Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-05
NORTHERN REPORTS FROM SHIP
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The Federal transport Constitution landed a
reinforcement Of two regiments on Ship Island,
on the 10th ult, as we learn by a letter pub
lshed in the New York Herald, Of the 18th.
The active force at that time on the Island 4 is
stated by this correspondent to have been four
regiments Of infantry, three companies of cav
airy, and one battery Of artillery. BY the fol-
lowing extract 1t viii be seen that no large force
can be concentrated at that point:
During the afternoon Lieut.. c. W. TurubulI,
OF the United States Typographical corps. who
visits snip Island for the purpose Of reporting
70 Zen Butler the number of troops that can be
properly encamped on the Island. made a recon-
nO!ssance OF the eastern end. lie was accom-
panied by Major Frye, Of the ninth Connect
cut regiment, and Lieut.. Rheiuhardt. Of the
fourth Massachusetts battery. After a careful
survey, Lieut.. Tsrubull saws that there is a sui.
hclent extent Of healthy ground for three regi-
nenis'h they are compactiy arranged in camp.
but the great disadvantage about this location Is
thai the channel Is so narrow aud the anchorage
so shoil that transports cannot approach the
eastern end OF the island CONSEQUENTLY. to
convey subsistence and qu~artermaster's stores
10 camp at that point, 1t would be necessary
10 ealid d railroad from the pier at West End,
which can only be done at an immense expense
TO the government, as a part Of the road is sub
ject to overflow, and weuld have TO be built on
piles, and a plank road Tor the horses laid the
entire distance.
TIE TROOPS DISPIRITED.
lam sorry to say that there is very great dis
satisfaction among the troops that the Consitu-
ton brought out on her first trip. They have
been here now two months and a half, during
which time they have not received a regular
mail, and for two weeks they nave had no fresh
meat or vegetables. For d long time there has
been no arrival Of transports. and for q month
they had watched day after day for the Consti-
tuition, but in vain. They had finally come to
the conclusion that the expedition had been
abandoned, aud they had been entirely forgotten.
by the War Department. 1t does seem hard that
these men should be sent so far away from home,
confined to an island which presents no attrac-
uons whatever, to relieve the rhonotony of an
almost desert life, and then be deprived of mail
communication with their friends, and suffer for
want of proper provisions. The officers are
equally dlsheartened because they can see no
evidence Of their having anything to do to assist
IN the great project of subduiug the rebellion.
They feel as though they were forgotten. and
that they will be allowed TO linger out a 4 iser-
able existence here for some moAths, without any
opportunity OF winning glory in the field Of
honor.
Loss OF CAVALRY HORSES.
The cavalry companies have been particularly
unfortunate in the transportation of their horses.
All Of their horses died on the passage, and, I'M
less their places are supplied by others, the cav
airy viii be Obigedt g. organize as foot rangers"
Ihe manner in which the horses for this dppart-
ment were sent cut Is outrageous. Out of four
hundred and fifty horses sent from Boston. over
one hundred and fifty persisted at sea or died on
the island from their sudeTiugs on the transports,
and there Is hardly a horse here but what is more
or less badly bruised.
It has been the intention, ! think, to use the
horses IN Captain Manning Fourth Massachu-
sets battery, but Captain Read is making an
effort to have them transferred to his squadron
OF cavalry. lie argues that the sand is so deep
and soft that the guns and garages cannot be
used SO readily as TO be of any advantage in the
drill OF the battery, while there would be nothing
in the nature OF the soil to prevent the most
thorough exercise OF cavalry tactics. The island
has been a good deal improved since the first ar
rival of troops here.
SUSPECTED D~ESERTIONS.
A singular circumstance occurred last uight.
aud has given rise to a great deal Of s~pecula-
ton The q-uaTtermastsr sergeant of Captain
Reads squadron of cavalry. is a man named T.
p. Van Benthuyssn. lie IS from New Orleans,
and claims to be a nephew of JEFF. Davis. Ee
is evidently a man of good character, and by
his intelligence and correct demeanor has won
the confidence of his officers to a great extent.
About eight o'clock yesterday evening he and
Alvin HUrter and Clifford, privates in the
cavalry squadron, started in q boat from the
Constitution to go to the island, and have not
been heard of since. Van Benthuysen has been
corresponding with the New York Sun, and On
that account has been permitted to quarter in
the saloon with the commissioned officers. It
is believed by many that he awaited himself Of
the opportunity of collecting the information
which his association with the officers furnished
for the benefit of the rebels, and that he has Sc
cured She other swO men as -accomplices and es-
capped to the mainland of Mississippi. There
was a strong vino blowing eff the rebel shore
last night, and il looks quite as probable that
they were unable to make headway against the
sea and were dritted off to Cat Island, or per
haps as far away as the Chaudeleurs. If the
men do not return within a day or two the thao-
ry of d9sertion viii look reasonable; but until
there is better evidence for the Gsiief, / think
the character Of tue men entities them to the
benefit Of a ve,y strong dcuht. The probability
is that, hut for tho claimed relationship to jeff.
DAVIS by Van Bsnthnysen and his hailing from
New Orleans, the men would have been sup
posed 10 nave dritte1 away.