Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-11
LETTER FRom TUPELO.

TUPELO, Miss, June %, 1862.
EDITORS APPEAL: Though l have not been
a subscriber for your valuable paper, yet it ever
entertained me to peruse its interesting columns,
and I must say, though l have seen copies of
many Southern journals, that the DAILY AP-
PEA surpasses, both in the quantity and quality
of its matter, any daily which has fallen under
my notice. In saying this, l am confident that
l only express the sentiments Of your many
thousand subscribers.
Knowing that communications from the army
are generally read with interest, 1 am induced
to write this, hoping that it viii meet with the
appreciation Of your readers.
Though not inclined to be censorious, yet /
am disposed to indulge in a little severity to-
ward our citizens at home-those to whom we
look for support and encouragement in this dark
day Of our country's trial. 1 have recently
come from home, where 1 had been for several
weeks in consequence of impaired health.
While there, l had an opportunity of learning
the sentiments of many of our citizens in regard
to the war, and to my sorrow l found that num-
bers OF men, and even some of our noble South
ern women, were discouraged, disheartened, say
ing, "we are whipped, we are whipped" and
some going even so far as to intimate that it
would be best, upon the whole, to submit to
Yankee rule.
l greatly fear, Messrs. Editors, that this class
of "crOakers" is rapidly on the increase. Of
course, as in all similar cases, somebody is TO
blame and our President, and leading generals
in turn, com in for their full share of eensure.
Many seem 10 think that our civil and military
leaders ought to possess omniscience and infal-
libility, and complain if they do not accomplish
things which are, in the very nature eff the case,
impossible. This depression Of the public spirit
has been occasioned, in part, By renegade
soldiers, who left the army about the time of the
evacuation of Corinth, and went home with all
sorts of dismal tales, mostly of home manufac-
ture.
Many Of our unsuspecting citizens listened to
the tales of these runaways, and as they listened
their sober faces elongated at the dread nara
ton. And thus, Mississippians, who have been
among the foremost in this rebellion" are de- |
jected and responding.
And now, good people at home, let me say a
word for your encouragement The "army of
the Mississippi " has by no means become ex- |
tinct, but has vastly improved since it left
Corinth. 1t is true that there were some de-
serters at that time, but still, only q small por-
ton of the " ten thousand" which Gen. Hal
leck says he captured. These assertions
have only relieved the army of an element
which would have been worth but little ia bat
tie. 1 have been informed, heweyer, that many
of the deserts have returned to the army. Their
noble mothers, sisters and wives frownsd on
their conduct, and the strength of public opinion
has brought them back.
There has been also agreat improvement in
to discipline and drill. Three hours
every day Except Sunday each regiment, bat
TALON and battery is required TO drill upon the
field. discipline is rigid, army movements are
kept close, aud Gen Bragg IS fast bringing this
volunteer army to approximate the standard of
But Of all the changes for the better, the