Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-02
BY MCLANAHAN & DILL.


From the Nicksburg Whg, July %.
On Sunday last we paid visit to Louisiana
to look over the grounds occupied by the "up-
per feet" and which they evacuated on the
night of Friday last On landing, our attention
was first directed 10 the house in De Soto which
had been more or less occupied by the enemy,
and toward which the fire OF our batteries had
.oecasionly been directed, and, IS the result
showed, with good effect The sediment LEFT by
the overflow on the floors had been trodden into
paths leading from room to room, while chairs
arranged at the windows showed that the Yam
KEGS there were engaged in the pleasing aud ex-
hilaratug occupation of watching the effects of
their shells as they came laundering and crash
ing into our city. At one Of the windows four
or five chairs were lying On the floor, while g
hole through the wall near the window, made
by one OF our shots, indicated that their agree
able occupation had come 10 a sudden end by
bombaTdment as unexpected as unpleasant
Leaving the houses We then visited the river at
the spot where the mortar boats were placed,
and which viii ever be viewed with a shudder
by those of cur citizens who for SO long a time
we're startled day and night by their internal
thunder. We found that the crews Of the boats
had camped on the shore, and had evidently
made themselves quite comfortable. Steps
leading to the river mad been cut down through
the bank, barrels were sunk near the river for
the purpose Of letting water settle, while wash
tubs, made by saving barrels in two, were scat
tered around in great profusion.
At this place we counted tEenty-siK empty
powder barrels from Bennington, VI On the
bank guides for the mortars are erected point
ing with unpleasant accuracy toward our city,
while the tops Of the trees, which are Topped off
profasely gave pleasing evidence of the aceu-
lazy ol Our mortar firing, compelling them, as
we learned from the citizens there, to evacuate
that place entirely. " Whistling Dick" as the
Yankees nieInamed our Parrot gun, had also
created & Wholesome dread in their breasts and al
together, their situation was becoming not only
very unpleasant but deeidly dangerous Lesy-
ing this place we took one OF the many paths
which they had made and proceeded up the
river, viewing the different points where then
boats had lain and their crows encamped, when
our attention was directed to some new made
graves, dug in the open field, with no surround
ings save such as are afforded by the unpoetlcal
cuckleburr. On reaching the place we found
FIVE neatly made graves, with small beard at
the head aud foot of each, on which had been
placed with common marking brush, the
nsme age, and date Cf death of the occupant
The date Of all their deaths was the l5.h Of
July, showing them to have been a part OF
those killed BY the Arkansas on her memorable
trip to Vicksburg Oae of these graves, from
some cause, had received unusual attention The
headboard was cherry, neatly planed and let
tered1Es follows Thomas Lewis, of the United
States gunboat Benton; killed at the battle of
Vicksburg, July IS, 1862. Aged % years"
4 little farther on we came to a clump of cotton
wood trees, beneath which were seven more
graves, whose occupants had belonged to the
gunboat ConnestOgs, and been killed on the
day of the others.
Leaving these graves, We went through their
infantry camps and the pens fitted up for the ne
groes, till we arrived at the canal This cele-
brsted ditch is about as great a success of engi-
neering science as their investment of YicksbuTg
was OF military skill The stUpsndOus under
taking was started a. the thrilling width Of
twelve feet, and gradually and gracefully tapers
down some eight feet, when they suddenly
changed their plan and dug q new ditch in the
bottom Of this ditch about the width of a shovel
and q foot in depth. After this finishing stroke
they waited the moving Of the waters" but
finding mara move" they gave it up in dis
gust, and the ditch now reaches from river 20
river, distance of mile and half, and looks
like an extensive exclamation point, which, in
future, may serve to point moral if not TO
" adOrn . tale"
After visiting the wreck Of the mortar boat,
and pGrtaking of the hospitality Of our friend
Burney, whom we found as j0vial as ever, but
pretty full Of cuss when a Yankee Is meu-
.ioued, We returned home with an indefinite idea
.hst we had seen something worth seeing if not
relating