Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-31

Chattanooga railroad, and then cut eR our eommaniea'
ion with ous depots efsupples.
If theirs are any distractions in tie river, or fortified.
tons on Il, I know not where they sre-at least there
are mons Of the latter IN our posse sion. So, for my life,
1 cannot see how we can, with safety, avoid falling
back, unless the Sovereign Dlsossr Of events should
see fit to withhold che rain. and thus prevent the rising
Of the water courses. I am no e1oaksr, Messrs. Editors,
and am not disposed to look a the dark side Of the
picture but under the circumstances, as briefly stated,
I anticipate a rerograde movement
This is only my opinion, however and Of course it is
liable to Be incorrect could wish that ii were so, and
that We were able to hold this fair country against all
the power Of our enemy. But this we cannot expect to
do when, not only superiority Of numbers and resources,
bat natural advantages Of position, are in his favor
There seems to me only one alternative, aud thsti is to
reinforce GEN Bragg as soon as possible. We believe
that we can thrash Rosecranz's army now as We did at
Nufreesbogo', but It would require a strong reinforce.
meut to drive him out of the State. Bat he question
now is, have ne the men to spare from other quarters 2
II any portion OF the country we sre defending is 70 be
given up 10 the enemy can we better sford 10 lose
it than thisf These questions, let the sagacity and pat
riotism of our military leaders, free from sectional bias
or state partialites, decide. lie arnesty desire that we
may not only hold all 0 she ground we possess, bDttha
we may drive ourrelentless foes from every inch Of our
soil that they occupy. Ihaye only thrown out these
hints and suggestions to show, that If our army should
fail back there will be at least plausible reasons for
such a course.
The supplies Of this fruitful portion Of the country,
are nearly exhausted at least I judge from the seanty
raHons of tough beef, and coarse cornmeaI which
are dealt out to us, and which are seantier still when an
accident happens to prevent the arrival Of a train.
Sometimes tho poor, hungry soldier gets permission to
go out a few miles from camp. If he wants a dozen
eggs, the price is only two dollars-ehickens one and a
half, to two dollars a pisee-.urkeys from three to i've,
and pork at from twenty-five 10 fifty cents per pound.
The world presents no such spectacle as the Confed-
crate soldier While he fights for his country, he may
be said to pay his own expenses FOR ii takes all that Is
allowed him, beside his pay, and even more to keep him
fed and comfortably elothed The private who saves
anything from his eleven dollars per month, must expect
often to be hungry and stability clothed.
The Aboltionists about Nashville have been consld
erably exercised Of late in regard TO the daring aud bril-
liant exploit Of General Wheeler at Harpsih shoals or
the Cumberland, which resulted in the capture Of a gun
boat and i've steamers laden with supplies for the
hungry hirelings Of Rosscranz.
Whatever may have been ssid Of our cavalry in the
past, it must be admitted that it has now become one oil
the most efficient arms Of the service in harrassing tn,
! enemy IA4LlB on lis 1ubEAEh anu Nl1NhAAh MS at
tempt at Invasion. We have more, and far better cav
airy than the enemy, aud this gives us oae decided ad
vantage. With our gallant tle Wheeler. our fearless
Wharton, dashipg Forrest and invincible Morgan, in oul
front, the array Of Tennessee feels secure from surprise
while the Abolition outposts and supply trains are IN
hourly dread Of their approach.
Ism happy 10 learn that chr gallant little hill city
vieksburg, has again repulsed the onset of the invader
bat no doubt the worst is yet to come. The vast i'm
p%ortanee OF this place as a medium Of communication
between the South and Southwest and the immense
advantage its capture would afford. will doubtless cause
the Abolitionists to move heaven a1d earth, if possible,
70 wrest it from our gra p. But with Johnston to plan
and his brave army TO execute, 1 think we need have
bat little fear FOR the result
I am glad to hear that the state Of discipline in ia,
Mississippi aEmy-is improving I have learned from
numerous and reliable persons from Mississippi that the
depredations committed upon private property ia The
northern part of the State by our soldiers were MINER
GUS and aggravased-that the only difference between
them and the Abolition soldiers was that the one party
carried of the negroes while ths other did not. Though
ths statemen may be somewhat exaggerated, yet it il
sufficient to show the imperative necessity of g stict
discipline ia every army. In this respect I dare say
Gen Braggls army is superior to any other in the Con
federacy.
The scarcity of writing materials reminds me that
should bring this article to a close. I wrote an account
of the battle of Murfree5boro' for your paper some days
since, and omitted to mention the casualties in ST n
fords battery. They are herewith appended, and you
viii confer a favor by giving them publicity.