The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-17
INTERESTING FROM MEMPHIS.
Our Memphis Correspondence.
MxNPHis, Tenn. August 8, 1st

nprt Jhbildnt-Ihe Canal 10 Divert TIE tpdter OF the
River Failys--other Rams on The Yasoo-0ther Bat
teyies the Rtcer-Ihe Navigation Of hs Asslp i for
Sir Hundrod Miles Open 70 the RebeL-c1nj.eyate I,sn
Clad Gan,oats-Negligrce Of the Cnioa Nara, Com
monder--Repcrts Of Negro IssuTrecio,--Egscs If he
Order 10 Rmrtoy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of Properly
ALandoasdty Eees-Ts Mai Service 10 Cairo sfc dc.
The arrival Of Flag Officer Davis fotlla at Helena day
before yesterday has been the principal topic CONVERSE
ton in Memphis for the past twenty -four hours There
has been "somoihing under the sum- nowthstand
ing the Assertion the contrary emanstng from high
authority many hundred years ago. Il is certainly with
precedent naval history for single boat of
guns 10 put 10 flight two entire fleets, mounting the
aggregate nearly three hundred pieces of heavy eaDrs
The siege Of yicksbarg has been raised by the
pios OF the Arkansas, and the OF that monde.
script craft deserves honorable mention by the historians
OF tho Her commander has cnvabe uoto-
rety both North and South for his skill and daring dis
played the memorable 18th Of July Tho Confederate
rulers should be slow to give him the high position
which he deserves Along the Mississippi the rebels are
jubiant. White we are sad.
After the unsuccessful attempt Of the Queen Of tho
West to capture the Arkansas and In which the gunboas
said to have failed to give tho promised cooperation
Comodores Farragut and Davis held final consultation
'What shall do about it? the grand question at
ISSUE aud It's decision involved masters Of much import.
ance The situation anything but pleasant. The
operations Of the 18th had shown that the Arkansas
WAS an antagonist TO be dreaded, and that nether
tho wooden walls Of Farraguts vessels nor the slopng
sides 81 Davis boats could be relied upon to make
cessfu resistance The Arkansas snugly and safely
at anchor under protection Of the btcres OF Vcksburg
her damages any she had received had been fully
paired and she apparently ready to come forth At
any moment dash among tho unwiedy craft boring
the federal flag. The fleets fast falling
sick from the combined effects OF naction and the ma
ria arising the swamps either shore Of the Mssis
sipp The canal that to turn the channel OF the
river tho neck Of the peninsula and forever so
late vicksburg from the outer world had proved amen
table failure The little water that had found
its way within tho ditch stagnatcd at intervals
along the muddy bottom and appeared uncertain as to its
destination. The rebel fire was daily becoming moro ac-
curate and the chances OF successfully attempting TO run
the batteries appeared hopeless To add to the gloom OF
the occasion IL known that two boats in the Yazoo
were making ready TO emulate tho example OF the Ar
kansas make sud en- dash ulon the national fleet
Mosquitoes, hot weather and kindred evils furnished
their feeble assistance in making the location before
Vcksburg uncomiort table one.
Tie two commanders decided TO abandon all atemnts
to capture the stronghold OF the Mlssssippias ON
Friday the 2bh the lower feet started for New Orleans
accompanied by the Essex and Sumter, Of the upper
fotia, that had run thu batteries and wero
unable to get above. On the following morning Iavs'
fotia up the fast the engines were
able propsl the heavy boats. Az they steamed away
enemy appeared in force the peninsula and received
parting shots from tho Benton and Louisville.
Gunboas tugs Transports rams, ordnance repair and
supply boats steamed up the Mississippi in company and
formed imposing spectacle The bait cries of vcks
burg gave them farewell round they disappeared In
thu disiance and the Arkansas followed them mile or
two, occasionally letting of her guns There were no
doubt great reocings that evening in the city OF the
Walnut Hills; and, 4 smuans are as abundant there as
became drunk the result.
At Gresnvs and Carolina Landing the feet was fired
upon BY battery yaous sro az isom iss 70
Carolina Landing Is less than half mile while by th;
river Is nearly three miles The guns ut Grcenvile
are field pieces, with the exception OF two twcn -four
Founders. The light guns are moved across the land as
the boat fred at is out OF range, and are again
brought 10 bear 1t passes around the poipt. II was
thus the Saie Wood fired into and captured as
ellie coming up the river two weeks ago, and III
| hre or the same battery. The firing at the iee
| 1t up was exceedingly brief, as The heavy
guns OF the boats speedily sietccd the light arti1-
lery Of the rebels The general estimate gnnboals
and transports made the battery consist or fourteen
guns two OF which were twenty ur-pounders ana the
remainder six and twelve Founders Aresugec who was
taken board few miles above said there were twelve
fifteen guns Greenve, and that ten more were ex
pccsd to arrive within woek. IL IS evidety the 10
tsnton IL the rebels make stand at point above
Neksburg and dispute tho passage of tho stream when
ever we attempt descend Our next upon icks
burg will he attended with difficulty than the one
| that has jus; been 50 frniticssly terminated.
1hc situation the is as follows:-Ws have no
punboa,s between lie ca and Baton Rouge distance OF
mere than six hundred miles. The navigation OF that
Iorton Of the Mississippi has by the cx nit Of the A.
kansas been thrown opsn to the rebels with IL included
tributaries the Nazoo aud Red rivers The fleet OF taDs
ports taken up The former stream at the time our toos
occupied Memphis VIII now have an opportunity v como
out from their and convey the rebel forces
Will within tho prescribed bounds The Conscefaies
will have another powerful navy on the lower wa
tors. and we may experience much trouble before we clh
have complete control .! tho Mississippi We well know
q sorrow, tho strength aud valve OF the Arsansas
The steamer star Of The Wost, which was captured
| months ago by tho confederates, Is now bens
plated with iron AID pierced for twenty-five guns ten
on each side and heavy gun at bow anu stern Her
bows are being strcng hcued and fitted with powerful
beuk so that she b. used ram. The j. l. webb,
a palize tGg, s beig lded up with guns, prov ana a.
NOR and viii b. similar the boats OF the feet captured
or destroyed Mem his on the 9th OF laae. tn Ma
reutn Tor merry New ears and Memphis cotton
his been dcnuded u ts upp works, and had ~ ems nc
placed in the hold When complete, u viii be mai.
clad gunD at. carrying ten guns The ilcn Mccul Oh
said be undergoing sim liar changes and an al own
tug being transformed uto war vessel sim AZ TO tho
Webb
time BY the iorelock, ana made delay ~ ascending
tic Yazoo aud sesroyng the rebel craft before there
was opportunity ~ complete them OF prepare Tor Their
defence ~ negicctirg this precauion We have pro
lnngcd indefinitely the blockade OF tie Miss eipi ana
the duration &C The stance TO arms 10 he great
valley. Personally, omindof DAVIS v admired ~ al
who know him whether officers or CIVILIANS and there
Las been tho slightest impusation cast alon his
Willingness encolnt the enemy. But u ca not be
denied that since the departure Of Commodore 70 c our
way Of warfare has fallen into The sefs and yellow sr
Great censure will Justly lie laid upn Commodore Davis
frpormiltng the completion Of tn. boats in the Yaz
at time when II was H. hs power 70 prevent IT,
Tho nGtilla H. gathered at Helena, and viii proba
his remaia there for thc present. or he rEa.e IN patrol
g the river. II is possible that We may attempt 70 hold
ne stream A. fAr soh ~ Napoleon. Tho rebel should
Mt all ha1arGs 10 prevented from again getting control IL
| The White or Arkansas river.
there are reports Of negro insurrect,ns IN Control Mis-
ssstnli and other tortaus of the South several
groes escaped lines yesterday and state that
| Pot OF nsuHecton was lately discovered, and that
1 some six or eight negroes wero burned az the
saks, after coniessing their oom,licity with the
| contemplated revolt. ] have not taken ptts 70
| search ont tho nteligcnt contrubind who brought
the story tio 1be And other Interested papers VIII
he .lkels 10 have earlier and more complete Information
on that sHbiecl than HERALD correspondent would he
able 10 obtain There unquestiunnhly 'afs o. re-.
volt among the slaves, and Tho fears grow stronger With
et,h tsp ards tie freedom Of Tho negroes Tie
proclamation authorizing commanders 70 employ per
African ~ l. regarded BY Shareholders in
4 ana aro,pd Ncmrh.s M ~ important move toward