Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-30
LETTER pRon poar HUDSON.

PORT HUDSON, La, Asreh q, 1868
The heavy batteries at this point
are in cEsrge Of the st Alabama and the 18th Louis
lana The batteries in charge Of the Ist Alabama
commanded as follows Ne. l, Capt. S. P. Whitfield ;
No 2 Lieut. Hsrraon; 10 8 Capt Riley No. 4, Capt
Ramssy-sn under the Immediate command Of Msjor
Knox Of The LIST AIsbsus. do not know the names
Of the other battery commanders II did, I would
cbserfuIly give tis. As Gen. Gardner says in his re-
port Of the battle "ths bravery oooness and skill Of
the men at the guns Just compliment the com
manders Of batteries Wen indeed have they done
their whsle duty and they entitled to the thanks
and gratitude Of the sOuth.
This great victory the sssated navy Of the abe
ouisis win only tend to strengthen the faith Of
our gallant soldiers In land batteries but viii teach the
Yankees that their turrsted monsters and ironelsds
are not mpregnsble. The Aght ALTO gave s.filler
s good chance for practice and to get all the ranges
and elevations on the chsuneL Woe to the next effort
Of the Gulf sgusdrcn. With the ais Of lights which
have bssn provided since the Aght ear batteries viii be
enabled 30 send the last enc Of them to the botOIs
The feet since the action bs1 bssn comparatively
quiet lying st anchor Of range of ganI, only
occasionally sending aissls OF snbIugation up the
river which Invariably falls short Not single one Of
oar guns were touched Of a Eiags weudsd In the
batteries. me lauheeN lost tAeW aae
sssippi, with many killed and wouaied on board,
aboot sixty prisoners, and mach damage to the
whole deet Verify vicksburg and Pert Hudson
are formidable obstacles 70 the navigation of the Mis-.
sissippi by the Ab9litloniEts.
Poor Farrasut he ia in tlyht Plses-bstweeR cur
batteries cut of from hb squsdrOn AID eur gunbosts
afler hira with @shsrp stick" II he not captured
and his beat destroyed or added to the Confederate
navy, then ana no prophstf He thought btess 10
cut US of from supplies BY bloekadng above but yea
tsr5ay seven large transports arrived from Red river,
loadei to the guards with prOysons for the army OF
Port Hudson, and are BOW qustly diseharging shsir
cs-zoea And, besides, the way. In a
word the Yankees can't take Pert MADISON. With our
gasnt commander, veteran troops and fortiheations
we defy all the lssions Of Barks and Farragut and
even doubie their Numbers in Yankees and negrees
Il was doubtless the intention Of Banks to ooops'
rate vlih the feet he only few miles dluant
when the ataek By water was made. But he failed to
come to time" and his advance guard was met some
distance outside the breastworks and driven back to
Baton Rouge IN double quiek" leaving knapsAckE
guns etc. IN their hurried retreat which fell nto our
hands Since ;hsn nothing has been heard Of Banks
/ We spprehend no asugsr frsm hin In fact we doHi
believe be will try it sgsin Port Hudson is ready
for him
Everything Is now comparatively quiet Tke Yankees
Only relieving the monOioay by ceessional shell
which amounts 10 nothing, save = waste Of powder
Our guns remain silent waiting fer the fest to II
good rangs-then look ont
The army Is in splendid trim and the best Of spirits
and anEous for agh feeling satisfied Of It's ability t.
defend aad hold Port Hudson the last day in th'
meraing" Gen. Gardner Is a great favoriie and III,
troops have All confidence IN him.
The health Of the army is gsod The weather Is de-
nghfful, and las all the appearance and feeling q
"barny spring.
when wiz the Yankees open the Mississippi Thel
nigh Is wen attempt to foree IT 70 run up stream.
Yours EVELYN.