Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-07


officers at Fort Pillow report that ~Jaeksonls cavalry,
five or SIX thousand strenis, are on the Hatehie, IN the
resr Of that place. Il Is understood tfRt Jackson had
paid a visit TO Brownsville, to inspect matters IN that
section, and It is said that he has promised 10 return
From island Ten ounipformatien is slesr md definite.
The officer in charge stated yesterday 20 Saptain Eli
thorn, that ALI the guns had been spiked except one,
which he used for mailing pas ing STEAMERS and that
about six thousand pounds Of powder had been de-
stroyeds All the men--ahout ona hundred and tffy In
number-Tere stu at the island, principally engaged In
cursiDg the want Of capacity in the Commander at Co
hnmbus, and swaitlpg an upTardbouid boat in order
&c leave the place. In this connection we take ocea-
sion to say, that we DO NOT publish loose statements
from any source. We ain 70 get correct information,
and though our channels are not siways correct, We
neVertheiess come quite q near IS is possible under the
circumstances. We stated yesterday that the guns had
been spiked at Island Ten, and that the place was ready
for evacuation. We were informed SO by genHem n
who got the Information from persons on the island.
This report is now eOnhrmedb by q gentleman who talked
with the officer in charge twentYfour hours afterwardI
We may state, as en- evidsqee of the needless alarm
which exists in the mind Of he commanding general at
Columbus, that be is stopping every ~itean6oat coming
down the river, and hoid.ng them there TIL he hears
from below. He appeEns determined to have steam
hosts enough there, f0 any purPoss, = he cap get them
Among the boats t5ere awaiting his foolish order are
the Platte Valley with q regiment OF troops, bound to
Memphis; the Sam Gaty, the Bayard, aud Others.
We understand that Colonel Davies, who Is now In
command at Columbus, is under q cloud en- account OF
bis conduct at Corinth, and also that eheTges Of a serious
character have already been preferred against him in
reference to his mt position. v hen he is removed,
we shall probably have a restoration Of order 81 Colum'
bus.
Later.
Since writing the above we have eonversed with Capt
Read the intelligent captain Of the new steamboat Cur
lew, who landed 81 Island TO on Tuesday, IN accordance
with Instructions given him at Columbus He had an
interview with Gel. Mcneil, who is in command there
and learned from him that the first order that came 10
him from Col. Davies, in command at Columbus, was by
a messenger in q yawl. He had sufficient mea 3 "a
defend the island against twenty thousand men, or
indeed. anything that could be brought against him
except giinboats, and hs belief waS~that the order tc
blow mp his powder, spike his guns and leave himself
and men defenseless on the island, was q trick Of tbs
enemy, who hoped TO deeoy him into their power. h
therefore at once put the messenger under arrest
He then sent of a messenger to communicate witt
tbs commander at Columbus; but. before the messenger
returned, a second order arrived from Columbus, order
ing him instantly 10 carry out the Instructions previously
sent. Being a subordinate, he had no alternative but 4
obey, and, with a heavy heart ard reluctant hand, ht
destroyed his guns and powder.