The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-01-16
NO. 43.
Alarm nj Memphis.

we make the following extracts Of re-
port Of a safety meeting held in that city
few days since:
! Mr.. A. P. Merrill, the chairman, IN
stating the object of the gathering, said.
that after months Of preparation we found
ourselves in great jeopardy in reference
10 the defense Of the Mississippi valley,
Our force was not large enough to protect
the city. The time had come when we
had to endaDgei our ownsliVes in the de-
fense cf our frssdes. Every house had
arms to use when The enemy approached,
but il was sad mistake to suppose that
Memphis was to be successfully defended
when the enemy had passed Fort Pillow.
Every one wfo had gun should either
use it himself or give 1t 10 some one whS
would use il. 1t Is now time TO act, to
organize. We need en- organization which
will bring out our military resources-our
guns aud other weapons of defense. The
enemy is marching upon US in immense
force, and with iron fleets, and we owe it
TO ourselves to make preparations to as
sist and secure our friends who are strug-
Cling for our defense.
Mr.. Watson then came forward and
said. that while at Columbus he made
particular inquiries of your officers and
nsD, apG all concur in one sentiment, and
urge upon us to come into the army and
sasist them. They Lad had a terrible
battle, and found lba. the enemy they bad
10 meet there was different SOFT Of ma
terial from those met at Manassas, BuR
Run and Leesburg. They were men
who would 6ght face TO face, until the
laSl man was slain, as was shown in the
frst that one whole regiment was out
down except forty.three men. He said
! be knew all Ahou, the force at Columbus
-tLat Bowen WAS at Felsiana, and so
strongly fortified that they could whip
the devil. Tue presumption now 10, that
Lincoln's forces will be sent down the
. Mississippi from the Kentucky side
o they are expected to come down from
Cairo and PGducsb, and fsrk Us on the
right and left. II they succeed in flank
ing Col. Bowen, they have only fsw
miles to 60 TO tear up the railroad. and
: then 20 10 tue river and sink cur boats,
thus cutting Of oar subsistence and sup.
plies, aud taking Columbus without firiig
gun He said ,hs. the privaiss in the
raLks say that il they knew our psepls
), here were doing their whole duty it would
h enable Ihem 10 do tn times 90 we'll. He
# said ,hs, the srny at Columbus called
upon US to organize AMI come and help
:, them. We sppssled TO every man to ofsI
himself. and 6ll up every military compa-
u ny that has not now the means Of being
Ts worked effectively. When the enemy
takss Columbus, i. is folly 10 talk about
saving Memphis. There is no. an arlil-
Il lsry company but what eau find ACCOM-
moda,ions for 6fiy men. Go and help
the flying artillsry-go and help the
heavy artillery. Fort Pillow has net
l. enough men to man the fortifoaiions.-
II There are plenty of guns there. but not
q enough men. Our great duty now 10 to
:, 60 where the fight is to be at Columbus
y and FelicanA-and an attempt to keep
u them from hanking Polk and Bowen. He
|; said that Gen. Pillow informed him that
i, application 70 osll out tbe militia for the
= Western District had been made TO Gov.
Harris, and he hoped there WAS no man
u who would wait for the call Of the mill
D tia. He said that resolutions should be-
y passed TO close business hours at 3 o'ol'k,
I. 10 drill, and that men with rifles, shot
\, guns. pistols, and even knives and blades,
should organize, and BY tomorrow night
We should know how many guns We have
AI 10 our midst.
p In eonclusiCo. be urged every man, old
Y and young, speculalorS and oil, to 90 to
:, work. organize into companies, or join tho
: rauks and gil up others, and resolve 20
10 fight and die by those now battling for
II our rights. This would encourage our
ID men, and make heroes of al who can bear
h. gun or strike for their country.
|, Mr. Howard then came forward, and
I" briefly but forcibly addressed the meet.
OF ing. He said We ought to fight the enc
10 my at Columbus. for when they passed
q. Fort Pillow, be was willing, for one, TO
=, make Moscow Of Memphis. He feared
= =. tina. there were those amongus who ought
y not to be here. Our movements were all
81 Known to the enemy. We ought ~ Of.
IN ganize, and if we have no guns, 90 mp a.
III blank regiment and take the guns cfthe
4 enemy as they fall. He thought we had
~ about 1000 men in our city who could
n' be spared to 6ghI at Columbus. He was
ns willing to 70 with such weapons as We
Il had, and he had some be would loan to
I'M his neighbors,
:. The meeting re assembled at $50 p.
." NJ, when Rev. Mr. Thompson, chairman
Of the committee. read the resolutions
al and address which We have already pub
,ss lished.
ar- Mr. Somerville moved to lay the ad-
,ht dress on the table. He regarded Il Do
,h. calculated to raise panic in the country
nd He subsequently withdrew his motion, 10
'ar enable the meeting to pass upon the other
resolutions.
ed The remaining resolutions were then
vi taken up and adopted, except the last one
which was laid on the table.
Objections having been made to the
publication of the address because it wo'd
'pt create panic, Mr. TOpp faid it was only
ua by creating panic that some people cod
be aroused to discharge Of their duty.
Finally the fifth resolution was recon
sdered, and the address adopted with
ch much unahimitv.