Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-11
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Special Correspondence Of ths Memphis Appeal
Y~ICKsBURG, March TO- 1853.
Another lively demonstration was made by
one Of tie enemy's g~uaboats yesterday, which
created quite a sensation for the time being.
Considerable aetivity was observed among the
boats in the f~oFsnoon, snd one or two sf their
little tugs aeFs vgry busily engaged in passing
between the G nal and the feet. About ons
o'clock, P NJ. Q large, black looking gunbost
came down t9 where the mortar boat was
sachorad few weeks since, aud, after taking
her o~hseryators, Let loose hor dogs Of war, ap-
apparently With the intention of Smelling the
city. A few shells thrown By her soon brought
s multitude Of citizens and soldiers on the
streets to see what was going on, snd cure
enough, it waB tho Yankees shooting 81 the city.
The boat lay of al too great a distance TO eff
feet any dsmage, aud must have strained her
guns to the utmost, psobsbIy for the purpose Of
sscertainiDg their range. Nearly ali the shells
fell in Che river, and a few solid shot reached the
shore on This side. Among the latter enc fell
in The vicinity of the Prentiss house, and was
soon picked up as a curiosity. It was a solid
raoshot twenty inches long, and had been
fred by g riaed Parrot gun. It win be pre-
served until the enemy comes again, when 1t
will be sentback to them from some of our own
guns. The gUnboats viii have to approach
closer to the city if they wish to destroy it and
if they do they viii be in reach of our batteries,
snd in equal danger with US.
This time they viii not be able to hide them
selves behind the timber like they did last year,
but win have to come out in the open space to
give US a fair fight, and every point fem which
they can reach she city viii be within full range
Of our guns. The point at which the boat lay
yesterday is within easy range of nearly al our
batteries and if the gunboats have to come
any closer they win be in great danger of being
entirely demolished. Our guns did not make
any reply, but from the former experiment it is
very well known that some of cur guns are of
longer range than those of the enemy.
The name of the boatcould not be Aseertained
and she was apparently q strange craft in these
waters. She did not fire ever a dozen guns.
when she returned up stream aud kept On up
behind the bend, where she amused herself the
greater part of the afternoon in firing at some
unknown and Invisible object. Whether it
was to try her guns, as a feeler, previous to a
contemplated assault, is not known, but the
apparent CONJUNCTION among che g~unboats above,
toward the mouth of the Yazoo, indicated that
an active movement of some kind was in pro-
gress.
A steamer, also, got into the canal in the
afternoon, but made very slow progress in nav
igaing its unknown waters. It may have been
a tug or dredge, but from nay point Of Observa-
ton II looked like regular transport. She was
under a fon hesd of steam all afternoon, and
seemed to be laboring hard to get aheadi but,
like a bost sticking on a sAndbar, it wouldn't
GO. The water in the river is now getting so
high that the canal must soon be of sufficient
depth to Goat at least their smaller class trans
ports. Their camp is now being pretty well
surrounded by water, and they will not be able
to hold out much longer. The river is within
three feet Of the high water mark of last year,
with e good prospect Of comiag entirely up to
the marx.
There is quite prosperous religious revival
in progress here, in the Methodist church, and
divine services are had every day and night,
attended by many Of the soldiers. The chap
lains IA tba army, assisted by the stationed
minister, ofHcis:e in the services, and their labors
inset with good>deal Of success. The scrip
tural Injunction to watch and pray" is being
HteTalyand faithfully obsaryed-frst to watch
the enemy, and second, pray to be delivered
from his Vaccinations. Though the object Of
the revival is for = spiritual and not a literal
sTplication, and it s a hopeful sign to see the
brave soldiers make profession of their faith
in these times Of tribnlaton, when we know
not what an bour may bring forth"
Certain arrangements now being made here
for the benefit Of the Yankees when they arrive
al this port, win make them open their eyes and
grin with establishment but, unfortunately for
them, the reception which We have prepared is
not to their liking, and they are shy about &C
eeptipg our bospitaIities. If they can manage
to get through the canal, they might possibly
give Vicksburg tie go-by altogether, and make
a trip to Pert Hudson FIRST. But it is my opinion
that both points will be attacked as near the
same time as possible. There are, no doubt,
spies and traitors in the country who manage to
communicate with the enemy at both places.
at about two o'clock last night another alarm
was created BY The appearance of a craft on the
way down the river. Our guns opened lively
and continued the firing IS long as the object
80 =. -:-Lt n-E a.. ia etc., or5L
preventing our sentinels from making out the
character Of the Graf, has sgsin led to much IN
certain speculation whether it was s gunboat or
not. TIE river is NOT lighted up as it ought to
he. When viii cur authorities learn wisdom.
Oar guns did good execution, and whatever
the craft may have been, it is certain that she
was well riddled. NEST0R.
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