Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-20

I have the following items of news from
reliable source:
Fort Darling is not an iron-clad work Ii
elevation above the river, upon Drury's bluff
makes It imprsgnshe 20 our gEnboAts, accord
ing TO the opinion of the rebel military men.
now mounts fourteen guns Of the heaviest call
beT-some two hundred pounders-commandini
{ the channel above and below. The batteries sT
manned by the best ATtillerists in the South, al
tl,e privstes being Of the highest families an
it is said that both ofEcers and men have sab
scribed an cath never TO surrender. Among tn
privatss are several Wsshingtohians aud Mary
landers, all young men having parents or rela
iives on this side ths lins, General GustAvu
" Smith, who eommsuds tho defences of Rich
moud devotes much Of bis tims aud attention
to Fort Darling, evidently considering it tht
key to the city.
Supporting works, consisting Of smaller for
aud rifle pits, have been constructed south o
the fort. connecting il with the fortiGcstiont
around Redmond. These immediate forsifca-
lions are now understood to be completed, armed
and ganisoned. No one appears to know she
exact number but By all accounts they musi
be twenty or more They are located all around
The city, and mounted with heavy guns, Of
ERgiish make, commanding evsry approach. A
lew squads Of negroes are yet As work, giving
tho Flushing touches. Ths Authorities and peO-
pie now feel secure for according 30 their
notion tbe city cannot be taken without 3 com
piete investment on all sides By an army Of three
or four hundred thoasani men.
Tbs new Merrimac is completed, aud has had
steam up to examine the working Of her ma
cbinery Daring the presence Of our forces at
| HarrisOns landing she was prepared to come
/ out, when it was discovered her machinery was
! defective and would not answer the purpose.
i Her engines were taken out and better onss put
/ in, which we're brought from Engsn to Mobile
/ by the 0reto This change has now been COM
! pleted, and she is ready to show her prowess
| whenever her owners give the wsrd. She is
mailed with four inch iron plates, carries nine
guns-four on broadsids and oae in the bow
the latter 250-psundsr, and travels nine
miles per hour. She is very similar in shape to
her old namesake, but smaller, aud is considered
superior to the dsfuuet Norfolk monster
The York River railroad has been repaired to
the Whtshouse, and trains oecssionally make 8
trip to that point This has been done with
view TO future military operations on the PSnin-
Suls; but no movement has yet been made
Several companies Of cavalry at she Whitshopss
scount the country between that point and VII.
ismsburg daily; but thsre is no infantry on
tie Peninsula east Of the Chickabominy, where
several battalions have lately been building for
tidcsiions on the west side, commanding the re-
built railroad bridge.
and there are q few Tsgimonis scattered in the
suburbs, which, with the troops doing provost
guard duty, viii make a tssSl Of about six thou
sand around the city. Regiments are often seen
passing through en- route to Lees army.
The hospitals Of Richmond have been RAPIDLY
thinaed OF their inmates, and Eome are entirely
deserted Some Of 3be sick and woun1sd have
been removed to LynchSuTg and DAnville,
where bssier accommodations arc provided
others have been taken to their homes, and many
c9Uvaiesesnts have rel aned the army.
General JO. Johnston has had no eommsnd
sincs the battle of Fair Oaks He was at Cor
louisville and Culpeper in September, upon
business for JEFF. Davis, which bas not transpired
Hence the impression that hs eommaudei on the
Reppxhannock. He is in Richmond, and il il
said his wound yet prevents him from entering
upon active dnty. II is also reported that he Is
nHder a cloud with the rebel authorities, and
will not again have command. A counter re-
port also prevailed in Richmond, few DAYS ago.
80 the effect that he would be sent 30 the West.
The greatest eIsrtions ara being made, both
by the Confederate authorities and the people,
To supply the rebel armies against she coming
winter Large quantities Of boots, shoes, cloth
iDg and supplies are being collected in Richmond
aad LynehbuFg and thence forwarded to Lees
army. The government gives out that it has
enough Of these things to supply all the trooFs
comfortably, and, though it has in a measure
given evidence of It's intention its hardness
causes tbe people ts doubt its ability, and thev
are becoming very scicisous upon the condition !
of the army for the winter Udder this feelisz
the people ere everywhere preparing to render
ell the aid they can. Soldiers relief societies
are being organized in every county, and every
body il being called upon to do something or
contribute to the general cause Hats, caps.
clothing, shirts, socks mittens and blankets are |
the things needed, and every one is called upon
to Fupply snme Of these articles
Every effort win be made to cloths and shoe !
the army comfortably by tbs government and |
il is ANTICIPATED the people will furnish supply
Of socks mittens, carpet blankets. and cotton /
coverlets Macy tailors and sesmstrsssss are |
now employed in Richmond and Lynchburs, in !
making soldiers clothing. Shoes are more plen- |
thu among the people now than at any time |
siEce the blockade; yet they command four |
times our prices. Cloth il also more plentiful /
sad cheapPr-cotton ard Woollsn mixed eaus |
selling in Richmond fer two dollars per yard. |
Tho government shows a determination TO do I
thu best for the army, and let the people take /
taCe OF themselves in the way Of necessities |
Many vessels ars running the blockade with ear
goes on government account, from which the !
people derive no benefit, and the authorities mo |
napoiiEe tee markets completely, by ssationing |
agents at Wilmington, Charleston and Mobile, |
to buy evsryihing for military purposes. Much |
Of the government Gotten has been pushed into |
ma ket past our cruisers The proceeds come /
back in the shape of munitions of war and az /
,icles needed by the srmy.
Food is not scarce in ths South. Flour. corn
meal, rice, hsef and bacon are plentiful These !
command high prices, not 80 much fron diff |
ference Of supply and demand, bat more on &C /
count Of tho depreciation Of the currency, and /
~ rr fi,aA wt.fl-r 20 d..
such as it is. Flour can one day be bought in 1
in Richmond for twelve dollars per barTs, and !
the next it viii take sixteen dollars. This is |
owing - spectators, who prey upon the gov
aTnHeot aud people alike. In the ibterior dis
Hicis ths article csn be bought for sight dollars
per barrel Corn IS very plentiful this season /
but every ono having il boards the article as
precious Hence ths price Of two
dollars per bushel Rice is drug in the market,
bat ten cents per pound 1t was
attempted to feed il to soldiers in regular "a
TORS, but tbey gfunbled at it as hard fare, and /
nany refused to eat it.
This is the only article Of food the Confederate
allow to be exported, and considera-
bic quantities have run the blockade The prin-
,ipsi hotel in Richmond charge fvs dollars per |
Jay for board and lodging, and are said TO be
making fortunes in Confederate script The fol- /
owing is the standing bill OF fare Breakfast
very bad coffee, with common brown sugar |
Daefstakes, mutton chops and fried bacon /
whsst and corn bread; butter and milk. Din |
ner-R5ast beef, mutton, pork, fresh and cured /
potatoes and other vegetables, sezetines veDi-
son, oth.r game aud poultry, bread, buitsr and |
milk Dssert-Fruif pies. Suppsr-Same as
breakfast. Irish and sweet potatoes are very
plentiful, selling att dollars per barrel Coal /
i worth thirty dollars per ton, gas is consumed I
A. the rate Of ten dollars per thousand; sperm
candies are not to be bad, and follow can
lies sell at seventy Eve cents per pound. Lard |
oil IS used extensively ia tin lamps
The new conscript law is to bs put into opera
lion as soon as possible and it IS calculated to /
increase the army three hundred thousand men /
OF this increase but g small portion will be /
placed IN the field this winter, the authorities |
linking they have enough already to hold the |