Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-20

The following message from President Davis
was laid before Congress on Tuesday:
To the Senate ana House Of Representatives Of the
Confederate States OF merica
The great importance of the news just re-
ceived from Tennessee induces me to depart from
established USAGE, and to make 10 you this com
municaton Ia advance of official reports
From telegraphc dispatches received from
official sources. / am able to announce to you
with entire confidence, that it mas pleased Al
mighty God TO crown the Confederate arms
with glorious and decisive victory over cur IN
vadeTs
On the morning of the 9th inst, the converg-
ing columns of cur army were commanded by
the commandor-lu-chief, Gen. A S Johnston, in
al assault On the Federal army, then encsmped
near Pittsburg on the Tennessee river After
| hard fought bsttle of ten hours, the enemy was
driven in disorder from bis position and pursued
10 tae Tiver where, under cover OF his Cuub0ats
he was, at the last accounts, endeavoriug t0-el-
feet his retreat, By aid Of his transports.
The details Of tins great battle ale yet too few
and Incomplete 90 enable me to distinguish with
merited praise all of those who may have con
spicu9usly earned the rights to such distinction;
and I prefer to delay my OWL qualification iu
recommending them to your special notice
rather than incur the risk of wOuEding the feel
ings Of any by failing TO include them in the
list Where such victory mas been won, over
troops as numerous, es well disciplined armed
ana appointed, as those 'Rh!cn have Just been so
signaily routed, we may coucuda chat one com
mo spirit-of unAinching bravery and devotion
to our c0untry's cause must have animated
every aFeast, from that OF the commanding gen
eral TO that Of the humblest patriot who served
in the ranks
There is enough ia the continued presence Of
,.ba IfufI
over this 5ri liant success, and to remind US of
the grave duty of continued sXerti0n until we
shall ezl1rt from pr0ud aud vain glorious enc
my the reluctant acknowledgment of our right
70 self-g0vernuIent But an sll-wise Creator has
been pleased, while y8aGhsanng 70 US his cOuu-
tensnce in battle, 20 atHict Us With a severe dis
peusatOn, to which we must bow in humble
submission. The last lingering nope bas disap-
Peaied, and It IS put too true that Gen. Albert
Sidney Johnston Is no more. The tale of his
death is simply narrated in a dispatch lust re-
ceiyed from Col. William Preston, in the follow
iaS words
General Johnston fell yesterday at halEpast
two o'clock, while leading a successful charge.
turning the enemy's right and gaining a bril-
liant victory. A Minnie ball cut the srtery of
his leg, but he rode on til, from the loss Of
blood, he fell exhausted and died without pain
in few moments. Ills body has been intrusted
70 me by General Besufegard, TO be taken to
New Orleans, and remain uath directions are
received from his family
My long and close friendship with this de-
parted chieitsin and patriot, orbids me to trust
myself in giving vent to the feelings which this
sad intelligence has evoked. Without doing
injustice to the living, it may safely be asserted
that our loss is iFreparaole and that amoug the
shining hosts of the great and the good who now
clus ter around the banner Of Our country, there
exists no puIeI spirit, no more heroic soul, than
that Of the illustrious man whose death / Join
you in lamenting.
In his death he has illustrated the character /
for which. through life, he was conspicuOus-
that Of singieness Of purpose and devotion to |
duty With his whole energies bent on attain |
ing the victory which be deemed essential to his
country's cause, hs rode On to the accomplish !
maGl Of his object, forgetful OF self while his /
very blood was fast ebbiug away. His last breath /
cheered his comrades to victory. The last sound /
he heard was their shouts Of triumphs His last |
thought was his country and long and deeply /
Will his country mourn his loss
JEFFERSON DAVIS