Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-15
The Renernl siruation .

I
useful. The Canadians, M Bramlet says, are
really Northern men with Southern procliYities
The General Situation.
The Baltimore Amsrjcan of the Both, which
had not yet received the news eff the big fight
thus speaks Of the situations;
But let us suppose that Pope-as did Genersl
! Banks of lste-h0Ids his own; that bis forces
although badly cut up, are not disorgaujzed
! hopeleSsly beaten. Upon what must then be
/ the flank Of the enemy Mcclellan with every
! thiag available about Washington, will pour
/ down, while, meanwhile, Burnside may get up
to aid Pope, and thus cut off the rebel retreat to-
! ward Richmond, should he be worsted by SO
much desperate fighting. la that case, destr1c-
| ton to the rebel host would be certain-fRat
1 These ere mere speculati0ns, of course; but,
based upon the actual positions held by the hos
| tile columns, they may, in the absence of any
thing definite, help TO elucidate the hopes and to
calm the apprebeuSions Of our readers while
| awaiting news from the great battles antici-
| pated.
Meanwhile, happen what may, because at
any moment speculation may give place to re-
atty, and the news from the field reverse the
most hopeful calculations, lei us be Of good
cheer; let nothing shake our trust in the final
success Of the good cause. Relieved of that ter
rble feeling OF stagnatiOn which has 50 long
weighed down, ex8lssnt even, that we can no
longer at least be left in that horrible condition
Of suspense which, to the earnest lover of his
country, IS worse even than the temporary dis
sser which might serve to arouse us to that
pitch Of desperation which seems actually need
ful to insure great achievements So far as the
rebels are concerned in this desperate and whole
sale, perhaps final raid, their sudacity is worthy
Of better cause
And now, as all minds must be absorbed with
the 80 situation" let US Look elsew here to see
what aspect the Union cause presents. If the
old adage is true, that ' t1e darkest hour of the
night is Just before day" then the portents are,
in that sense, calculated to excite our best hopes
At the latess adviees Buell was hopelessly en-
bargoed, either by bis own want Of courage
and enterprise or by the presence of superior
forces Of the enemy. The Union General Nor
gsn, Ia command at Cumberland Gap, was even
in & more hopeless prsdicament-one, in fact,
amounting to peril-whie the whole country
from that point through Somerset to Clarksville,
between Nashville and Louisville, was Overruu
with, and in possession Of, rebel msrsuding par
ties, Nashville being now quite isolated-an
oasis OF Unionism in the great sea of rebeidOm
that extends on evey de- To bs SURE, two or
three counties ara held By detachmsnts of Union
troops, on the road south toward Huntsville
and even the latter place; tat the region be-
tween it and the Tennessee line was swarnine
with guerrillas, who fire into every train and
impsril every advance.
Going bundled miles Or so westward to the
heart Of West Tennessee, matters look but liltle
better, although Grant is reported as having
moved soUthward with the " array of Corinth,
some thirty thousand strong bat what lie is to
effect III a country reduced to the starvation
point and with an enemy who will probably re-
tire from his path, leaving only q scene Of desc
lation, no one can say. Coming to this point
we need not pursue The examination further, the
news from most other sections showing that all
are waiting for something, all apparently refer
ing everything to the anticipated battle, upon
which depends the fate Of the capital of the rebel
Coniederacy, and the advance next of the new
levies which are TO hold what is won or to win,
if further fighting is needed
We have said repeatedly we have no fear of
coming results but, on the contrary, we have
the utmost faith ia the ultimate triumph Of the
Union aTms-in their speedy triumph indeed.
The rebellion is at the last gasp, both as to
mssns and men, while those of the Union were
never anything liks so formidable; and, what is
to the purpose, they are daily pouring forward
IN steady streams for the different scenes of con-
fict Should temporary and serious reverses
await our forces at all points, the only effect
would be to Intensity patriotism and devotion
to stir the loyal men of the land to that madness
which would not leave in the whole area of
pstriotiom even a shot gun or revolver, and the
hands to them, III concluding the great conflict
The nation Is long distance short of that point
yet. Let US hope that the next few days or
hours may not inaugurate scenes of which, as
yet we have no adequate conception.
What the Yankees said Before rhe Battle.
On the 23lh of August the New York Times
said:
"The rebels now stand in our front, number,
ing, at the outside 125 600, while to meet them
we have already 900 600, which will very speedily
be increased to 250,000 or 800 600, aud can be
increased, if necessary, 20 400 900 men Our
position is strong, and although the enemy seems
to be making desperate attempts to turn our
hsnks, or break our line, there is not one chance
in ten Of his achieving any important success.
BY destroying the bridge across tue Rappshan-
mock, we have rendered their passage of that
river impossible, and have secured for ourselves
all the time needed for preparation. The re-
msnder Of the army Of the Potomac win speedily
take its position, and then, without waiting to
be attacked or putting himself upon the defen-
sive even for day, the country expects General
Hslleck to put himself at the head Of this mag
ni6cent and irresistible national army, and
march over the rebels into Richmond" "
We ask the reader to take especial notice of
what this writer ssys in regard TO the force and
position Of the Yankee army. According to his
own showing. our army Of l25,000 has cut to
pieces and completely routed theirs Of at least
200 600, and probably 250,000 This grand
Union army of subiugation which was to march
over the rebels, rough shOd, into Richmond, is
at.this moment, either hiding behindits rsmpartS
at Alexsndris, or covering under shelter Of its
gunboats at 0ccoquan, or flying for life before
the avenging squadrons of Stuart and Robinson,
or the infantry Of jackson and Longstreet. l.
is hoped, therefore, that we shall hear no more
whining, whimpering excuses for COW ardice on
the plea of being overwhelmed by superior
numbers.
But it appears, further, that it was impossible
to cross the Rappahsnnock, yet the Rappahan-
mock has been crossed. Neither was there one
chance in ten Of Jacksons turning Pope's
flank. Yet Old S.onswall did turn it. Accord
ing therefore TO the showing of the Times, wheR
read by the light of subsequent events, our
troops have performed impossibiities, which is
more than we claim for Ourselves.- Columbus
Sun.
DEPARTURE OF YANKEEs.-Five hundred
Yankee prisoners left Richmond yesterday for
Aiken's landing, in charge of Captain Norris
Montgomery, guarded by detachment OF men
from Captain WTenns cavalry company, from
camp Lee. -Four hundred of them went from
Belle Isle and one hundred from the Libby pris-
on. They left about one o'clock Such as were
unable TO walk were carried away III wagons. -
Richmond Dispatch, stk.
~ It il q pretty saving of an old writer, that