Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-15

again about 70 subside, and the prospects for a
clash at arms in the vicinity Of Vicksburg are
not 50 imminent now as they were weak ago
although certain movements smOng ihc enemy
indicate his presence and sdmOnish as that be is
active. The universal expectation here is for q
monster demonstration to be made in the coming
week, and the report that large feet is in olOse
proximity and preparing for an advance is be
lieved by all clssses-militsTy as well IS civil
isns. All the late manenyers Of the enemy
show that he is actively engaged in moving bis
troops, but for what purpose is not known
though II believed to be preparations for an
attack or the town.
From what can learn and see Of his move
ments, am led to believe that the project Of
assault upon this place is for the present aban.
doned. and that nothing Of the kind need be
spprehended at this time, and perhaps for some
time to come. If may be allowed to express
nv opinion ON a subject upon whieh all are
equally ignorant, it is merely to ssy that the
strategy now being effected by the enemy is to
partially withdraw his army from here and carry
It up to the Cumberland for the purpose Of
making a monster demonstration in Tennessee,
leaving merely sufficient force to threaten this
place, until the grand strategy is accomplished,
when, if successful, another raid may be made
against Yicksburg.
It's positively known that large portion Of
the aeet, embracing transports with troops, is
withdrawn and are on their way up the river.
L. L.
that they are gone from here is certain; and it
is equally certain that the taking away of a
large portion Of the AMY viii weaken the re-
mainder too much to attempt an assault here. 1t
is evident that if Gen. Grant found himself too
weak when he first came here with his eighty
thousand troops to attempt an attack, be cannot
hope to accomplish with the few remaining
troops that which be couldn't do with bis muit-
tudinous host In other words, if be could not
take the place with large army, it is certain
that he viii be much less able to take it with a
small one
This is the exact condition Of affairs here, il
being we'll known that be has divided his army
rnso half dozen different expeditions to dig
canals and navigate creeks and swamps to cir
eumvent Yicksburg. which reduced his num-
bers so much that be could not undertake an
assault in font. It is now reported and be-
Heved that he has recalled his expedition from
Coldwater, and also from Rolling Fork, and
that they are being sent up the river. If this is
correct then the present siege is virtually raised,
and no attack need be spprehended here. HsT-
ing no definite knowledge upon which to base
my conjsctures, I draw upon the best reports to
be obtained in regard TO his movements, and
form my conclusions in accordance.
The suspicious action Of the enemy within
the psst week, and the confrmstory reports
from above to tbs effect that an assault was in
contemplation almost Immediately, caused some
excitement and good deal Of energy among
the military snd it is well that these rumors
should once in a while obtain circulation snd
credit, as they have the effect Of rsinvigeTating
the vigilance and activity among those in CON-
mand here It may be supposed that at a mill
tary port, besieged by powerful enemy, like
this, the Watehfulness, eircumspectionr and st
tention Of discovering and guarding against
danger, and providing for safety, would not for
moment be relaxed, and that the constant
watebword would be
"In at this gate none can pass"
But It requires once in a while to be reminded Of
this important virtue even under The nose Of the
enemy.
On Sunday nothing very exciting took place,
though the gunboats were watched with good
deal Of interest in the early part of the day, and
several were seen in the Yszoo, believed to be
on g accommodating expedition. One boat WAS
seen in Old river, and apparently moving north
wsrd, which led me to believe that she was 60
ing up SteeiS's bayou, as she appeared to be in
that vicinity and going in that direction A
number Of gunboats were present with the feet
above, and one large transport arrived in the af-
ternoon. Among other encouraging signs I
noticed during the day wss the energy dis
played by General Stephenson in watching
the movements Of the enemy, from
aEarly morn til dewey eve"
Whatever the movements Of the enemy, or
the activity Of our own troops nsy indicate, I
cannot, from the present movements, bring my
self to the belief that an early attack is immi-
nent here. Ii is true that everything looks as
if it might irsnspire on any dsy or at any mo
nent. but 1 do not lock for It until their forces
are again concentrated into one large and pow
erfal army, and it will necessarily require some
time for them to accomplish this. Whatever
their strategy may effect, it viii not bring about
sueh a change as to enable them to take Yicks-
burg with small body of troops, and as long
as they are divided and operating in different
quarters I look for no effort to be made. Il
would bo new strategy indeed, for general to
reduce bis forces and weaken himself for the
purpose Of taking a place which resisted all his
efforts with large force.
A few days more viii probably dsvelope the
whole scheme, and then ven be better able to
decide whether the shock Of battle is to come of
hers or elsewhere. Nothing is known Of the
operations on Rolling Fork, but the impression
obtains here that fighting has been going on in
that quarter within tbs past few days. From
below there is nothing additional sincs The
skirmish Of Capt. Harrison with party Of the
Yankees. On the peninsula every thing also re-
mains quiet NESTOR.
EB Some Of the Federal judges Of the Terri
tories are preparing to test before the United
States court Of claims the question whether ths
President has power to remove such officers At
pleasure Judge Craddlebaugh, whose case is
fully made up, and which is included with the
0 hers, continued to act upon the supreme court
beach Of Ulsh for eighteen months after Presi-
dent Buchanan appointed his successor. Judge
Craddlebaugh's associates, however, acknowl-
edge him to the exclusion Of the latter sppoint-
menL
- It seems that preliminary steps have
bsan taken by some Of the Federal generals
connected with the expedition against Yicks-
burg TO organize negro troops. The fact is an
admission Of their inability to gain their point,
notwithstanding their superiority Of numbers