Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-18
80 ErTRLEIeE.rcE.
BoHabardlnenr q Port Lavuca.
From ths eaIrs.ton Ner.. Nev 81 p.

I
The following letter has Just been pIsced in
our hands for the information Of the public:
PORT LAvACA Oct. 81, 1862 II got home
from San Antonio on the night of the 23d. ant
found our community in a perfect uprosr anC
commotion caused by the fact that several YES
sells of the enemy were eff our bar, and from tha
day to this our railroad depot has been q very
busy ace, as our people are moving of bsg
| and baggage, and such a scene of distress and
breaking up of homes and home ties, never
saw, aud hope never to see again. People are
| goiag off without knowing where they are go
| ing to, or what is TO become Cf them. Many
! have got the yellow fever and many more prob
! ably will have it, and God only knows what will
! finally become Of us,
| SATURDAY MORSTEG, November 1.-When
had written this much, L was surprised by the re-
| port that three of the enemy's steamers were
within four or five miles Of Lavacs. They came
to anchor about noon about one mile and half
from our whsrves, and soon after came up in a
yswl boat with a flag Of truce, and demanded q
surrender of the town at once. This was refused
by Major Shea, who has military command here,
and the best terms that could be got was one
hour and half in which to move off our women
and children, and SICK ones Does the history
of ths world show another such an instance of
base inhumsnity7
Those of our yellow fever patients who could
be moved, were at once sent off; others were not
able to be moved, and Of course had to take
their chances. They say that the reason they
gavs US so short a time wss because of some act
OF bad faith toward them By the people of Gal
weston.
Well, promptly at The expiration Of the one
and a half hOurs-ssy three P NJ yesterday,
they began to smell US, and continued 90 do so
until dark, and threw IN all about one hundred
and seyenty.fve
They had gradually got near enough so that
our guns could be brought to bear, and wers
opened on them with spirit and some effect as
we feel quite confident that we hit them three or
f'UT times. The enemys shooting was rather
wild, as most of their shots were too high aud
went long way out on the prairie before they
burst Many, however, burst in town and
pierced many buildings. Yet 50 far, the dam
age is not serious, and through Gods mercy (or
their bad shooting) no one, either soldier or cit
zen, was hurt.
One battery was directly alongside my house,
and YVES at tho battery an1 in my house
during the whole bembardment and was in it
when it was hit three different times fragments
Of shell were constantly falling around me- all the
time, and l must confess that considered it
little Dit dangerous all about there. Yet my
position and my pride kept me from clearing cut,
but presuming they would renew the siege this
morning-l th0uG Ght best to retire little where |
could see just ss well, and bot run quite so
much, sc l am out here about two mi es waiting
for the firing to begin. Bat it IS now A NJ and
NJ gun fred yet, and our flag is still floating
proudly and defiant, aud our boys are determined
TO fight them to the death. 1; is very true that
cur guns caupot throw more than half as far IS
theirs. And We presume they will lie sff entirely
out Of our reach and shell Us at their leisure But
We shall stand heap of shells before we haul
do IN that hAg
shall keep this open to the last moment, TO see
what else l can report. Yours truly,
D. BRADBURY.
P. ST is now 10 A. NJ. Tney began she'll
ing abCUt fifteen minutes ago. Ths whistle OF
the dreadful missile is truly sound Of its own.
Our own batteries are just beginning to reply,
but fear with but little effect, as they are too
far off. Oh for them two big guns lying in the
mud il Houston, and we could whip them, IN
one hour, for cur men make elegant shots, bat
they fall little short. It is just now thought
that we hit them. Oar boys are full of pluck
and will give them long sweat Of it before
they haul dewn the flag. 1 can write no longer
as the messenger to take this is waiting. d B.
p. S-The steamers ceased firing at ia A.
NJ, and are now, u NJ, evidently skedsddhng
Two Numbered and forty-two shot and shell fred
into the town. No one hurt