Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-26

l. giYau TWO or t0ree WeL-uIeftel suOLS EOh
our heavy guns to one Of his boats, whel
she instantly shrunka back and drifted help
/ less below the line Several shot stTucl
another boat, tearing her iron case and making
/ her timbers crack, and splinieTing them as b,
a stroke Of lightning, when the two fell back
/ Then a third received several shocks, making
/ her metal ring and tinbers crack, when tn
whole line gave way and fell rapidly back from
our fire until they passed out Of range. Thu
ended tho first severe and close conflict OF oU
heavy guns and the enemys gunboats, testing
| their strength aud the power Of heavy guns t
resist them The shot from our 32-pound gum
produced but little effect they struck aud re
bounded, apparently doing but little damage
but / am satisfied from close observation tha
the timbers of the framework did not, and coulC
net, wiihsta d the shock from the 10 inch colum
bad or 30 pound rihed guns. These guuboat,
never renewed the attack. / learn from citizens
living on the river below that one Of Ehe injured
boats was sunk, and that others had to be towec
to Cairo. This information may or may not be
trus, but it is certain that all of the boats were
Tepulsed and driven back after most vigorous
and determined attack, aud that two OF the boats
we're badly damaged, and that third was more
or less injured
1t is difficult to estimate the gallant bear
ing and heroic conduct Of the officers aud men
of our batteries, who so well and so persistentiy
fought our guns until the eRenlys determined
advance brought his boats and guns into sueh
close and desperate conflict, Where all did then
duty so WELL it is almost impossible to dlscrlmi-
nate. The captains already named, and then
lieutensnts, (whose names for want Of official
reports | esunot giYe) all deserve the highest
oommendaiion.
Lieut. 6. S Martin, (whOse company Is now
Z ftnfura flne IL Int Fho NO arfQTau ia that
post by Major General Polk, commanded one Of
the guns, and particularly attracted my attention
by his energy and the judgment with which he
handled his gun The wadding having given oat,
he pulled 0f his coat and Tammed 1t down as
wedding, and thus kept up the FIRE filth enemy
were finally repulsed
On the evening Of this day we received inioT-
nation Of the arrival of additional reinforce
ments of infantry, cavalry and light artillery, by
steamboat, all Of which were disembarked a
short distance below our position.
TIE BATTLE OF DOVER.
On the 14th inst. the enemy were busy throw
ing his forces of every arm around US extend
ing his line of investment entirely around our
position, aad completely enveloping us. On
the evening Of this day we aseertained
that the enemy had received additional re-
Inducements by steamboat. We were now
surrounded by an immense force, said
by prisoneis to amount to fifty two regiments,
and every mad aud possible avenue OF depart
ure were clt off, with the certainty that our
sources Of supply By the river wOuld soon be
cut off by tie enemy's batteries placed upon the
river above us.
At a coun,il of the general officers, called by
Gen Floyd Il was unanimously determined to
give the enemy battle next day at daylight, SO
as 70 cut open route Of exit for our troops to
the iDteriOrof the country, and thus save our
army. We had knowledge that the principal
portion Of the enemy's forces were massed in en
eampment il front Of cur extreme left, com
nanding thetwo roads leading into the interior,
1ne Of which we must take ia leaving our posi-
ion. We knew that he had lnassed IN enc8mp-
nent another large force On the Union Ferry
oad, opposite the center of our left wing, and
mother ia froat OF the left Of our right wing
lis fresh arrival Of troops being eneamped on
ne bank Of tie river, two and half miles be-
ow rs, from which latter encampmenta stream
q fresh troops vas continually pouring around /
IS on his line Of investment, and thus strength /
ming his general enoampnent on the extreme !
ight. At each Of his encampments, aud on 1
ach road Ae lad in position battery OF field /
rtllery, and tweuty-f0nr pound iron guns on 4
iege carriages Between these eRcampments 4
n the roads, was q thick undeTgraWth Of brush 4
nd black Jack, making il impossible to advance
T maneuVer any considerable body Of troops.
The plan Of attack agreed upon and directed +
y Gen. Floyd. to be executed was, that with 1
be main b5dy Of the forces OF our left wing, +
Aould attack the night wing Of the enemy, oe-
upyIng and resting upon the nights reaching
, the bank OF the river, accompanied by Col
olrest's bngad Of cavalry that Brig Gen
iuckner, with the forces under his command
az srE.r a
fike the enemy's eneampment and forces on
e Winn's Ferry read that the forces under
VI Heman. should hold his position, aud that
sen command should leave in the trenches
oops to hold them.
Ia this order Of battle it was easy 70 be seen
lat if my attack was successful, aud the enemy
luted, tsiat his retreat would be along his line
investment toward the Wina's Ferry road.
I'd thence toward his reserve at the gunboats
Glow. IN other words my success would Yoll
e eneIny's force IN retreat over upon Gen.
uckner, when BY his attack in fisnk and rear.
e could cut up the enemy aad put hi N conl-
etsiy 70 rout. Accordingly dispositions were
sde to attack the enemy At Eve clock N
the 10th, moved cut Of my position !
engage him. In less than one half hour |
II forces were engaged, He was prepared to 4
eet me IN advance OF his eneampment, and he
q meet me before had assumed line ef battle l
ID while I Fas moving against him without any {
rmatpn for the engagement. For the inst half I
mr. Of the engagement l was much embarrassed I
getting the command in position properly TO
eet ne fos. Having extricated myself from {
e petition and fairly engaged him, We fought
N fG nearly two hours before l made any de- )
led advance upon him. He contested this I
ID most stubbornly. The loss of beth armies t
this portion Of the field was heavy The c
em1's particularly, as I discovered by riding c
er de feld after the battle with Gen. FlOyd. 6
e enBmy having been forced to Weld this nor Q
q Of the teld, retired slowly toward the Winns 0
rry road Buckuer's point of attack. BE- did b
retreat but fell back fighting US, eontesting n
ny inch Of ground. b
yhe tight was hotly and stubbornly contested G
bofh sides, and it consumed thsday till twelve q
lock % drive him back as far as the cen y
where Gen Buekner's command was to lank a
]. While my command was advancing and
Wy driving him, ! was anxiously expect
70 hear Gen Buekner's command open
ia his rear, which not taking place | feased
le misappTehension of orders, and came
a the field Of battle withiH the works TO learn e
at was the matter There found the command to
5en Buckner massed behind the ridge within
work taking shelter from the enemy S srtiilry n
he Wipns road, it having been forced to retire = =
eel
e was sill slowly advancing, driving the =
my towaads the battery. l directed General =
,kner immediately to move his commend 4
nd to the rear OF the battery, turning its left i.
ping IN the hollow, and attack and carry il =
efore the movement was executed, my force !.
aing the attacking party on the righ. =
b Forests regiment (caValfy) eallantly =
rged the battery supported by body finfaii- =
driving Il and forcing the battery to retire, ~
ng SIX pieces Of artillery, four brass aud two )
nty-l0ur iron guns. Ia pursuing the enemy = =
ng back from this position, Gen. Ruckners :,
es became united With mine and engaged tb,, 2,
my IN hot contest Of nearly an hour with -
. forces Of fresh troops that had now met =
This position Of theenemy being carried BY
joint forces, called of farther pursuit after
n and half hours Of continuous aud bloody ss
iict. After The troops we're called off orders ~
: Immediately given to ths different com pa
dis to form and retire to their original posi- ~
] IN the inlIeuehments -
be operations Of the day had forced the en- Pc
command of tho enemy around to our right po