Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-28
nrrrnR 100 uCKsRuRn.
Special o-oHsYondenss q @s Memphis Appsall

i AAA AAAAkAN 44A -
whole community. On the morning of the 9Th
cur landing was lined with refugee steamers that
had escaped from New Orleans in Tina TO save
themselves from the grasp of the enemy.
Numerous refugee families were also brought
hither on these boats; and arms, ammunition
and machinery were landed in great quantities.
Millions of money in coin were also brought up
from the banks Of New Orleans.
All was then hesitation and trepidation-a
difference of sentiment still prevailed, doubling
the prOpriety Of attempting & defense against
the monster gunbosts. The brave and lsmented
Colonel Autry had then just arrived, and he
projected the FIST measures towards erecting
Notifications. The opinion was freely expressed
that if Q large city like New Orleans, and strong
Notifications ike Forts Jackson and St. Philip,
wsre inadequate to hold the enemy in chsck, it
would be useless to attempt it here, when the
feet was almost at our doors, and not a fhovel-
full of dirt had been thrown up in the way Of
defensss. But en- this day the work com
mencsd, and was pushed forward with great
energy until we were strong enough to keep the
enemy out,
Though the foe has not been before The place
uninterTup:edly, ye. the siege of Vicksburg has
now obtained the age of one year. When the
first gun was mounted no one had the slightest
hope of our ability to hold The place. We had
but few guns, and bpt few men,-and they were
all raw recruits and scarcely to be depended
on. With a few large guns tho enemy was held
in check, and the siege Of seventy days resulted
in his complete discontinue and the final sbar-
donment of the place, leaving behind them the
newly made graves of hundreds of their dead
companions. The failure to capture the place
only had the effect Of e1asperating the enemy,
and csussd them to make another monster
effort 10 accomplish the object.
After the extreme Leaf of tho summer was
over and the water in the river afforded easy
navigation for tho gunbeats, another trial was
made, which resulted in the disaster to tho Fed
eral srmy at Chickasaw bsyou, and again they
were compelled to take the back track and
withdraw in disgrace even greater Than before.
But TIE prize was too valuable to be given up
so easily, and another expedition was fitted out
under the LEAD of General Grant, who arrived
before tie place with his monster army of
eighty thousand men, accompanied by Ports:'s
gunbost feet. Since the goth Of January this
army has been lying in front of Vicksburg, and
a dozen strstegems have been attempted, all Of
which proved equally f-uitless.
So far tho enemy has gained nothing that
could be of any advantage to him, and bis
losses have been heavy. A number of gun
boats are destroyed or have fallen into the hands
of the rebels, while the depletion of bis ranks
By sickness and death has reduced and democrat
led his army SO that it is now almost E hope
less task foT him to muster strength enough to
make ar attack. The few boats which they
have succeeded in running BY the batteries csr-
not be regarded as sn advantage, because ne
now have them in a trap from which it would
require one Of Doestick's sticking plasters to
e1tricats them. None Of them will be able to
pass Port Hudson going down, and [ am certain
that they never will dare to run back again by
our guns.
The experience Of the past year has fully
satisfied AL tho defenders of Vicksburg that the
enemy can never take tie plaza from the front,
nor from any point within its own immediate
vicinity. If there should be = reverse it will
happen in the distance by having our means Of
supplies severed, compelling the garrison here
to abandon the place. I esnnot conceive that
our department officers should be so blind IS to
leave exposed any point either near or remote,
and hope that the proper vigilance may be Oh
served SO as to avoid any censure or suspicion
Of incompetency. The most efficient officers in
oar army sometimes need a stirring up, and I
an grstfad to learn that the %fivelity which
was so lately rampant here has partly ceased.
On Saturday evening there was . general ex-
p~sctstion he-s that another trial trip would be
made by the gunboats during the night. 1t
was reported that our officers had recsived def
mite information Of what was in contemplation.
But the night remained quiet and no disturbance
took place. On Sunday morning the same
status which marked the previous four hours
was observed, and different from last Sabbath,
our people were not disturbed in their attend
anco to the houses of worship. The movements
Of the boats above were watched with a good
deal of interest yesterday, and it was universal
ly suspected that an effort would be made during
tue night to pass down some more Of the boats.
Nor were we disappointed in these oxpscts-
tions, as the booming of cannon at two o'clock
A. n. announced that the attempt was being
made. It proved 10 be q tug with two bsrges Of
coal in tow, and though our guns were active
and accurate, she managed TO pass. The amount
Of injury she sustained is not known, except
that both her chimneys were knocked of by the
shots from the upper batteries, under Msjor
Hoadly. 1t appears now, chat the enemy has
10 idea Of taking down any mora gunboats, but
coal barges have to be run down 70 supply the
feet below. Arrangements should be inside ts
board and capture these tugs and bsrges as they
90 by. They carry no more men than just
enough 10 work the machinery, and it would be
an easy matter for men in a hundred skids to
board them. Ii is worse than folly to waste
ammunition by shooting St them.
NESTOR.