Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-23

4 Fleet Of FJty Transports and Three GIN
boats approaching Fieksbarg.
VIcKsBURG, January %, 1867.
The temperance Of the ~gunboAis within sight of the
Hill City has created anew the spirit Of enthusiasm and
excitement among the deuizens of the hills. Whenever
the feet is in sight, or anything Indicating its approach,
there IS always a certain degree Of feeling mani
Tested, particularly by such as have a mortal adherence
Of the g~unboats. Bnt the universal fear which pre-
vailed a year ago of these dreaded monsters has all van
isbed, and no more attention is paid to the threat
ening menaees of the foe by means CT his Missis-
sippi navy Yesterday evening the smoke Of q
portion of the feet was very distinctly visible IN the d.
recdOn Of the mouth'of Old river, and later in the day
it wss reported that the boats were going up the Yazoo.
As We are now again blessed with clear, bright and sun
ny days, we are enabled to watch the movements Of the
enemy in the distance, and old experienced pilots and
river men can tel. very nearly the points at which they
ae operating. Nothing can be seen hut the smoke, but
this is srfic ent to indicate which way the feet is nov
Ing, or whether it s in motion at all OF not.
It is now generally understood here that the trars-
por s bearing the whole army are again approaching
this city, and that they may be looked for almost every
day. Another attack may come eF ct short notice. The
Federal accounts are reticent as TO who The new com
mander is to be in place OF Sherman, but the presump
ton is that Grant is the man. Whoever he may be, he
VIII fad that this expedition opens a magnificent field
wherein to display his military g MUS. as the taking Of
vicksburg is the hardest task that any Of the Fede-
raj generals have yet undertaken, and he who
proves successful in this undertaking viii be
entitled to the highest honors THAT his Abolition
government can bestow upon hn. His army is com
posed of the best fighting material in al the Yankee
land, and the opening Of the Mississippi is the ret idea,
aad the great prize that the whole Northwest is fight
ing for; all the men and means, with all the most ap.
proved appliances of war, together with a monster aset
Of gunboa s carrying heavy ornaments, are all at his
command. If he fails, then it must indeed be conceded
that " might Is not right " and that the battle is not 10
the strong"
The signs here indicating that the officials in command
expect a renewal Of hostilities shortly are too plain to
be misunderstood. From the activity and energy DIS
played in finishing the preparations and completing all
the defeuses, it is evident that urgent necessity calls for
this activity in our lines, and when the foe comes to
examine our works he will find that they were well pre-
pared and entirely too strong TO be reduced. Wherever
any weak points have been discovered in our defenses
they were substantially strengthened, and at whatever
points new works were practicable they have been
attended to, and now there IS no cause to fear disaster
at this place. A small army can hold the piece against
a hundred thousand Yankees easy nough, and cooper
alton Of the ~gunbosts viii be Of but very little assis-
lance, as on. batteries commanding the river for a dis.
lance Of about fifteen miles viii be able to attend to
them in the most ~hospitable style. It is to be hoped
the late boasts Of the Federas about having captured
the Southern railroad may ope- ate as warning TO us. so
that it may be efectualy guarded-this road is in tsct
of more Importance to the place than some Of the strong
est batteries, and it should be carefully watched.
Tbs latest and seemingly reliable report is that fifty
transports, conveyed BY three ~gunboat, hsd passed
Gzesnvile, on Tuesday afternoon, on the way down,
and they must consequently be n close prox' nifty {,
Vicksburg BY this time. NEsToR