, 1862-03-31

countflee, arc simple roorbaeks to keep
np the: courage Of the people. The
Is wretehed, composed largely Of the old
United States muekets: of a. breech loading
pattern and about nsefncieut as SO many corn
stolks The best arms In the possession Of
the reoel government were used at Fort Donel-
for, and in 1.ct the users themselves were the
Hover lowe! ef the1ebel nzmy, picked for rtbc occa-
s: AT MEMPHIS.
: Albeit Memphis is the very hotbed Of seces-
sion, the same Union proclivities outcrop rs
at New Orleans, and even IN a:more marked
degree Many men openly arow their Union
sentiments. Secret organizatf Dds exist in va
1ions parts Of the city, the meetings Of which
men. It is well known In Memphis that
splendid Union flag, made by lady living in
the city, is concealed, but will be unfur1ed at
the approach Of our gunboats, an event daily
looked for and prayed for BY thousands Of hop
The city Is under a worse than military des-
npotism. The desperation Of waning fortunes
has seized upon the sectssionisfs, especial
IL: among the military men. Appeals
for voluntary recruits arc made ip5Eain and
impression :has Become general Men: and
and even dragged out Of their beds and hnr-
ried to the camp of rendezvous, upon the fair
grounds; to swell the ranks Of the rebeEa7nly.
Women fill the streets with their -3anenta-
tons and piteoualy implnre the recruiting Off
GERS to release their husbands aud children.
BURNING TEE CITY. ...,s ::
The project OF burning the city, if compelled
to evacaate, which oIig ginated with military
to . fierce and bitter dispute The Mayor,
John Park, is opposed to it, a1d has fa{mi::
mated i proclamation (which sent You some
days since) ayowing his determination to
hang any man found firing q build
ing; The proclamation was made. in
his individual mot official capacity, and many
people took umbrage at his assumptions and
personal threats. Discussion became frequent
and open, aud soon Two parties Originated,
: Bulners and Anti-Burners, the former in the
clear majority and still further strengthened
by the action Of the Common Council in con
fortnight since, the resolution to burn the
city, if necessary, was passed by u very large
majority. 1t is most sincerely to be hoped
that this resolution will be thoroughly carried
out, and that our troops will complete the
scene by sowing the ashes with salt. The de.
struction Of the city Will involve the destruc-
tion of large amount Of property, as i'm.
meuse quantities Of sugar, molasses and cot
ton are stored in the cellar It is more than
probable, however, that the furious fire.eaters
will take sober second thought before they
apply the torch.
-: PROVISIONS, ETC.
In the matter Of provisions and the ueces-
saries oflffe, Memphis is poorly supplied, and
+ has not enough on hand to last Biz months.
The coming crops, however, win partially
make up the deficit; but the stories set afoit
that the South has stock enough on hand to
last for the next two years, are absurd The
present stock will barely last six months.
The same destitntion applies with equal force
to wearing apparel Only the common, blue,
home.epun, Gnsey woolsey stuff can be pro.
cured, and that at extortionato prices. Shoes
are very scarce, especially CATERS for ladies.
business Of course is dull. Grain and pro.
Visions are held ut starvation rates, which are
peculiarly ludicrous when you consider that
Confederate scrip is the legal tender. Some
little impetus is given to manufacturing b5
the war: Three very large gunboats are or
the ways, which are being plated with railroad
our forces will be in Memphis long befoTF;
they are finished. An order has also been is
sued for the manufacture Of several thousand
pixies. These instruments are Of iron
mounted upon a long pole, and combine tht
merits Of speer and tomahawk. With thest
JEFF Davis propose to whip the Yankees, ant
"carTy an offensive war Into the North
ABOVE MEMPHIS.
There are no fortifcations OF importance a
Memphis. Between the city and Island No
10, tile principal points where resistance may
be expected are Fort Pillow and Fort Ran
dolph. The former is an earth work witt
baations and trenches, mounting from eight tt
| ten guns in baTbette. The strongest forfif1ca
tion is ut Randolph, sixty miles above Mem
| phis. These forti6cations are built upon tn.
| third Chickasaw bluff, at an elevation of G
least one hundred feet from the river
and short distance south Of Blant
| No. 81, which lies at the moutl
! Of the Hatchie river. The bluffs ar,
natural batteries Of themselves, as at Co1um
bus, and command the river for six miles il
either direction. At the present stage of th'
fSe1 Inc Pdee could not stand La 5isge Their
must come by the river. Retreat by land i
cut of, as the whole country in the rear is in
undated. It is highly probable therefore tha
| if Island No. 10 is evacuated, the longest ste]
| is taken towards our entrance into Memphis
| The Notifications at Randolph mount SOM
twenty five Eguns, principally tlirty-twos ant
| sixty-1ou1s.