Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-04
FEDERAL UNCERTAINTY I'm WEST
TENNESSEE.
F@ssraBE OpsH'0H Of GessrsI Price.

FSSSrabEs OPiHi0S OF GessrsE Price.
spssiaI Correspondence Of the Ckiesso TimssI
Jackson, Tenn, October 27.-Strange ru-
moTs of fabulous reinfOrcements to the rebel
armies of the Southwest continue to float about
here, and are eagerly retailed around camp fires.
The more improbable the story, the more ere
dence it seems to gain. Two or three days ago
news came in the forenoon that Price was with
in four miles of Bolivar, threatening an inme-
date attack on that place. The evening train
stopped the csnsrd but outsiders were several
days in learning that its only foundation was
Major Muddy's capture of twenty or thirty
guerrilla borsemeD, without q fight OF the
shadow Of one. Yesterday everybody stood on
the corners and told everybody else that come
body said that Pittsburg Landing was occupied
By twenty thousand rebel troops that SaVan-
nah, eight miles below, contained nearly as
many more and that a descent on jackson,
CoTinih, or some place else, was inevitable to-
day, tomorrow, or sometime. In short, every
one said something was going on but no one
seemed to know precisely what. To add to the
glorious uncertainty, Colonel Harsh's brigade
Of General Logan's division was ordered to
hold itself in readiness for instant marching
orders, with FIVE days' rations in each mans
havsrsack. All was hustle and confusion in
the regin eats composing it. Men wondered
and questioned as TO their destination, End Off
GERS, who no more knew than their ~privates,
we're s%toiealy %reticent, but looked profoundly
sAgGcious. Suffers were again delighted with
the prospect Of heavy sales, and before night
fall their stores of crackers and cheese were
sstonishingly diminished. Yet here we are, on
the morning Of the SECOND day, with no adj
vance ordered, and. 80 far as can be Judged
from apparent lack Of transportation, none in
tended.
Last evening word came from Bolivar once
more that General PIice's cavalry certainly had
been within six miles of there early in the day
and that 9 regiment Of infantry, q squadron of
cavalry, and a battery had been sent on q recon-
noisSance to feel The enemy, and ascertain his
force aRd position. The expedition had not re-
turned at last adviceS, and nothing further is
HOWL of the enemy'E presence. To-day We
shall learn the result of the expedition, and be
better able to Judge Of tbp doughty rebel gem
erals position and intentions. That he medi
tates another attack on Corinth, seems lmost
incredible that no could hope to succeed in a
demonstration on this place, Is equally hard to
believe that he could move his whole army to
the attack of Bolivar, and thence to any point
on the railroad north of this, without fatally ex-
posing his flank and rear to our troops st Cor
NTH and jackson, is considered impossible
and that he can keep his army intact without a
speedy victory, or something that his ingenuity
can distort into one, is pronounced out OF tho
question by all. But Price has proven himself
3 wary general heretofore, and fertile in eXpe-
disnts. No one can predict what he will, or will
not do, except that he will probably elqde all
traps set By our commanders, If he hezards
operations, he will not 90 to the trouble
of submitting his plans to General Grant and,
if a defensive campaign is decided on, he viii
force our generals to fight him on his own terms.
/