New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-04
aIerJsa FROM BEAuREcAaD'S CAMP
EXECUTION OF REBEL DESERTERS
OUR GUNBOATS At VICKsBUKG
CORRESPONDENCE WITH TIE AUTHORITIES
A BONDARDNENT THREATENED.
co,t.,,o,ssue. Of The Memphis Appeal.


CoElSTH, Miss, Nay %. 1862
Forty-eight hours sgo had one predicted that
decisive battle would not be fought before tue en9
ofthe week, his prophecy would have been received
with doubt. Yet to-day finds the army iul9,i ~
pepse relieved, and expectations del arleu. .h ~.
has NOT come ont and we have relaIsed INTO lne at
ti,ude we occuuied preyOus to the anticipated con-
test II is now raining and should II continue 'he
weather itself will be bar to 1urther oPeia'iohs
until the condition OF The roads laVors hii'i
yonr citv il doubtless rife with rumors Of battle
.arr;sd tbi,ber by travellers but you may set them
down rs mere cihers, since nothing 10 positively
known copct ming the designs of either army out
current here but deemed them unworthy Of repeti-
tion aud for prudential considerations unfit TO be
mentioned
SkiImishing along the lines has become such
matter Of fact as hardly To deserve record, and even
an "artillery DUEL" unless for al hour or two 1t
fills the air with reverberatng thunder eXces little
more than passing comment. Sometimes these AZ
tacks are initiated by us, but more frequently by
the enemy, the object being either TO drive IN OF
drive out" as the case may be, and q few men
killed or wounded is the general result. The picket
firing is continuous, shots being constantly ex
changed.
Halleck seems By no means impatient to bring on
an engagement. Slowly and cautiously he Is mass
ing his troops around u.s. forifyDg every pregnable
point and bringing forward and planting the artll-
iery which lie expects will prove the besoms OF our
destruction. Re-enfoloements, too are augmentlng
his numbers. Ger. Sigel one Of the atlest engineer
officers in the Union army, has, according TO the
statement OF prisoner recently arrived at Pitts
burg Landing with 2O,OJU troops, ana Others are
doubtless on their way.
These movements indicate very wholesome
amount OF respect for strength, and indeed il is
well founded sentiment. Union papers accredit Us
with having 2O0, 900 men, and the Northern troops
are fully impressed with this fact All the prisoners
coincide in the statement that they are unwilling TO
fight, and heartily disguised with the maLner IN
which we ALWAYS bestow our welc0ms. As remarked
in previous letter. the war here has assumed a
purely strategcal character both OF the commanding
Generals being engaged in studying how each shall
most efectually checkmate the other. llaleck on
HE part, is afraid TO make SINGLE move without
protecting himself from every conceivable coniin-
gency of failure and Beauregard, with his watch
full eye. closely every opportunity which
promises success 10 bin. Could one be acquainted
with the operations of these two master minds,
what study would IL be 10 the curious philosopher,
and how the world would learn TO appreciate the
difficulties which cluster around the designs Of great
leaders in contest of this nature
Reports from the Tennessee River state that it il
now very low, and that transports are compelled to
travel up and down without the protecting egs Of q
gunboat. What fine opportunity for sharpshoo,-
ers !! A wtll-oFganized band OF partissns might
make the Tennessee iD,passabie cut Oft Yankee sup
plies and prove Of iuesiimable advantage to our
cause. Why viii some not take the initiative
Another soldier was yesterday shot FOR desertioD.
During the previous night he had run by Our pckets,
but evidently lost bis way, for on approaching the
lines again the seminal cried " Halt !" "Oh I'm
all right YOU need not stop me-" wss the respon Sc;
81 I'm as good Federal as you are'
What are you doing here 2" SAID the sentinel.
need not mention the purport Of the revelation.
"Well, reckon you have got In the wrong box.
I'm Confederate picket, and you my prisoner"
TIE officer OF the guard was according summoned
and the man given into custody. Yesterday he was
taken before Gen. jackson and examined. He
then frankly confessed that lis heart not in the
cause; that he was an Engi lmsn by birth and had
deserted with the intention OF giving intelligence OF
our movements 10 the enemy. Evidence so clear
and conclusive. dispensed with the formaLiies Of
court MARTIAL and the man was taken out ard shot.
On the Gay previous "wednesday saw another
suffer the fate-a spy named Coon FarIis, from
Paris or Psdueah, Tenn. A more stoical death l
never witnessed. As he rode along upon rude cart
seated upon a box which was 10 DE his future bed,
he acted us indifferently as Il lie were spectator,
and not tie object Of the terrible preparations
When the vehicle stopped he jumped lightly out,
and wal cd for the removal Of the coiln This being
DONE lie walked carelessly 20 tree twenty feet dis
tant the coffin was placed under it, his haDd-cuhs
were unlocked, and for moment he en- gagged in con-
versation with the officer attending him Not d sign
Of trepidaIon was visible. The keen black eye was
as bold and unwaverlng 40 ever, aud neither cheek
tlanohed nor muscle ouivercj. His interview ter
E5naed, tie last words Of which, as was Informed,
sye-es g die al honest and en- innocent man" He
across his breast, arms piniOned from behind, eyes
baudaeed ahi Of bis own accord he leaned back
against the tree.
Such was the inn ertuYbable self.possefson of the
man, however, that even then, shut ont from the
world for the last time, WIN only moment bridg-
ing the interval between time ana eternity, he took
the pains to make himself comfortable by moving
his head from eide 20 SIDE the tlee that 1t might
rest easily upon the rough ridges OF ths bark. The
guard was then ordered forward three PAGES, so that
bpt ten steps separated them from tie culp1t. The
officer took kis place at their night, and III low
tone gave the order, Take aim "a few seconds
pause" Firel'' A spissh OF brains, sudden start
dropping Of the head 10 one side, falling OF the
Jaw and all was over The spy had paid the forfeit
of his life fox his crime, ard he majesty Of military
law was INDICATED.
The following is the respondence which passed
between Commodore Lee and tue Mayor OF the City
Of Vickfburg:
CyrTxp STATES STEAMER ONEIDA,
BELOW VICKsBURG. May 1867
SIR II becomes my duty give you notice to the
and children beyond the range Of our guns within "a
hours o. viii attack the deenses without
njurng destroying the towns proceeding which ali the
authorities Of Viek.ours ,eeln determined TO require had
tiles retire from the City Of New Orleans rather than wan
tony sachce the lives and property Of its Inhabitants would
have been followed mere s. PnILLi issIi EE ss
Commanding Naval Advance Division.
To L. LispsEY, esq, Mayor OF the City Of VcEsbug.
MAYORS OYr1cg VicKsBURG, Miss. May Fl, 1862.
To 8 PHIAIPs LgB u. s. NJ. CommaHdtng NaraI idvaaee
SIR Your communication of this date handed to me
Al this eveni1goo late to give public notice TO
ths women children In thereof shall date
your "a hours TO- MORROW morning. I'D instant at
ecloct A. NJ. respectfully, L. LlNDSEY, Mayor.
VIcKsBuRG, May q, - o'clock M have just
returned under tag OF truce from the Union fleet.
Commander Lee peremptorily refuses extension OF
time for the removal Of women and children, and
will probably open FIRE on our defenses at o'clock
p. m, to-day. The land forces Of the enemy esti
mated q three four thousand and, it is believed,
will ventuya a land attack IL on ye IN NOT fear