American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-03-29
LETTER FROM MEMPHIS.
Especial to the Picayane.
MExPHrs. lNarch 10. 1865

MEMPHIS. Ndrch ~, 1909
The most threatening movements of
the enemy here at the present time are
upon the Army of the Mississippi in the
direction of Corinlh. on the Memphis
and Charleston Road, soEne twenty kve
miles from the Tennessee. A very large
force. indeed. is said to have already
landed en- the western bank of that river.
at three several places. between Ssvan-
nah and Hamburg. By some IT IS be-
Iieved to number so. 600 men, but this
is doubtless an exaggeration. Thirty
thousand will cover the whole number
They were escorted up the river by gun
boats, the number Of which is also vari-
ously reported. Since the first landing
The transports are said to have made two
/ trips down the Ohio and back.
Immediately after landing the enemy
began the work of cutting roads through
the country in the direction OF CoFinth.
At last accounts these roads were cut
through about half way. They RIM
along high ridge. entirely above the
high water at present flooding a large
portion of the adjoining country. but in
tersected by ravines. the bridging OF
which may ultimately delay movements
In unison with this movement on the
upper Tennessee. another force is re-
ported to be marching from some point
below in the direction of Trenton. This
morning j, is reported they had reached
| Paris. but in what numbers is not known
/ The object of this latter movement is. of
course, to prevent the reinforcement OF
! n n h..lf
These. according to the most authen-
tic reports. are the .prncinal movements
of the enemy west of she Tennessee
What pre- parations have been made to
check them. it would be maniiestly i'm
proper for me here to say. | may be AL
| lowed. however. to express the confident
conviction that they are such as will en-
sure US another glorious victory like tha,
| won on Manassas Plains. And If We
are so fortunate. we will make more than
Bull Run of it, for we shall drive the
enemy entirely out of Tennessee.
AT the same time their movements are
being made west of the Tennessee. anoth-
er designed to divide and distract us is
being made from Nashville and other
points on the Cumberland. The direc-
lion of this column. which is solid one.
moving with great caution. is towards
Decatur or Huntsville At last accounts
it was in the region of Columbia. A
small force had also occupied Shelby
vile. As | said before. this column
threatens at the present time both Hunts
vile and Decatur alike. But il is prob
able the latter is its real destinaIion.-
The diversion towards Huntsville has The
same relation to the movement on Decs-
tur. that those towards Jackson. west Of
the river, have 10 the move ment direct
on Corinth.
These appear to be the real movements
of the enemy in the direction of the Mem
phis and Charleston Railroad. or the i'm
mediate object of them. The four. or
rather Two, movements are doubtless
made in unison. General engagements
along the whole line. therefore. may soon
be expected One in the neighborhood
of Corinth is eminent.
On the river but little has transpired
since my last. Island No. 10 continues
to he strengthened. as also the works
below. At least two places are now be-
leved to be impregnable. The enemy.
above is said TO be white with transports
Betwe en- New Madrid and Point Pleas
the Bluff to r Z Graves; TO comman
that own and the hands of Il c Sanders
bet Passmore, Mrs \ Sanders and ii
ever Leocitt. Green Coleman Moore'i
and jackson road from Mrs Nannc
and Bear Greek bridge; to command hi
and and the hands of B G AlswOrth |
aft of Sbackelford. John Smiths estate.
r ar Alsworth, Mrs Pack. Mrs Vannq
ItITJ Alsworth. E Cordts. road
nent, Harrold's lane to u Caldwell's; to
the mand his own and the hands of ID
er a well, Jackson Warren and VIM ~ |
were compelled to retire after the rx
change Of few shots with one Of the |
boats, the Lady Polk disabled. The |
abandonment of New Madrid. and espe- |
ciallv of the artillery there. was great
loss TO US. 1t not only gave the enemy
position lower down the river than the /
island. but the guns ready at hand
wherewith to construct batteries on the |
shore below. There have. indeed. been
reports in circulation that it was. under |
these circumstances. considered best to
abandon the island. but 1 am now in
formed on the highest authority that il is |