Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-27

Special Corresf oudence Of thu Memphis Appeal
RICHMOND, December l6, ls6

Special Cores ondence Of the Memphis Appeal
RICHMOND, December l6, 1862.
A you may imagine, L was with a feeling Of surprise
and Incredibly that we heard, this morning, that the
great invading army OF burnside had suddenly disap
psArod from their position before fredericksburg, re-
crossed the RappAhannock aud gone of to parts IN
known. sigel was known 10 have arrived with his
achievements, forty thousand strong, and it was sup
posed that tho Yankees, after the burial of their dead,
would advance to day, with renewed energy, to the
attack upon our line great, therefore, was the sstonish-
mont Of eyerybo ~ to learn that all at once they had
given up the approach from fredericksburg and betaken
themselves to some other less difficult road, If they can
find one. But the fact Is beyond dispute. Gen. Lee
states it pos lively in a telegram to the War Department,
and Gen. Lee is not often deceived in such matters.
Our victory in the engagement Of Saturday was more
decided then we had believed. Our loss will not exceed
two thousand in killed, wounded and missing. The
Yankees have probably suffered more severely than in
any previous battle of the war. All agree that never
was there so immense a slaughter as in their frequent
repulses in the afternoon. In the attack upon the
lamented Gen. CObbs brigade, upon the very edge of
the town, they were slain by hundreds. Nine success
sive charges were attempted by them, each feebler than
the preceding enc, and in the last, fighting Joe Hooker"
Is said 70 have led the Yankees in person There is a
rumor that he fell dead upon the field. The prisoners
that have been brought to the city represent the Barn.
side army to be in a greatly demoralized condition.
We may well credit it, or the grand effort TO push on
to Richmond from the Rappahsnnock would not have
been so suddenly relinquished.
VIVA; Burnsides plans now are, Of course, Is pure
matter Of conjecture. Some sanguine people suppose
ihat he has gone back to Washington. Not he. Such a
step would be Immediate removal from his command,
indelible disgrace, perhaps imprisonment or execution.
For the raga Of the Ysnkea nation against thar m
successful generals exceeds their fondness for them be-
fore they have been defeated. Most probably he will
endeavor to get off upon bis transports down the Poto-
mac, and so unite with Banks OF Foster, to march upon
Richmond from the south. It is not known whether
Gen. Lee will pursue his retire ting columns. II such
a thing can be done to advantage, however, we feel
confident he will do it.
The condition Of our Amy is all that could be desifed
The men are now well clothed and in the highest
spirits. It is worthy of note that Stonewsll Jackson
appeared upon the field on Saturday in a new uniform
aud jsnnty felt hat, which greatly amused and enlivened
his troops.
The wounded soldiers, who have been brought to the
city, bear their suferings with q cheerfulness and com
posure that shows the bouyant temper Of the army.
Not a murmur, not a groan escapes them. Whole
trains fail Of the poor, brave, mutilated fellows are
arriving every few hours, and the smbulsnceS stand all
day at the depot, waiting to convey than to the hos
pitfalls, but even as the ctizen-nurses are lifting them
from the car to the carriage, y0u can hear no groaning.
One poor boy who had lost his arm, was seen yesterday
sitting mp smoking a cigar I need not sag that every
attention will be paid to these gallant defenders of the
capital The people Of Richmond know their duties
and will discharge them to the uttermost.
The b,dy Of the lamentsd General Gregg was borne
through the city teddy, en- its way to South Carolina.
There was a large funeral escort consisting of the Elliott
battalion and the Public guard.
After a wsek of summary weather, and a storm Of
wind and rain, It has blown of cold again. DIXIE.