Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-10

From the Charleston Mercury. 18th Instant
So scant and confused have been the account
from below, during the past few days, that thu
patience Of cur community has been sOrely taxed
to divine the true condition of affairs at the YaTi
GUS points which Dame RumOr has made tn,
theater of events of a stirring and, in many in
stances, iTeeOncilable character. Having beer
at som pains to sift and unriddle the contradic
tory statements which have reached us from time
to time, we are now enabled TO present am intel
ligible and, we believe, an accurate narrative o.
the operations which have lately given rise to SC
much excitement.
About 10 o'clock on New Years morning, two
of the enemy's g~unbOats came up from Broad
river towards Port Royal Ferry. Taking a posi-
ton just opposite Pages Point and west of the
ferry, they opened a heavy fire of shot and shell
against a mall battery which had been con,
structed at Pages Point, but which had never
received its complement of guns. Judging
from the severity of the enemy's fire, it is sup
posed that he was not aware of the defenseless
condition of the work. There were no troops
at Pages Point at the time, excepting two com
panies of Col. DOnnovant's regiment, under
Capt. Bookter, and two light guns of Capt.
Leske's Virginia field battery. These fell back
a short distance, and obtained cover behind the
embankment Of a fence.
The Yankees kept up a vigorous Smelling OF
the esrthwork, the plantation and the dwelling
of H, N. Stuart, Esq, showing excellent artil-
lery practice by knocking down chimneys and
perfersting the houses in the most promiscuoHs
and unceremonious style. Finally, satisfied that
there were no masked batteries in the neighbor-
hood, they sent a boats crew ashore, which
reconnoitered the place and Immediately returnef
to their gunboats. This ended the hostilities &
Pages Point. Not a gun was fired on our side,
"A -, A.. -,,h,,Fr Tag1gt.H frAn, tho hon.
bardment, our force at the Point retired. There
is a rumor that subsequently they returned with
reinforcements TO hold that position, but on this
we have no satisfactory assurance.
In the meantime, the Yankees were making a
far more serious demonstration on the other side
of Port Royal ferry. Five oftheir gunboats came
I'D from st. Helena sound and landed a force, es-
timated to consist Of about 5000 men, upon the
plantation of Alexander Chisholm, Esq. While
they were forming on the shore. the gunboats
proceeded up to the ferry, and opened a furious
FIRE Of shells upon a small three gun battery,
which we had erected on our side of the ferry, so
as to command the causeway. 1t soon became
wi lent that our men would be unable to hold
the battery, so they fell back, carrying off with
them two of their guns. The heaviest of the
three guns was Rccidently overturned in a ditch,
by a nervous mule, which had taken fright at
the noise of the shells. As there was 10 time for
delay, this gun was hurriedly spiked and aban-
dOned.
While this was going on, the Yankees, whose
landing at Chisholm's had been effected without
opposition, began their march along the shore, in
the direction Of Port Royal Ferry. When their
advance had reached a field in the rear of Mr..
John Chaplin's house, they were suddenly met
by Col Jones' regiment and four companies Of
another regiment Pouring one volley into the
ranks Of the enemy, our boys advanced with the
bayOnet at doUble quick. The Yankees, THROWN
somewhat into disorder by the fire which they
had received did not wait to close, but dropped
their guns and fed towards the river, where they
were separated from their gunboats by only a
strip of marsh. Col. Jones kept up the pursuit
until he had nearly Overtaken the enemy, when
the g~unbOats opened q brisk Ere upon MIN to
cover the retreat of their men. A single shell
which exploded, killed six and wounded nine Of
our soldiers. The fire of the guRhOsts being
quite severe, Col. Jones desisted from the pur-
suit, and retreatcd leaving the Yankee huddled
together on the shore, under the guns Of their
steamers.
We do not hear that there was any casualty
on our side beyond tie fifteen killed and wounded
by the explosion of a shell of which we have
spoken. The number of the enemy's killed apd
wounded is not given; but, as our boys had one
volley at the invader, there is every reason to
believe, that their loss exceeds our own. One
Of the wounded Yankees, Sn on the field, wac
brought to McPhersonville, where he died on
Thursday night. No information could be OBJ
tanned from him concerning tho strength or de-
signs Of the enemy.
On Thursday morning Col Jones regiment,
in accordance with orders fell back some Distance
beyond the range Of the eaemy's guns. All day
Thursday the gunbOats were Smelling the desert
ed site of Jones' camp. This continuous firing
occasioned the report that there was fighting on
that day; but, in fact, not a gun was fred on our
side. The enemy now hold that portion of the
mainland bordering on the Cooss river. and
stretching from ChishOlm's to the ferry. They
have mounted guns on our deserted battery. at
the latter place, and otherwise strengthening
their position. There was no renewal of the
firing ON yesterday, upto a late hour in the after
noon.
The position of our forces is uBquestionably
far stronger now than before. The points to
which they have retired are approachable only
by narrow strips or land, danked on either side
by impossible marshes; and, when next the
enemy advances, he must abandon the advsn-
tage, which he has hitherto enjoyed, in the pow
erful support Of his gunboats. Sherman has
promised the northern newspapers to master the
Charleston and Savannah railroad. We shall
see whether he redeems his pledge.