Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-07
THE DEKENsEs OF VICKssURG.

FIJI DEKnNshs OF VICKssURG.
VICKsBURG, Aug. 4, 1862.
EDTTORs APPEAL: Amidst the well merited
| praises so lavishly bestowed upon FicksbuTg,
and the officers commanding, for the bold stand
here made, one whose claims upon tue approba-
ton of the Confederate States are entitled to
some consideration has been overlooked. In
| order that Justice may be done, that the "thirgs
which are Caesars may be rendered unto
Caesar" l give you, as q matter OF interest, q
brief sketch Of the erection OF the Nlcksburg
deienses, by which You msy see. what energy
will do, and TO what a large extent Is the Con-
federacy indebted to Col Jas. L.. Autry. This
| 10 with no sinister design to detract from the
merit of others.
In the latter part of April Col. Autry reached
Vieksburg to assume command CT the post, and
to prepare for q vigorous and desperate defense
of the place. Upon his arrival be fouad not 8
soldier, not a gun, not q pound Of powder, not
an engineer. Shortly after all engineer officer
reported for duty. Immediately the position OF
the batteries below the city was selected. Then,
with a determination and vigor seldom equslled,
he began his preparations. He appealed Ia the
most earnest manner to the citizens of city and
country, beseeching them to aid him, by sending
negroes, in the erection of the Notifications.
Steamboats, were dispatched up the HazoO river,
as well as up and down the Mississippi, with
orders to impress negroes II Necessary. He
found a large quantity Of government stores in
the city, which by MS assidgity, his untiring
! energy, he caused to be removed to a place OF
security. so that should our city tall, the enemy
would find the field reaped and CLEANED.
At length Col. Marks, OF the 9th Louisiana
r.giment, as also Capt. Roman, commanding
Orleans Guards battalion, arrived. Negro labor
not being all-suficient, aud the emergency press
ing, ihs solliers were ordered 10 work ca the
forufca'ions. Thus night and day the toll pro-
crossed necessarily, and in spite of the doubts
and fears entertained by some that the colonel
was carrying water in a Seive"-that we had
no time to prepare for a successful defeus3-it
was sacrificing the place uselessiy-New Or
leans had fallen, Island No. 10 was gone, and
how could we expect to resist succe~ssfully--not-
withstanding the work was pushed forward, and
al was in readiness for the guns. But 10 guns
were here. Telegram afler telegram flashed
across the wi,es calling earnestly for guns; nigh!
and day the call vas made, until finally a few ar
rived and werejnstsntly placed IL position. Alesi
no artillerists to man them, no ammunition to
load them. What, now! The telegraph an
nounced to the proper authorities the pressing,
the absolute, essential need Of powder and pro-
~jectles for heavy ordnance.
In the meantime the colonel was not idle. To
w DlClAlE4 AA CFE41 NA4CtEEAlly ~ NAlGSLCu AL
officer whom he learned had served in Pensacola,
and a ine drill master, to report to him, and or
dsred a company of infantry to be detailed to DO
instructed by him in heavy artillery dTill. As
rapidly as the guns arrived they were placed in
position, though nc ordnance stores had reached
Vieksburg, yet matters were so arranged, cars
kept constantly III readiness, so that should the
Federal fleet appear before We were prepared for
a defense, the guns could be readily dismounted
aud saved. An Chicor was dispatched for ord
nance stores-urgenI demands were unremitting-
iy made and Increasingly urged by telegraph for
art;lierists and ammunition.
at length Plnkney's battalion of heavy artil-
lery arrived and shortly after a limited supply of
ammunition. Twelve or thirteen guns were
ready, bu! no cartridge bags and no 1annel.
Calls were made upon the citizens and the la-
dies readily cut up their flannel garments TO
make cartridge bags. We were now pretty well
prepared to receive the enemy by water. A bat
terry above town was in course Of erection, troops
were coming in and a defense to the last extrem-
ity was determined on while the citizens had as
nobly determined to sacrifice all sooner than
surrender. All this work was carried on with
out any abatement though the telegraph an
nOUrced the approach of the Federal feet.
Just st this particular j~uncture, wheu our de-
lenses were Of such a nature as to make US hope
for a noble and manly, if not a successful de-
Tense, and the main defenses prepared, Briga-
dier-General Smith arrived, assuming command
He, with energy and nerve proceeded with the
defenses, adding to our strength by mounting
additional guns, showing by his sctiOn tina. lie
was worthy of the important position he COM
manded, and winning by his courtesy, his affa-
billy the kind wishes of all, and exhibiting on
all occasions that he was a soldier and a gentle
man. When the feet arrived, Col Autry was
- ~ Al. rNof vufRhn4-N ~
he had the proud satisfaction of knowing
that his untiring industry, his perseverance and
urgent calls for labor, guns and ammunition
had erected the principal defenses which enable
Mayor Lindsey and BTigadisr-G General Smith to
with hopes OF Unsuccessful resistance to sur
render, and justified his manly, bold and defiant
reply chat Mississippians dOu't know, and re-
to learn now to surrender TO an enemy"
l. is to Col. Autyy that Yicksburg is Indebted
for the massive deienses, and to his persevering
Energy hat they were accomplished. No man
has an idea Of the difficulties and obstacles
with which be had to contend, and which he has
50 successfully surmounted But for him,
Brigadier General Smith, when he arrived would
have found a defenseless city, and Vicksburg,
nstead Of her present glorious position, might
nave been il the handg of the enemy. Gen.
Smith perfected our defenses, but the foundation
Ipon which he perfected the superstructures
Vas laid by Col. Autry. Such is a brief state
nent Of tie early history of the " Defenses of
Yleksburg," ard is made in simple Justice to an
who hes deserved we'll Of his country
men, by bis activity, his untiring and unhaging
industry, his determined perseverance,, aud
whose modesty is equslled only by his merit.
would not, God forbid, detract from the
so justly bestowed upon others-for
men and women, soldiers and officers have ex
a patriotism unsurpassed in any land
t is glory enough to have been among the de-
Of Yicksburg, yet when names are
mentioned, let not that OF Jas. L.. Autry be for
and when those of the gallant Smith
nd intrepid Van Dorm are waited down to
.osterity, let accompany them that Of Autry,
Dr TO Van Dorm, Smith and Autry history must
ccord her need of praise for the glorious, de
srmined and successful defense Of YIcksburg
gainst the attack of the Federals.
VIRGILO.