Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-03
- &C ID YIeksburn.

From the Mississippian, jury -
We arrived at the two mile bridge an Sunday
evening last, at about 3 o'clock amid the boom
ing of heavy moTtsrs and the bursting Of shell
from the fifteen inch ordnance Of the Yankee
feet. which is anchored close IN under the shore
below the point on the Mississippi side, and
almost completely protected from our batteries
below the city, and too far from the upper bat
teries for them to reach their adYersaries.
The fire Of the enemy on Sunday, at midday,
was drawn by a salute of thirteen guns which
were ordered by the Confederate commander in
honor of the great victory over Mcclellan IN
Virginia. It was thought that the enemy mis-
took this salute for an attack, as we learn some
Of our guns we're shotted, and opened f~uriOusly
on the city, continuing, with an intermissiOn Of
about one hour, until about II o'clock ct night.
After night the heavy mortsrs were ranged to
throw the shell in the vicinity Of the Catholic
church, where we were told they had been di-
rected during the afternoon.
The effect of these shells as they exploded,
which usually took place Just as they reached
the ground was terrific. We entered the city,
as fortune would have it, on Crawford street,
and as we passed the residence Of DR.. Balfour,
Methodist, Baptist and Catholic churches,
shells exploded in our immediate vicinity, rem
dering our position 50 uncomfortable that we
suggested to a friend 3 pTecipitate retreat in or
/ uDI 10 Kok lub u t4t IGAEg 1A nc ANlkAAA4- HIS
suggestion was promptly acceded to by our
friend, not, however, until we had sOiled our
garments thoroughly by falling to the earth ct
the explosion Of each successive shell. Our re-
treat, thoughTapid, like Banks before St0neWall,
was accomplished in good order, and instead Of
enjoying a comfortable bed in the city with my
friend, gladly accepted a soldiers blanket with
friend HalcOmb, Of Rankin, on the green sWard
in the suburbs of the city.
The next morning we entered the city-eY-
erything being quiet except the hustle Of the
citizens who were e~ndeaYOring to get what lit
tie furniture remained to a place Of safety.
During the morning we rode through nearly
every street, witnessing the effect Of the shell
on the brick and wood structures, and were i'm
pressed with the comparatively slight damage
lone to either class Of buildings, when the num-
Der of shots (probably 15,000) were taken into
account. In some instances, as in case Of the
late Mrs. CANDLES house, q shell would pass
through a column Of houses, leaving a hole
scarcely larger than itself, and pass on till it
reached a hill, where it would enter and ex-
plode. The I5-inch shell, when It strikes the
hills Of YIeksburg, enters the earth to q depth
of from five to ten feet, but when It strikes in
the streets it explodes much nearer the surface.
No fires have yet originated from the explo-
| sion Of shell, and il is evident that the enemy
do not desire to burn the city Immediately, OF
they would have thrown ineendiary shell in
stead Of the missiles already sent in.
On Monday att O'Clock P. NJ the enemy re-
opened their mortars and kept up q constant fire
with the exception of an hour or two, apparently
to take their meals, during the whole night, and
did not cease till Tuesnay evening at 4 o'clock.
All was quiet this "wednesday morning at 10
O'Clock. We have not heard of any injury being
sustained by OR batteries up to this morning.
The feet which passed by the city on the
memorable morning Of Saturday was severely
cut to pieces by our batteries, and a gentleman
who was in the vicinity of the upper batteries
reports to Gen. Van Dorm that one Of the boats
sunk after it went round the bend.
Nothing is now to be seen of this fleet above
the city except the constant cloud Of black
smoke which sseends above the forest around
the bend.