Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-29
YANKEE LETTERS FROn yICKs-
BsUEG,
BRECKINRIDGE's HEADQUARTERS,
ViCEsBuRg July 16. 1862.

I
Memphis, believing at the same time that an
not forgotten while in the army, Isend you SOM
Yankee Eotions and other matters of interest t.
our friends By way of letters taken from th
Yankee northern mail between the enemy's fee
and Memphis, list comprising the enemy's t1t
fleets above and below the city, and sundry
other items about our besieged city, which may
not be uninteresting.
The copies of letters I herewith inclose you
were captured near Prentiss, Mississippi, few
days since. The mail transport running between
the enemy's fleet and Memphis, (name not
known was captured and destroyed by field
battery of our forces from the Mississippi side.
The whole mail YVES taken, together with every
thing on board. The boat was then destroyed.
Before falling into cur hands and being de-
stroyed, she was run ashore on en- island where
her crew and passengers made temporary es-
cape The last accounts our boys were in pur-
suit, and the enemy are undoubtedly captured.
The letters, you observe, are written to points
north, some without direction, as the envelopes
were lost before being placed in my possession
4
engagement with the gunboat " Arkansas" !"
In some particulars they are wrong. Que or
two letters say that hot water was thrown upon
them from our boat. Such is not the case. Size
/ has no apparatus for throwing water Her
strength s in Der iron coat Of mall her ten guns
end her ram. have been all over and through
| her. She used nothing hui her guns in the late
fight, not even running into a single vessel, but
gave them crushing broadsides which did the
work so beautifully, Isaw some portion of the
| fight from en- eminence, and have had discrip-
lion from her gallant commander, but you hav-
ing had so much correspondence on the same
subject, viii not attempt to describe this which
1 consider the greatest, the grandest and most
powerful naval achievement accomplished in
any country and in any age I EN- much graft
fed that the honor rests upon our old Memphis
friend, Capt. Isaac n. Brown, his officers, and
her noble crew. became acquainted with
Capt. Brown some years since while he was
Lieutenant Of the navy yard at Memphis. After
the navy yard was abolished by Congress he
went TO sea again, leaving bis family at his plan
taton in Mississippi, just below Helena. He
was twenty-seyen years in the United States
navy, cruising large portion of the time in the
Pacific, on the coast Of China and South Amer
lea. He is a native of Livingston county, Ken
tucky-a modest, unassuning gentleman, es-
teemed highly by everybody His wife is Yir-
gician. The country owes him debt not easily
paid. L is useless to say anything of his private
virtues, they are too well known to require
az exhibition of them before the people. He will
undoubtedly be promoted to the highest rank
of the navy, and receive vote of thanks by
Congress
The Arkansas, y the terror of the Yankee fleet,
now sheltered under tho iron wings of Vicks-
burg from the iron hail of the enemy. One of
the euemy's letters contained drawing of the
Arkansas quite correct, externally. An i'm
preston not soon to be forgotten, has evidently
been made upon the Yankees of this GREAT Le-
visthan in their estimation. The Yankee letters
say they fred tho cify with their shells, and it
wes burning beautifully as their gunboats passed
down. Only two houses were burned, the resi-
dences CT Messrs Crutcher and Clarke situated
near the center Of the city They would 90 as
Nero did, fiddle while Vicksburg was in flames
Iam cosfden5 el, of the enemy's boats had steam
up before the Arkansas reached the feet, be-
cause the fight commenced near the mouth |
Of Ysa0O river, twelve miles from Vicksburg !
and the firing heard distinctly all the way down,
giving the enemy ample time to prepare before |
she came in contact with the feet-at least one |
hour and half The United States steamer
Richmond, from which they write, is the flag
ship of the FaTagut fleet I saw the Federal /
flag Of the captured mail transport a. Gen. Van |
Dorm yesterday, with the stripes and all of thel
thirtyt'cO stars. They may have the stripes, butt
the s,ars must be divided-the brightest galaxy |
fall to our share. The Confederate constellation
that viii wave in besuty, purity and pride upon
every sea and in every freeman's land Vicks.
burg is now quiet, no shelng for two days past.
The lower fleet left their moorIngs yesterday eve
ming about o'clock, all from the largest man
Of-war to the smallest stern wheeler The last !
heard from them they had passed Natchez-des-
tinatien unknown-prObably Mobile To-day
the upper feet has disappeared and gone above,
it is supposed to Yazoo river. The shelling has
been so severe and incessant for some time, we
miss the heavy roar of the mortars and the
Polian music Of the bursting fragments of shell,
since thoir departure. We howevs-, may ex
Pect the usual greeting soon again. Many
houses have been injured, some by shells pass
ing through the roofs, and sides-others by frag-
ments Of shells, and baLs from the gunboats as
they pass-some blown up by the explosion of
shells after falling withing the house, these re-
ceive much the greatest damage. Although
hundreds ef houses have been injured there, l
believe scarcely one but W hich can be repaired
and occupied in safety as usual. Several Of the
churches have been riddled. The city looks des-
olate with scarcely an inhabitant to be seen.
Did we not know the cause of this vacuum the
frst idea that presented itself, would be that
some terrible scourge had passed over this beau
liful city, leaving nothing but desslation in its
path Handsome residences closed-gates
flowers and shrHbbery grass
and weeds riOtng in gre atest profusion, fences
destroyed. trees cut up by shell. You see eVi-
dences Of the enemy's missiles at almost every |
step, the hills are full of bombs and ball. mine
Of metal And yet this city still lives. Her
spires still lift their lordIy heads high above the
proud and defiant city. They are towering
and will neveJ, lower their heads in
disgrace to Federal tyranny. Vaa Dorm,
Breckinridge and Smith, say there is no
surrender. What they say they mean.
In after times Vicksburg viii be hon
ored. She can proudly say, I held the
MISSISSIPPI when all others failed, against the |
combined fleets of the Yandsl navy. Can the |
people Of yicksburg ever forget to remember the
Yankee VIII not this place in after years
prove the grave for every Federal that should |
tread ifs sacred soil VIII not our ehidreu and |