Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-08
LETTER FROM vTCKsRURC.

GORE SpOndcnce OF the Memphis Appeal
VICKsBURG, Miss, July G, 1862.
Forty-two days have now elapsed since the
fleet of Lincoln made their appearance in the
river below Vicksburg, and yet the city is no
nearer in the possession Of the enemy than it was
before that time.
Soon after the feet came TO anchor below the
city, they summoned the city three times to sur
render, and three times was the summons per-
emptorily rejected. Then they commenced shell
ing it, which has been kept up at intervals ever
since. 1t is estimated that no less than 5000
guns have been fired at the city and suburbs;
yet only three soldiers and one have been
killed and two soldiers wounded. The damage
sustained by buildings has not been more than
one-twentieth part as great as might be suppos-
ed. The Rev. G.. X. Marshall, who has been an
eye witness of all the siege, says that $4,000
would repair all the damages in this particular.
There is no doubt that the enemy are making
an attempt to diUOTce Vicksburg from the river.
Immediately in front of the city the Mississippi
makes a bend in the shape Of a horse shOe-the
angles extending west, or from the town. The
distance across the nearest point-from the
channel above to that bellows only three
quarters of a mile. The timber is of that heavy
nature peculiar to the stream, while the soil is
tough blue clay, exceedingly hard, and can be
removed only with herculesn labor. The Yam
KEGS have pressed between four and FIVE thou
sand negroes, belonging to planters of Madison
and Jefferson parishes, Louisiana, and put them
to work digging this canal. BY this canal they
expect to turn the channel of the river, and thus
leave the city of Vicksburg alone in its glory.
If they succeed in these expectations, of course
it will give them the navigation of the Missis-
sippi. but they win be bafied in securing this
as a point from which to make forays into our
State. They would be exceedingly gratiGed to
see their hated flag unfurled from the dome of
the capitol of the rebel Presidents State"
The country Immediately around Yicksburg
is very rugged. 1t is cut up into fathomless
Tayines and almost perpendicular hills. SO
much is this the case that troops, in large bodies,
csnnot be Unanswered to any advantages whilst
there are hundreds Of places where a regiment
could not be dislOdged by a brigade of assail-
ants. This will account for the few men we
have lost in the bombardment, aud this bonn
bardment may continue until the end of time
without increasing the casualties to a greater
ratio.
All old steamboat men know that the worst
place in the river between Vicksburg and New
Orleans is {" Hole. in-the-Wall." There it is
wider and more shallow than at any other point,
and in the latter part of July and August from
eight to twelve feet of water is all that can ever
be obtained in the series Of channels there
abouts. As ali of Lincoln's regular ocean war
vessels and most Of his gunboats draw from
to twenty-five feet, it follows that they
hsv'nt got long to stay here" The river is
now falling at the rate of one foot per day, |
will not only hasten their departure but
impede their canal across the Pen
SUBALTERNs.