Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-04
PROM RHCHaOND.

place at our lines yesterday, and from every indi
cation and preparation the surmise seemed to be
well founded; but, although all were on the tip
toe Of expectation, yesterday passed, Ike many
others, without the realization Of the muef
looked for and desired event. Early in the day
eannonsding both from our and the enemy
positions took place from the right, left anC
| center, but on the two latter points operations
were nothing more than fierce and artistic artil
lery duello, in which the enemy were decidedly
worsted.
Their artillery bearing upon Garnett's ant
Christians farms were particularly active, anC
seemed anxious for a response. This was moi
long in forthcoming, and th9y were accordingly
shelled from their several positions with much
ease and with evident loss. They repeatedly
returned TO the charge, however, yet our arhl
lery received them with such strong accuracy as
to drive them pell-mell into the woods, anC
causing the abandonment of camps to the right
OF the Meehanicsville Bridge. An artillery due
also took place upon the York river railroad
between six and seven miles from the city, al
which place, also. the enemy were endeaToTine
to erect breastworks in the woods. Being in
formed of this, some pieces Of the LIST Virgins
artillery proceeded within shelling distance, an6
by superior execution sileneed the enemy's guns
and stopped their excavations. But the mos
cerious and important transactions at our lines
/ Yesterday look DldCt DU bLo W AlloloUulS lOdQ
The enemy advancing their lines, suddenly
fell upon our pickets, and owing to superior
numbers drove them in upon our supports. The
advance of the enemy was composed of Sickles
and another brigade. Informed of the state o.
things, the 1st Louisiana was sent forward to re.
connoiter and find the enemy's force, position
and intentions-but to do this their journey lay
across a large open field, and while advancing
the cOwardly enemy screened his forces In the
| I'LL - - ,,.zL4 Az ouo1T.-A IL
| Louisiana in ambHscade delivered a mIrderouc
fire, which struck down dozens of the valiant
fellows. But not dismsyed at this reception and
their heavy loss, the brave men instantly dressed
their line, dashed at Sickles' hirelings with the
baYonet and routed them. Still opposed to nun.
bers greater than their own, the lst Louisiana
was quickly supported, We are informed, by the
81, 4th aud 22d Georgia regiments, of Wrights
brigade, who held a large force OF the foe at bay
for twO hours, before our forces were got into
positions, and appalled, the enemy by their form
liable front.
Except in the 1st Louisiana, we hear of few
casualties, and this arose from the fact that they
were the victims of a trap laid by the Yankees,
and were too heroic to fall back when discover
ing it. Col. Shivers, Major Nellegsn, and
many men, were wounded-Lieut. Gilmore and
some others being killed. This loss arose pure
" from an esprit du corps, which prompted them
to remain and stand fast, though opposed by
vastly superior numbers. 1t is said, however,
that when the Louisianians closed their broken
ranks, and charged upon the enemy's masses,
that it was so terrible that they gave way IN
disorder. This conduct is perhaps akin to that
which extracted the expression Of Gen. Bosquet
when Witnessing the brilliant and famous cav
airy charge of the English Light Brigade at
BalaklaYs, viz; This is magnificent, but it is
not war;" The conduct Of the Louisianians
and GeOrgians is highly spoken of-nothiDg can
detract from their superior qualities as soldiers
and patriots, but an excess Of bravery chaTac-
terizes their movements. The loss of the Lou
i~sianians is reported at Ia officers and 200 men
killed and wounded, but this we believe is much
of an exaggeration.
Subsequent to this brilliant but unfortunate
transaction, an artillery force was moved to the
front, and a fierce fight ensued, completely 81
lencing the Yankee batteries in the woods, which
had advanced to occupy the disputed ground.
Capt. Huger's battery, we are informed, was
CONSPICUOUS in the affairs of the day at the right,
and retired from the fray with much honor and
little loss. The best evidence of their success
is in the fact that the enemy retired and did not
reply.
Our pickets were particularly successful yes
terday in capturing intruders upon our lines,
and effected important seizures. Among Others,
We may mbullQu the aIIlFAl III Jul utllSb u LNO
women, who were discovered endesYoring to
penetrate our lines, evidently for no praise
worthy intention. These women are Of low
caste, and would pass very well in time of peace
for mother and daughter but as it proves, they
are perfect strangers to each other, as to rela-
tionsbip, but are evidently leagued together in
some clandestiue enterprise, and neither can
give any satisfactory account of their avocations
or residence, Their mysterious appearance at
our outpOsts yesterday was more than sufficient
to warrant arrest, and their answers give good
evidence of reasonable intention.
It is generally expected that operations of
great moment will take place to-day, but wheth-
er the severe skirmishes of yesterday viii cul-
inmate in a general action, is a point impossible
to determine but should this be the case, we
are fully sure that all our preparations will re-
suit in brilliant victory, despite the traps, am
buscades, and petty cunning of the enemy,
eVinced on many occasions as on yesterday.
As General Mcclellan may claim the severe
skirmish of yesterday as another Federal victo-
~, we will simply say that the brave LOUISIANA
ans were opposed to not less than seven Yankee
regiments as the following prisoners captured
by them testify for in addition to the seizure
Of Captain James McKernan, of the 9TH New
jersey, there are also the following visitors to
Libby's warehouse: One sergeant, two cQrpo-
rails, two musicians, six privates-in all, twelve
prisoners, part of Sickles' Excelsior brigade,
9TH New jersey, 10Th Massachusetts, I'd New
York, and 9th New Jersey, taken at the old bat
tie ground Of the Seven Pines. Three were
wounded.
FIRING ON THE RTVER-In our Mondays
issue, under the above heading, we gave an ac-
count Of an affair on the river between a gun
boat of the enemy and one Of cur field batteries,
which we have since learned was inaccurate in
some particulars.
The fight was between four pieces Of Capt, 7.
B. French's light battery, of BrigadieT-G General
Walkers brigade, and a four-gun vessel. The
enemy's vessels having been fred on whenever
they passed this point by our s~haTpshoOters, the
officer commanding this boat took on board, at
City Point, a company of sharpshooters to re-
turn our fire from the banks but when his yes
sci rounded the bend, and was met by the fire of
our field pieces, not only sharpshooters, but guns
crews, sought safety below.
The artillery, supported by a detachment of
the 3rd Arkansas, 4 ammered Uncle Abe's gun
boat to perfection, hitting her almost every shot;
running their projectiles clean through and
through her, in some instances, and, in others,
bursting their shells inside, The boat was so
badly cut up that she had to be unloaded to
keep her from sinking. Having made her way
slowly from under FIRE, she was towed off by
the Monitor. The fellows on board were so
frightened that they fred only one gun in reply,
which was done by pulling the lanyard from
below, the operator not showing himself. One
Of Capt. F|s guns, "a 10-pounder Parrot cap
tured at Manassas bursted atthe third discharge,
whereby one of the men lost his right arm, and
Lieut.. Robertson was very slightly bruised in
the mouth. The brave fellow whose arm was
broken, 6Wm. ID. jackson, of Stafford,) while
the surgeon was amputating it, held up the
other, r~emarking Thank God / have one yet
left to fight the Yankees with"
This battery is the same that harrsss9d the enc
my so much last winter on the lower Potomac,
under its then Captain (now cOlonel) John r.
Cook, completely blockading the river in the
vicinity of Boyd's Hole, and in one instance
sinking a schooner transport at the distance of
two miles from the guns. The men are from the
old county of Stafford, are superb fellows. know
their business, and with their homes and fami-