad. Such an act
Of vandalism could not be performed but by or
der Of the Black Republican, petty despot, Lin
coin 1, and when you consider that according TO
the same principle ofProtecting batteries erected
inside ola city, all the houses, as well as public !