Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-18
FROM THE CoNFEDER-
ATE CAPITAL.
RICHMOND, February II, 1862.

RICHMOND, February II, 1862.
A cloud of anxiety hangs over the city in
keeping with the leaken canopy of the sky, We
have not as YET heard the full extent of the dis
astor at Roanoke Island. The enemy at latest
edvices had shelled Elizabeth City, which was
burned by the retreating inhabitants, and
were moving upon Edenton, their destination
being undoubtedly the line of railroad at Wei
den, as l suggested in my letter Of yesterday.
No great apprehension is felt for the city of Nor
folk, to reach which they would be compelled to
leave their boats and make a march through the
Dismal Smamp. After all, though the success
Of the Yankees was complete in this expedition,
It may be doubled whether the results will Justify
the immense expense at which it was fitted out.
As a victory, the affair Of the 8th inst. cannot
certainly be considered anything very bril-
liant. With a vastly superior weight Of
metal and tho odds Of ten to one in the
number OF men, they took an esrthwsrk fortif-
cation and the whole force engaged in its de-
tense, on an island where they had no means Of
making good their retreat. 1t was = foregone
conclusion that the place must fall before such
an overwhelming assault. The folly would seem
to have been in making e stand against it, with
a force so inferior and works so indefensible. l
understand that so far as Gen. Wise is con-
ceTned, the fate of his legion is 10 fault Of his
Before he left Richmond be left on record lis
protest against the whole plan Of operations
there. This document is in the hands of his
son-in-law, DR.. Garnet, by whom it will soon be
given to the public, IS an act Of justice to the
general. The wound of his son, Capt. O.. Jen-
nings Wise, was fortunately not mortal as was
first reported, but a slight one in the leg.
The city is full to overlooking with soldiers
on furlough who have accepted the governments
terms for re-enlistment and are en- their way to
enjoy a brief holiday at their homes. Twenty
five hundred arrived in town yesterday and
more came to-day. From Centerville, the &C
counts are cheering as to the probable number
of the twelve months volunteers who will again
enlist. The eloquent and stirring address Of
Gen. Johnston vii not be made in vain to men
who are fighting not for pay but for the defense
of their liberties and their TOOftrees.
The Norfolk correspondent of the Di:patch
states in q letter published in that paper this
morning that the independence of the Confeder-
ate States has already been acknowledged by
Great Britain, and that the New York Herald,
in the latest issue received via Fortress Monroe,
admits the fact. This is probably premature.
The London Times in confirmation of the theory
that 1t has been bought up by British capitalists
with large interests in Yankesdom, continues to
oppose European Intervention in American af
fairs, and has a leader thoroughly anti-southern,
yet for all this, recognition will soon com from
England Z. Immediately after it has been
made by France, and this may be within twenty
days. The French government has very large
supplies of tobacco on storage in the warehouses
Of this city, aud I have strong reason for believ-
ing that it intends 60 have the article shortly, if
it should be necessary to break up the blockade
for the purpose.
Our forces on the northern Potomac having
fallen back to Winchester, the Yankees have
occupied Remney again-thIs time in force.
Whether the withdrawal of the command was
in accordance with the wishes of Gen. Loring 1
am not apprissd; but the wisdom of the step is
not altogether plain to uumiJitary eyes. The
resignation Of Gen. "S%tonewall" Jackson has
not as yet been accepted at the War Department,
and it is now hoped that he will withdraw it.
Hundreds of letters were received By the Secrs-
tary Of War protesting against its acceptance.
The talk out OF doors is now that The Hon.
Meredith B. Gentry, of your State, will be
Speaker of the new House Of Representatives,
in which case Mr.. McDonald's chances for the
clerkship viii be the best.
Great solicitude is felt here for the army in
Kentucky, and the safety OF your city and yet,
in spite Of our own dsrkencd horizon and the
dangers which menace our sister States, hundreds
20 every night to hear Blind Tom.
DIXIE.