Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-16
LRrTRRs FRom vECKsBURG.

ENClIA ASNNHlNuuELrE o. = lcAtNA 0EENaa
VICKsBURG, March 18th, 1862.
The Indictment weather in the ~forspart Of the
week no doubt operated as 9 check upon any
active movements Of the enemy, though It is
not to be supposed that he has been idle, simply
for the reason that we could see him. His eff
forts at navigation ia the canal seem to have
again been suspended, and the craft which was
noticed q few days ago in the upper end, has
been withdrawn. I would not be surprised if
this celebrated ditch would yet be pronounced
2 dead failure, for the reason am led 70 suspect
that a new canal is being dug at amore pfacti-
cable point, and that the work on the cid one is
merely a feint to divert our attention from their
new enterprise. But few persons have any sus-
pieions Of this sort, and I have not heard that
it has yet been limited at BY any of the com
manding officers here but from certain hints
in the Northern accounts Of their operations be-
fore Yichsburg. I can explain their ambiguous
nearing in no other way Than that q new chan
mel is being dug, and that the old one win be
abandoned
There is Mt longer any doubt that Gen. Grant
Is devotng all his energies to opening a channel
by means Of which to get below, and that he
has q mortal dislike to making an attack upon
our works in front. If it is in the power Of the
enemy to take this place without a fight, they
will never undertake to carry it BY assault. But
from the prospects which are presented before
them it appears almost impossible to make al
| advance from any direction without meeting
with impossible distinctions, either above, be
low, or in the rear. If the Yankees think they
can get Yieksburg without a fight, they are
wofully mistaken and if they expect to get il
at all, they are also badly deceived, It is Ger
tain tbat.the great mass of the enemy's troop,
are opposed to going into q fight here, and this
Dissemination will Of itself 50 weaken the army
that it viii be an easy matter to repulse them
and throw them into confusion, which viii re
suit in their total overthrow and humiliation.
The haze which obseured the enemy from
view yesterday morning. having gradually dissi
pstsd, the scene opened with its usual mOnotony
before US. There appeared to be nothing going
on IN the canal, and one or two large, ugly
looking gunboats were anchored a little above
Sill further up the feet Of transports was in it
old place, With tremendous clouds Of steam anC
smoke overhead Among the latter it looked as
if all were prepared to start out on a trip tC
Yicksburg, or some other point. Behind the
bend above, the gunboats also raised q great
cloud of smoke, and some of them were aPpa.
rsnHy in the mouth of the Yazoo. These indi
cations Of motion in the boats continued all day
but none ventured to come in the direction Of
this place. As night set in nothing was seen
that could be interpreted into an expected at
tack at an early hour, though from appearances
ore would think that they were ready all the
time
Night before last two Yankees attempted te
| escape and cross the river to this side. L being
moonlight our pickets could see them jump
into the river opposite, and heard them talk as
they we're swimming towards this side. Oos
seemed to be encouraging the other, and both
drfted a considerable distance down the river
One of them reached to within a few hundred
ysrss of this shore, and our pickets could hea-
him puff and blow, and labor like a drownina
msn The picket asked him whether he wanted
any assistance. bat his answer was not audible
soon after which he sunk Tho other drfted ont
of sight, and It is mo- known whether he escaped
or not.
Yesterday afternoon quite 9 number Of Yam
KEGS visited DeSoto, and were plainly seen from
the batteries, but our officers did not see fit tc
interfere with their observations. Iexpeet some
Of their p~ictorials viii soon give US a good
sketch of sl our guns, which We were kind
enough to allow them to take right under or
noses. NEsToR.