Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-05-04
LRTrER ERom sNvDER,s BLUFF.

CAMP NEAR sEYnER's MILLS Miss.
May lst, 1868.
EDITORS APPEAL This dsy usually devo-
ted to scenes Of festivity in honor Of tho Cod
dess Of Flowers, dawnsd clear, bright snd beau
tilted exhibiting the Federal gunbosts and trans
ports lying opposite Blake's lever quarters,
Just beyond the range of our lower batteries.
In front Of this position lies a large field under
cultivation. Near its center, between the line
of Publications and the Yazoe river, is a de-
preston in the surface of The lands extending
down the valley, now covered with water. Be
fore the war commenced a large leveh sfrus CUE
The overflow arising from The fFeshats in the
Yazoo. The Yankees placed a pieki,t on this
levee in full view and easy range Of our field
pieces. With perfect sang Jroid they paced back
snd forth, regardless Of the close proximity Of
our artillery. Operations commenced by our
firing on this picket resulting in no harm except
driving them from the top, behind the shelter
ing protection of the embankment. Early in
the day another party, some forty or fifty fol-
lowing the banks Of The Yszoo, appeared in
close proximity to onr upper batteries, where the
river strikes the bluff. Our guns quickly open
ed On then with en- unerring precision that
caused them to beat a prec;pitate retreat minus
two Of their number. Their next narrower was
on the opposite side of she Yezoo some distance
below, in considerable force. They were Ike
wise quickly driven back By our batteries.
About half past three o'clock in the afternoon
the gunboats, five in number, took position in
front of cur lower batteries on Grave Yard hill,
and directed q concentrated fire on it. Our hat
terry replied very slowly. The Yankees kept up
their firing over four hours, but we have not 3
single casualty to report.
Late this afternoon we witnessed 2 daring and
successful feat Of desertion from the Federal
forces, while The gunboats were firing on our
batteries. The deserter belongs to an Illinois
cavalry regiment, but is a K~entuckisn. He is
said to be Gen. Shearman's orderly, and was
sent 70 the ouiposis with dispatches. he swan
his horse around the cuts in the levee, and sue
csssfully passed the Federal pickets, emerging
ia full view of both armies into the cultivated
field from the bushes in the swamp land; he
turned towards the Federal picket, fred his pis-
tol in derisiOn, sndspuTred across the field toward
our lines, arriving safely amid the loud cheers
Of the men. As he reached orr lines, he threw
his pistol from him, exclaiEiing, " Hurrah for old
Ksntuck." Since his arrival rumors. are rife of
dissatisfaction smong the Yankees one reri-
mant, ihs 11th Ky, being under arrest: that tbe
viii attempt to pass our batteries TO-
Should such DO the case, / hopo TO re-.
cord the destruction and defeat of tho whole
asat. Thus far the demonstration has amount.
"a to almost nothing, as far as any decisive re.
suits here are concerned. The attack may be ,
only a feint, to keep cur forces occupied while :
= more formidable demonstration is made on Z
Nekaburg from some other quarter. Approach /
whateveT direction they viii, .he Yankees v
vii meet with formidable distractions srd a. !.
determined resistance. Through he v.,kao !.
l~esartar, we learn that Lieut.. Cotsineham. Of M !.
d regiment Louisiana Infantry. 4 von.s.5 :
nd a prisoner among The Yankees3 More snoa
w. Il. T. 3,