Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-18
Interesting Items from li,r Huntsville PA;


We have received the huntsville papers Of the
9th instant, which csntain some items Of ister-
est The following we extract from the AdUo-
cate:
The enemy have their pickets about five miles
( this side of ShelbyviIle, stretching across from
TaLahOma to Columbia. There are no troops
this side of Columbia-BuelFs army having
gone to the Tennessee at Savannah. An active
/ force Of cavalry, with d small body of infantry
and artillery, could capture the small bodies of
( the enemy ravaging Middle Tennessee. The
people there have HO arms at All.
/ hessrs Brennan, Mayor r.. B. Chesthan and
! Sharp and Hamilton, of Nashville, have been
arrested for treason, in making arms, etc for the
/ Confederate government. They viii be tired by
/ the Federal court, which viii soon be held in
/ Nashville.
There are one hundred and sixty-three steam
[ boats in the Tennessee river employed by the
/ Federals in transporting troops, besides three
/ gunbOsts
DrsCIrLJSE-In this essential Of military sue
cess the army of Gen. Buell. is superior to our
own. Idleuess, carelessness, and dissipation
have too often characterized our officers They
have thTOnged hotels, bar rooms and railroads
instead Of being on duty with their commands.
Drunken officers, high ones, too, have been com
mon sights, disgusting our people, and bringing
I
70 high generals have been seen frequently taken
from grUceFs- But, we are glad TO know that
the discipline Of our army is improving. We
hear that 2 captain ana q colonel have been
broken of their commissions, and drUmmed out
of service by Gen. Bragg, fol uuofhcerlike con
duct. Also that Gems. Crittenden and Carroll
are under arest--liqHor too much Let the
good work 90 ON. A drunken officer, high OT
low, is worse than a Lincoln spy.
The Virginia aud lhe Monitor.
The Richmond Enquirer OF Thursday says
The Virginia is this day the protection of
Norfolk ard Portsmouth, and Of Richmond.
The Monitor, uuopp0sed by her, could not be
arrested by our batteries Not only these i'm
pOrsuIt cities, but the great military interests
connected with them, the magnitude Of which
we ueed not do more than ailude TO, wOuid be
exposed to extreme disasters If the Virginia
should be lost and she Monitor remain.
Under these circumstances we confess that we
pause with grave solicitude at the proposition so
zealOusly urged that the Virginia should hurry
to renew the conflict with the Monitor. If We
could be assured of the victory, IL would indeed
be d most advantageous and magnificent achieve
meut But barren conflict of four hours dur
ing which but little effected by either YES
sci, cannot be considered as promising that the
result Of another trial of strength shall certainly
be in our favor Presumption itself would not
dare so to pronounce. We, ourselves, believe
that the Virginia is the superior vessel. But
our confidence in that opinion, with such lights
as We have before US, aud in view of tine heavy
stake which abides the result is not strong
enough to engage US in the cIamOrous call now
made by some, that she be Internationally
rushed into a fresh encounter with the Monitor.
1t is a military rule that battle Is to be avoid
ed when the advantage of victory, coupled with
the prospect OF obtaining it, would not outweigh
the disasters OF defeat and the liability 10 suffer
It. In the case we are now considering, the
stake would be q tremendous one to both parties
We should be transported with Joy if we could
win it. We should be overwhelmed with soT-
row to lose it. A glorious advantage tenpts ON
tine one hand-a gloomy disaster warns ON he
other. 1t must be for those who are better in
formed as 20 the present relative riec ivauess of
the two irCu-clad monsters, to hold the scales
and decide whether wisdom c0uuses or lorbids
that we seek the battle
Those to whom the responsibility Of decision
belongs, must weigh it well, and address them
selves earnestly and wisely 70 the duty They
must not lose the admirable advantage OF vic
tory over the Monitor, If. with reasonable Ger
tdInty, it Is within our compass. They must not,
through prssumDtuOusuess, OF under any pres
suTs trCm inconsiderate citizens, involve us in
tue disaster OF an unequal encounter.