Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-05-11
LETrRR FRnm CORrNTH.
oorrespondsnes Of the AppeaLl

four hundred yards Of the enemy, who was
made to feel that he could not approach to get
the range of our entertainments with impunity.
The enemy consequently fell back Besides 3
few men in Cox's cavalry, one of he Washing
ton artillery was also wounded. Itwss supposed
that q night attack might bs made, as the moon
is at present very favorable for such q design, but
all passed of quietly. About 81 ?. NJ, however,
thee discharges from a heavy piece Of ordnance
were heard, which created some alarm, but it
was ascsrtainsd to be only some signal guns on
our side.
Major Williamson, Ass'tAdi General, of Gen.
Folks staff, made a Reconnaissance out on the
Purdy and Corintb road last evening, some five
miles distant, and approached to within halt a
mile of the eusmy's lines. Their force did not
appear 10 DO over q brigade, aud the beating of
their drums was plainly heard,
Two deserters from Hickman, came in yester-
day and reported to Gen. Polk. They state that
great dissfection exists in the Federal lines on
account of the passage of the bin abolishing
slavery in tho District Of Columbia, and that
then men are beginning to see thsti is no longer
a war for the Union, but for the emancipation of
our slaves. They stated that they never agreed
/ 70 BNIsL III snCu q NhAlAits huA uHFeI WDuIG.
and that hundreds of men were ready to desert
on the first opportunity, They express the opin-
ion that one half Of the men in their ranks would
throw down their arms in preference TO being
compelled 70 fight fer emancipation.
Col. Elliott, of the Yankee army of emaneipa-
ton, who came to our lines under a flag of truce
for the exchange of LieutsCol. Adams, of the
Federal engineers, was received by Col Liddell,
of Gen. Hardee's staff. Adams, it seems. is a
49, - .-.s - IL a. - Y 81
leck, being the principal engineer charged with
the advance on Cerinth, and is, therefore, most
anxious to exchange him. But Gen. BeanTegard
considered that it would be rather green in him,
Just at this time, to let Adams return, especially
after the aforesaid had ridden through our lines.
Col Elliott commands a squadron of Yankee
dragons, and has been for the past eighteen
years in the old army. He is a relative Of DR..
Duncan, of Natchez, and entered freely into dis
cussion with Col. Liddell on the war question.
His attempt to sustain the war on the question Of
the Union and the Constitution entirely failed.
while he denied that the true cause was abolition
ism. When told that tho immesse debt Of the
North would alone crush her, no replied that Il
would only add to her responsibility as a nation,
and instaneed the case ofEngland. He admitted
that be was very sick of the war, aud anxious
for it to end, as he saw but a slim chance Of
making us pay the war tax, when it was imp0s-
sible 70 make US raise either cotton o. sugar.
This is the anniversary Of tho battle Of the
Resaca de Ia Palma. Since this day, 1888,
what a change has not swept over the laudf
What Generalization, wreck, and ruin, has not
fourteen years accomplished In that day the
armies of the South and the North achieved a
glorious victory over a common foe, 20 establish
a simple principle Of common justice. By our
victories in Mexico, we gained the Fl Dorado Of
California, and with it came the widest extrav-
agance, leading to every vice, until mentions
ness with the northern people revealed hand in
hand with fraud and corruption, aud ~free-love
and abolitionism became the common hariOts
who seduced political parties and statesmen OF
the North, and who, in turn, prOstituted our
rights and liberties under our common c~onstitu-
ton TO crafty a corrupt and venal smbition.
And now where stand the armies Of the South
and North to-day Ask Manassas, Denelsoa,
and Shiloh, and Yorktown and Corinth shall re-
echo back in thunder tones the death auddefest
of the northern hoIdes. In the language OF
their great defender Of the Constitution the
Union has become disseveredi States discoTd-
ant, belligerent the land fraught with a fansti-
cal fsud, and deluged by fraternai blood And
for WHAT For Hecubs- For anti slavery Eng 1
land and the abclitiouiEed North Thus we
have passed from the golden age, aud haYenow
returned again to the ragged age Of revolutions;
a revolution unparalleled in the worlds history,
so tar as the great principles OF God and man
are concerned, but regret 70 say with the lights
of the past revolution before us, it is 70 be re-
GREETED that our government has not sooner prof
tied by its fsllaeies and wisdom.
In l779 Msjor-Gen. Alex. McDougall, one of
the purest patriots and most gallant soldiers OF
the previous revolution, wrote as follows. which
is not inspplicable to our day:
at has been the misfortune of this country
that every year has afforded some pretext to
retard it's e~xertions against the common enemy.
at one time, reconciliation at another, assist
snce from France is to effect our deliverance,
This failing, our alliance with that people Is 70
accomplish our redemption. Now SPANS &C
ceding 10 our ~independepcy Is the tub of the
day. Those alliances are favorable and natural.
as they have mutual interests for their bases, and
there can be no important temptation to either of
the parties to Tecsde from them. But, my dear
sir, if ell Europe Is 10 declare in our favor, this
will not pay our debts or restore our deprecated
currency and foreign loans will ruin us, by
paying interest 70 foreigners out Of our country.
Our deliverance, under God, must come from
ourselves. The voice of Providence points it
out l had almost said Divine revelation does
it | WI however advantageous those ALI
snces are to America, my hopes or expecta-
tons from them are not 50 ssnguine as
those of many others. One decisive naval
victory in favor of your enemies will give them
courage, vigor, public credit. That nation, as
such, is poor, but the individuals Of It are rich,
and they are we'll p~racticed in all the arts of
inancieTing. If that people are once brought,
on such an event, to exert themselves in favor of
their country, the war viii be heightened out
much longer than our ~sanguine politicians i'm
agine. We ought to be vigorously preparing
for an OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN, but instead OF
this America has been in a profound sleep y
While the enemy is master Of our coast, BY
OUR ATTEMPTING 70 COVER THE WHOLE
COUNTRY, WE COVER NONE OF IT. l know
that the commandments is often embarrass-
ed for want Of strength, but if we carry On the
as we have done, we shall do. nothing de-
We fall under the apprehension of that
sagacious statesman and soldier, the king of
whose ideas are these: The general
on the defensive, who attempts to cover
all his country, viii cover none"
A truer picture Of the causes OF our late mis-
fortunes could not be drawn. 1t is hoped our
Of War and the President win profit by
hem.
In order that our people may see the generous,
glorious spirit that pervades our army, l am
70 copy the following note from the
)ficeTs aud privates Of Emmett McDonald's st.
Louis battery, received Today
coRINrH, May E, 1862.
Dr.. r. l. Brodie Medical Director Of re Arny eft4s
AsstsstRpi; Z
The officers and pnvates Of the St Louis battery.
mindful Of the c~asusltes Of war, sad Of tho suffering
nat must necessarily occur among the wounded soldiers
# the South in the coming battle, have contributed the
um ofsi1 hundred and ninety dollars which you viii
,lease herewith receive =
They desire that it sbsl be used to procure such lux
and comforts for those who may be wounded in the I
conflict, irrespective OF State or station. as the