Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-10

served in the field as well as in the rehnements OF society
at home.
The holidays were passed in the usual routine Of eaEI
dutv- working on the Notifications, mounting heavy
1uns, standing guard, building winter-quarteTs1 etc e'c
Over three thousand comfortable log cabins, E@1to Ieet
chnked and daubed, have sprung up mere "nnn :.
past month. with an alacrity that would puzzle the SeafH'
Of Aiaddin's wonderful lamp to tell where SO many utlIs
round logs could have come from. They are mere never
theless, and all our men are well provided foE against me
pitiless storm Of the incoming winter Let od ABE per,
severe in his winter campaign TO his hearts content and
expose his hirelings 20 the sleet snow and ice Of 3 norm
en climate, if he choose 20 do so our boys VIII ST. Dy
warm and comfortable fires and be the more ready TO
meet them when they cone.
Yesterday considerable excitement pervaded the whole
army in consequence of the sudden appearance, in the
river above. Of three gunboats and two smaller craft
At first, il was supposed the time for the longlOoked for
descent had arrived, and the impending conflict was at
hand. as appearances would seem 20 indicate the remain
der Of the great armada was coming up in the reaE In
an instant almost. our batteries were manned and ready
for that trial Of strength which must, sooner or later
decide the fate Of the Mississippi valley, and put a. rest
forever, i hope, the approximations OF our enlaehs along
the great river" below. Il was soon apparent, how
ever, that the object Of the expedition was merely to re-
c~onnoitsr, If possible, the position of our submarine bat
teries, Internal machines, etc, ETC., preparatory, perhaps
TO a descent 70 be made hereafter. The little Grampus
was Immediately dispatched mp the river 70 keep a sharp
lookout upon their movements, and ascertain the real
object Of their visit She soon returned, anu reported
that no demonstrations had been made towards landing
troops on the Missouri side, consequ ntly our hopes OF a
brush with the Yankee rsscals considerably diminished
and when, at length, they turned their bows towards
Cairo and slowly passed out Of sight, we gave 1t up en-
tirely for the present, and disappointediy returned TO our
quarters, 70 find In the varied amusementsp OF the camp
some respite from the eHa4i and apathy Of our inactive
life.
when they will pay us another visit, we, Of course
cannot tell, but il Is the opinion Of our commanders that
such an interesting event may occur at any time, hence
all leaves Of absence and furlOughs are entirely inter
dicted. except in the most urgent cases, and then a writ
ten petition has 10 be made 70 the commandments IL
Our defenses are about completed, save case-madng the
river bgtteries. which l Iearn is ia progress-snd wholly
considered, present an array Of strength truly formida
bic. Columbus may be taken, but there is no Yankee
army now in the field formidable enough to do it, 80 the
good people Of Memphis may rest assured that the only
Yankees they will have an opportunity OF seeing IN that
fair city. soon, will consist in the prisoners and wounded
sent down TO them by their friends from here, should
they come on and give US the chance.