Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-05-04
THE SITUATION -CORENTH AND
YORKTOWN.

The fall of New Orleans has virtually Openet
the navigation of the Mississippi river to tn
enemy's gunbosts, from its mouth to ats source
Forts Pillow and Wright can now serve only a
temporary defenses to delay and not altogethe
impede the approach of the enemy from above
Could they succeed in holding out against al
attack from FOOTE's lotiila now confronting
them, they would eventually be forced to sue
cumb to an assault in the rear from FARRAGUI
and BUTLER. So soon, therefore, as the pur
pose for which these works are held is accom-
plished, the quicker they are abandoned the
better-taking care, however, TO leave nothing
behind in hot haste that can be turned to use by
the enemy.
This result has superinduced a state of facts,
which, in one respect, is emiHently advauts-
geQus to US. Il has taught US the wisdom OF
relinquishing all efforts for the future TO defend
our rivers against iron clad and movable bate
riss by brick forts and eartheru fortifca6ons.
1t has compelled the Government to pursue the
policy OF concentration and aggression, for
which our best generals and the people have
long clsmored 1t has gathered cur vast and
invincibe armies at ConDth and Yorktown, and
has forced the enemy to leave the protection
of his gunboats aud give us battle on land,
= where we have whipped him in every important
conflict that has taken place since the com
mencement Of the war Excepting at Fishing
Creek and Laurel Hill. our dRsters have all
occurred upon the coasts and along our rivers
a circumstance which should long since have
!. A..
whose wisdom they have but inst commenced
to realize.
We may well say that we have now arrived
at a great and important crisis in the war-sue
fraugbt with conseq quences of the isost profound
and momentous character. The eyes Of the
nation rest on Connth and Yorktown with IN
tense solicitude- The hopes Of the Coniederacy
have been stsked upon the two great and power
ful armies Of BEAUREGARD aud JOHNSTON
the master spirits OF this military age-and the
fate of our young nation hangs trembling in the
balance,
What we most fear is that the enemy will
prove too cowardly to offer Us battle at either of
these points. Indeed, indications at present
point very strongly to this conclusion. Advioes
from the Peninsula afford reason to suspect that
q rapid diminuton of the enemy's forces there
has recently taken place. They have erected
strong lines opposite our own, aud are now
thought to be embsrling large numbers Of troops.
As we learn from the Richmond papers, be-
lief gains ground in the army that MCCLELLAN /!
pes not intend to attack us on light a. all iE /
Peninsula that. having discovered tie |
Tength of our position, he has determined |
simply to fortify camp and leave a body of |
men there sufficient to hoi- it, and carry off his
army to operate on some other point
Richmond, the prize to be reached, is menaced,
from three directions-Y Yorktown, Frsdericks-
burg and Staunion-snd it would not surprise
us should the very difficult route by the Penir-
suls be abandoned, aud an advance be sought
through sn easier approach Whatever may be
the enemy's determination however, he must
fight on tand, which, with anything like equal
numbers, is all that is requisite to the glorious
triumph of our arms.
At Corinth, Is some sdvices represent, the
prospect of a battle rather dimiuishes than iu-
eTeases-thus indicating the same avoidance of
combat on the Federal side that cbarscie.;zes
the situation ia Virginia 1t may be that the
fall Of New Orleans, as We suggested a week
ago, has entirely changed the programme Of
HALLECK, and that declining trial Of con
clusions yet awhile at Cornth be proposes to
wait until Memphis is occupied by portion Of
Buffers division from the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi OF of HAMIITON's from New Madrid,
when q flank movement will be executed from
this point BEAUREGARD, simultaneous with
an advance from PittsbuTg Landing. Should
the Tennessee river, however continue to fall as
rapidly as it has done for the past week, we
Opine that an insurmountable barrier will be
found to the execution Of this project
If the enemy will fight US at Yorktown and
COrinth it is all that we waut be viii be driven
back IN defeat at both places amid the triumph
ant shouts of victory. We fear he knows this
but too well, and, skuiIing back, viii betake
himself to those two inevitable resorts of Yam
kee wsrfare-fank movements and the spade.