Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-06-20
9aiIg g9ppeaI,

late, I.psrtanl, and Reliable from the
TrRns-iIfssiasippi Department, yiells-
burg, and Pert HudHoH.
We have at last direct and positive intellgenes
from beyond the Mississippi which ceAYs up ell
the doubts, myths and rumors which have been
vexing Us for some weeks past.
We gather our information from IN intelligen,
gentleman. Just from the headquarters of Gen
Kirby Smith, who has official relations with
that army, and who crossed the Mississippi river
a. Natchez last Friday.
The first important fact We learn is, that Gen.
Smith is fully posted as to the situation at
Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and Is directing
the forces Of his department with q view 20 sec
ond Gen. Johnston on this side Of the river in
the work Of raising the siege Of those two cities.
Gen. Smiths headquarters were st Shreveport
from which -int he has easy water communi-
cation with the Mississippi, TO = point near
Vicksburg, by the Red, Black. and Tensss
rivers. His troops sye already AZ the posts se-
lected for them in carrying out Gan. Smiths
great plan. which is 20 cut eff Gen Grants sup
plies To this end Gen. Walkers division, Of
Gen Dick TaYloIs army, was already A.
YOung's point with seven Thousand men, and
the artillery necessary to command the river as
20 transports and other wooden vessels.
Three thousand men, nader the command OF
Brigadier- General Green, were on the Peninsula
Opposite Port Hudson, and in 8 position, with
the aid of General GGrdneT's batteries, 10 CON-
pletely close the river to the euemy's boats.
Marmsdu5e, Of General Prices army, was
nesr Helena, and General Price, with seventeen
thousand men, Wss on the march for that poi0t
his object being the same, to command the
river. an5 cut of Grants supplies. The great
fall in the Mississippi rfvef, twsnty-eight feet
below high water mark, afJrds great facilities to
these operations. The narTowness Of the stream
forced passing vessels to come within easy range
Of the shore batteries while the river had sunk
so low that the attacking parties could not be
reached by the enemy's gunbost5.
The parris0ns Of Port Hudson and Ficks5urE
are both well provisonel and in fine gDiriis-
each uneasy sbout the fate Of ths other, but en-
tirsly confident in their own situation. They
have abundant supplies. News had been re-
csivei from VIczshurg up to Saturday night
Grants army is undoubtedly suhsricg for want
Of water, and suffering more frsm being obliged
70 drink the water Of the Big Black, which is
very unwholes0me. As eur informant says,
GezsTal Johnston is in ne bury TO move, for
this among other reasons, that he does not Ike
TO interfere with the seton Of the ws'srs. He
IS in regular communication with the west of
tie Mississippi and al are working 70 g com
men eRd-the starvation Of the enemy, the
raising of the seige, and the capture Of as many
as possible when be begins TO move of.
Louisiana has besn abandoned by the enemy
and there srs 10 Yankee troops except about
Dcnaldsouvills. Gen Morton with 1000 men
Is Al Franklin, s. Msry's parish. In their re-
treat the Yankees carried off mules s3d destroyed
many wagons. But most Of the negroes have
been recaptuTed and are being sent back TO their
owners.
The Red river is free OF Yankee vessels. Com
municatOu between the east and west banks Of
the Mississippi at Nstchez and many other
places was constant sui uninterrupted. The
eusmy's gunboats are p0werless to prevent it.
Ten thousand head Of cattle were on their way
90 this side and have probably passed by this
time.
The Crescent regiment and the 18Th Louisi-
ana, both Of which were formerly stationed near
Mobile. are st Bayou Lsmourie, sixteen miles
below Alexandra.
Gen MagrudeT has his eyes Fixed on Yicks-
burg, and is cooperating with his fsllow-sOl-
diers near the gcsue Of action.
The forsgCing acts msT be relied upon for
their gene.al sccuracy and they put q new
face or Ibe great campaign in the valley Penn
bsrtsu and GardneT-shut up in their strong
holds, with plenty 30 cat and drink, and ample
powder and ball for the entertainment Of the
enemy, defy aud lsush st the hosts who ars
scrswiug and digging outside Of their wsrks
While Grant sits down sUletly-that is, as
quietly as Big Black water and the sun aad
viii peruit--io starvs cut Psmber-
ton, Kirby Smith, Price and Taylor are srrsug-
ing little detsils 20 starve ain out and compel
him to abondon his unhealthy locality.
Once a. ain, our cliBste comes to our aid.
The rivers have fallen with uuwonted rspidty
and the enemy's vessels, stranded on sand
banks, are beauty spots on the picturesque
scenes Of the great river. II Grant is forced to
retire. mRuy Of the vessels Of the Yankee feet
between Vicksburg snd Port Hudson must be
lost When scarcity, bad watsr, malaria and
Generalization hIve done their work upon
Grants hcsts, Johnst0n'F opportunity will have
arrived, and we have strong hopes that a COM
bined attack between him and Pembsrton viii
result in realizing one Of those 'pulyeIizing"
military operations Of which we resd so much
ia Northern papers.
We think the situation greatly relieved, and
We certainly breathe freer. We can now afford
to await events with becoming patience Mo
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