Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-10

Special correspondence Of the Chicago TinssI
ARKANSAS Pnsr -Iann.- u


ARKANSAS POsT, January Is.
The Western army seems to have brought
colder weather with it, and today a storm ssj5
never to have been excelled in Arkansaa l.
sweeping through the forest Snow lies four
inches deep, and q piercing wind has driven
every one IN doors, and made the great camp as
silent as if deserted. A sudden blast from an
almost forgotten region Of ice, it has come upon
US. The delightful summer Of Yesterday Is van
ished, and winter, apparently fresh from cutting
New England cara, has dashed into this sparse
ly.settled, half-ciVihzed region. Our lank Texan
prisoners, captured ddriug a day or two's scout
ing, shuddeT and crouch away from windy
cracks as if the marrow in their bones, ily pro-
teeted By the sesnty covering Of flesh, had
frozen.
They are aguish and sullen, and, grouped in
corners, give wicked glanees from under bat
tered 5roadbTims and nonedescript felts. as IT,
with an outside congeaing. they had determin.
ed the inner man should keep comfortably
thawed by the fire of indignation or hate, per.
haps both. These men differ from those cap
turea in the fort. Having deserted their COM
psnions IN the hour Of need, they expect from
both sides treatment as skulkers, and exhibit
sullen defiance, as 45me lower animals do when
tearing blows that no one thinks of giving.
These rangers d%ismounted, warriors unsrmed,
take their capture a goo I deal as wild mustangs
would. Their vocation has evidently been
scouting, they possessing an aversion to camp
discipline.
To-day each cabin in the lately captured bar
racks IS filed by groups Of soldiers, who dis
course present realities and future prospects.
while the snow shifts through a hundred cracks
over them. Like a ships forecastle in stormy
weather, there are prophets who proDhesv.
listeners who doubt and dispute. stery-tellers
that spin long yarns about late escapes and dar-
ing some are " consulting the log " in regard
to an increase OF warmth. Occasionally relieved
pickets, half frozen, rush in. Papers have not
been seen for three weeks; books are only re-
membered as among the things at home. Even
the greasy card packs have disappeared. being
forgotten or thrown away during recent move
ments.
Outside, the trees creak and mourn; The
forest gives forth that dresry multitude of
sounds 1t always does in a storm. The trans
formation seemed unreal-yesterday. our army
resting under midsummer heat today. sur.
rounded by q snOw-Waste desOlate as that which
sprung up so fatally around Napoleon's vete-
rams IL Russia Even the roofs Of the better
class remind Us foTcibiy that We are in Arksn-
sas, and give truth to the story of the traveller.
who, after lying under the drippings of q shower
all night, was apologizsd to by bis host with
the remark that the roof never leaked in dry
weather, and when there was a storm il became
impossible, Of course, to mend il. We can en-
JOY unobstrueted astronomical views ct any
moment by turning or our backs.
Tonight, the barracks, about four hundred
buildings in all, will probably be burned. Du-
ring two days past the troops have been busy
filing up trenches, leveling d~efenses, and de-
stroying the fort. Arkansas Post will soon, as
military work, be among the things that were.
Little Rock viii not, I think, be moved upon
by this army Our destination, on the contrary,
is down stream, and at the mouth, it isprobable.
reintoTeements from Memphis viii be awaited.
Then YicksbHTg again becomes the point of in
terest-this time, however, with some hoDes Of
success. Gen. Grant, having fallen back from
holly Springs, will embark most Ofhis army in
the enterprise, and himself command II.
The fighting tone Of cur army is much i'm
proved When General Sherman led it out from
Memphis, three weeks ago. no officer need have
wished a finer command. When he started hack
from that attack, which was insane in concep-
ton, and inspired, it is affirmed. by jealousy,
the army had become disheoFtensd, in q meas.
IRE demoralzed, and had lost, through battle.
and missing, fully six thousand men.
Now, q victory, although a trivial one Compare
lively, has been achieved, inoompeteney re-
buked, and, relieved from the ineubus Of idiocy
that threatened to crush it, the Western army
again feels confidence in itself. This latter is
all important Without it troops become but a
mob.
Disguised with stupidity and crime at Wash
ington, seeing the siUpendous task it has got,
unaided, to accomplish, the West, mighty in
itself, and as yet never defeated, is preparing to
make one great, decisive, final struggle for vic
tory. The young giant, hitherto uncomfortable.
is about to throw all upon one issue, and again
outdo him Of the East, who has. thus far, while
endeayoring to break the rebeilion's backbone,
only succe eded IN frscturing MS own.