Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-03
nHrrRR FRom nlOmmeNn.
Special CORRESPONDENCE q The Aemphis Append
Richmond Iannarv u 1863

Special Correspondence Of the Memphis Appeal
RICHMOND, January q, 1863.
It IS more and more positively stated every
day and every hour that q battle is ct hand on
the Ra~ppahannook. Yesterday We were told
that The enemy had actually crossed the river at
a ford twenty miles above FTedericksburg, near
the point at which the Rapidan empties itself
into the stream, and would march upon our PC
sitions without delay, while a second column
was ready to cross at Port Royal BY pontoon
bridges AMI attempt to turn them-or vice ssrsa,
that the fordlng column would Try to flank Us
and the Port Royalists stack US in front. The
story was told in verous ways and generally
credited, but today it is said that the Yankees
have not crossed the Rappshannsck, either
above OF below fredericksburg. It may be
that q fight viii Jme of this week, bat the
presence in toFn Of three or four captains of
artillery, whose batteries are much relied on by
Gen. Lee, Davidson and Pegram and ethers)
does not lend probability to the idea. The gal
Isn't Gen. Barksdale, Of Mississippi, is also in
Richmond, and if a battle were imminent he
would very certainly be with his brigade.
The persistent statement of the Northern pa
p5rg that Burnside is to move forward imme-
dietsly, may perhaps nave been made to deceive
us, and prevent the transfer Of troops to North
Carolina. But a gentleman recently from
Washington (not the reliable gentleman y
declares that it was the determination Of the
governmszt that another advance should be
hazarded without loss Of time, and that ell rea-
souable men there considered that the army of
Burnside was doomed. Perhaps a week ago
such may have been Stanton's design, but the
heavy and continuous rains Of the intervening
seven days have, beyond all question embar-
rassed the matter. Burnside cannot move far
now without getting hopelessly stuck in the
mud. Transportation for bis artillery and sub
sistence trains is an impossibility.
The gentleman to whom I have referred Che
is an intelligent clergymen who By reason of his
sacred calling was permitted TO cross the Hnes)
tells US thetthe cry for peace was fast rising
into a universal clamor at the Nortb-that the
loss Of tbs Arid, taken by Captain Ssmmes, the
capture Of the Harriet Lane, and the heroic de-
Tense Of Yicksburg, had staggered the masses
Of the Northern people beyond al the reverses
they have yet experienced, and that the party,
Of whom Y~allandigham, Brooks, Seymour, Gov.
Parker, and Wall, Of New Jersey, are the lead
ers, would avail themselves to the fullest extent
Of these disasters to press upon the Yankee pub
lie the utter Bopelessness of Southern subjaga-
ton. We must remember, however, that there
is a large class at the North, probably holding
the balance of power, which waivers toward
peace, or e resolute continuance Of tie war, just
as their arms are crowned with victory or over
whslmed with defeat, and that this class viii be
Induced to encourage Lincoln by the reduction
Of Arkansas Post and the prospects, Of further
success beyond the Mississippi. Another such
q disaster to our cause and the Yankee war party
viii be as predominant and sanguine as ever.
It IS this consideration which makes the impend-
ing conflict in North Carolioa of such immense
Importance, and causes us to await with so
much soIioitude the result of the menaeed at
tack upon the Wilmington railroad.
1t is related of Queen Elizabeth that on one
occasion she inquired Of one Of her ministers
what had lately passed in Parliament, and that
the courier replied: Please your majesty, six
weeks" asked a member of Congress, Just
now, what had been before the house Of repre-
s~stasives to day, and his answer was Governor
Foote." That gentleman made two speeches
upon resolutions introduced by him, for inquiry
into certain contracts that had been made by
the government for supplies to the commissary
and q-usrter-msster's departments, and promised
that he would expose the most glazing frauds if
The house would order the proper Investigations.
The senate was engaged this morning in the
matter Of the organization Of the supreme
court. A debate arose upon tho question of
salaries to the judges, ia which there was a
spirited bat perfectly good-tenpered passage be-
tween Air. Wigfsl and Mr. Hill, of Ga. Yes
terday Mr.. Yancey made an impressive speech,
in which he took ground against that mode of
retaliation upOa she enemy, suggested in the
message of the President, which should hand
over the officers of the Unitsd States making
war under Lineoln's Abolition proclamation, 10
the respective State g-overnmentstn whose terri
tories they might be captured, for trial under the
local statutes The matter, he thought, was
full Of difficulty.
A lameutsble accident tsok place hsre this
morning by which a number Of exchanged Yam
kee prisoners lost their lives. A body Of six or
eight hundred of these prisoners were on their
way, marching under guard, TO tho Petersburg
railroad depot to take the train for City Point
at daybTsak, and while crossing a narrow foot
bridge over the canal at the head of the basin,
the weight of the column broke down the bridge
aud preoipitatod all who were upon it into the
water. at this very early hour of the morning,
little help vas at hand and several were drowned
before they could be extricated. How many &C
tnally persisted 1 do not know, but I have herd
t~hSnumber stated as high es fifteen. This sad
mischanee has excited a general feeling of re-
gTet in the city. The cause Of It was not the
weakness Of the bridge, but The fact that the
were marching. Had the order been given
to break step while crossing, it would most prob
ably not have occurred. Nothing IS so danger
Gus to any wooden orion structure, bridge. plat
form or building, as the steady tamp Of men.
moving to beat Of drum or word Of command.
every right and left foot alternately falling to-
gether. Ia The year 1855 one Of the strongest
bridges in France, across the Loire. fell
with q regiment of The line, whereby three or
four hundred men were drowned, and since that
time, the order has always been given to regi.
ments or companies moving over bridges to
walk confusediy. At the great Magic suspen-
bridge, there is a printed regulation stuck
Up absolutely prohibiting military companies.
ODD Fellows, Masonsi or any other organized
body Of men, marching with music, fcon going
the structure. Let Us hope that this acct
dent win be a warning to our OWL troops not to
hazard the experiment Of crossing bridges in
good order.
General Kirby Smith was in town YESTERDAY.
The weather sill continues damp and dismal.
DIXIE.