Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-23
The Encn,,,s onern,ian..
From the Richmond Enquirer. July l4I


From gentlemen lately down the river as. ia
as Jordan Point, we learn thGt over one hun
dred transports, vessels of war and gunboats
are at Hsrrison's Bar, in the James river, while
tho remnant of MeClellan's broken army lies OF
the northern bank from Heron creek to West
over, extending back from the liver about three
miles They are working day and night, dis
playing sn energy in their defeat that we would
very much delight 70 see eVineed by the Confed
! crates in the flush of their victory. Six loag
| wharves already facilitate the landing Of SIP
plies and reinforcemeuts. Houses are being
built for stores and hospitals and every prepa,
ration which permanent base of future opera
/ tons would indicate already exist at Harrison 5
Bar
The enemy may not move at en- early day, but
that they have not abandoned the ides Of cap
turing Richmond, will be apparent TO any man
who may witness their operations at HsTrison's
Bar
Commodore Wilkes, of Trent notorfsty, as
sumed, on Saturday, the command of the Fed
eral feet in the waters of James river
This man Is desirOus of perpetuating the
lame he has acquired among his conntrymeu
for the capture Of Mason and Slidell for thst
reason, and under the hope thai he may be able
to raise the dropping war spirit Of the North By
some brilliant exploit with his gunbosts
has Commodore Rogers been superseded by
Commodore Wilkes. That he will soon try
something is the opinion of able naval men in
orr service. Wilkes cannot afford to be idle in
James river. His abilities as an officer were
never regarded above mediocrity but The pras-
uge among his countrymen of the Trent STAIR.
has blinded both the Federal authority and him
self as to his capacity and should not be sur
prised at any moment to hear that Wilkes was
bsttering out his little brains against Drewry's /
Bluff. The Sixteen Federal gunboats that now |
shelter and protect Mcclellan are looked upon
with more pride and regarded with deeper affsc- |
ton by McClellan's soldiers, than any other OBJ 1
ects on earth. When the remnant Of the army /
reached the river, Federal army officer, meet
ing a naval cffioer in the delirium of his delight
threw his arms around him, and exclaimed, /
Is There ought to be a gunboat in every mans /
family. So deep is their attachment to the
gunboets that, were all OF them ordered from
the river, the army would sked4ddle" out
Of Virginia the first dark night They regard a
Colum5isd with veneration, while four-nl;ls
shooting hundred pOand riaed gun IS idolizsd.
Mcclellan will have to carry gunboat with ev-
cry regiment before he can make them leave the
river.
The Federsls having had success in esasl
working around Island No. 10 aud elsewhere on
the Mississippi, have been seriously considering
the feasibility of deep ditch for guuboats around
DrewTy's Bluf. As ridiculous as this may ap-
pear to some Of our readers, we know that at
one time, and that not very recent, it was dis
,ussed by Federal engineers. The complete
and perfect barricade, impossible to the smallest
craft, which now extends across the river ct
DrewTy's Bluff, would have to be removed un-
Ter tie desdlisst fire from field artillery and
sharp shooters, even after the sienciug of DUR
by the gunboats-this the rederals
viii understand, and they may seek 70 ditch
OrewTys Bluff out Of existence and Richmond
nto ashes.
Oar army neither digs nor drills one half as
'auch as the Yankees, and yet the spade and the
)ick contributed as much TO the defense of Rich
nond as the musket and the cannon. Our i'm !
patient people must see that Gen. Lees elabo- ,
ate earthworks ensb'e him t. remove from the i
nemy's front that large portion of his army that
ell upon his rear and won the victories which /
elieved Richmond. We must again dig, dig, ,
ig, CT Mcclellan viii dig into Richmond. The L
Pade can only be conquered with the spade /
be shovel viii always defeat the musket. !
We hope TO sec our long lines of earthwoTks
Xtended en- both banks Of the river, completed
nd perfected with a strength which VIII defy ev- ,
~ effort. II
We understand that skirmish occurred this
de of Shirley, on Saturday, in which & Federal
dicer was wounded and carried to Shirley Z
One of our pickets was slightly wounded The =
nemy are gradually feeling around their pres Y
Mt position to find the exact locality of our q
oops. Many skirmishes will take place before q
lay learn where we axe, al Of which viii be 2
eralded as great and important victories, and b
3 marking McClellan's second approach to t
richmond ;