Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-31
Reasral. .Repar.. - -. Egaa.e=.

lUE btaa-ilels ia fe4AtloN 70 k4a eUAalEtou OF
sfsirs al the rebel sinonghold above here-Pori
Eudseu-embrace the substance Of the vGrious
statements of negroes and rebel soldiers who
have deserted and escilped our lines. have no
hesitation in expressing the opinion that It is
msiulF correct IS the fine Of this wdti8g But
the rebels understand fully the value of time,
and q few days may MAKE 9 great difference in
their ability tc resist any attack by land and
water
Tbs water defenses oil Port Hudson consist Of
eight batteries, mounting At present only twenty
one guns, some Of them being destitute, as yet,
OF ordnance.
For about I've miles above Prophat's island,
the Mississippi IS straight bat there Is an abIupt
turn, forming s. leolz "a li.tle beyond this abrupt
turn 2 creek called Ihomson'5 creek, running
soathHesterly, empties into the river. s1est OF
this Th8msen's creek is an imPassabie marsh,
which forms e natural defense above.
The frst formidable obstacle the g1nbosts
viii have TO contend with in ascending the river
is a battery stationed on a bluff soTs eighty
feet high, which hight enables the rebels to
cover Tho decks OF our vessels By Plunging
shots This is Of great Importance in the case
of an iroa-clad, which mas sloping sides, like
the Essex, as it ena5les them TO fire iRto her a.
right singles
There ere two water battsries-one Of them
masked-znd i've other batteries On tbe bluff,
the last ore being INST above the mouth Of
Thomps0n's creek. I have placs3 the total nual-
Der of gUas IN thes8 batteries ct tWanty-0ne,
when. il may bo, is rather small bat I an
satisfied they mount lsss than thirty, al told.
They aaVe one hundred and twenty pound
er, whica was b1ough; by Tsiirosd rom Clinton
ias. week The rest OF tho guns are twenty
four, lh5r.y-twos and iorty-twos.
Ia addition 10 tbese batteries, 1t is reported
that within the lass few days the rebels have
obsiTuetad the channel between Prophets island
ana the eastern ba-k o. ne Mississippi by
driving spiles and ereisiug bridge, which ena-
bles them to run Igat asiiisr over % the island
ard epnose ta8 progress of th8 Euabcass, if n9t
30 compel ta5sI 90 90 Up ths channel on the op
uosite side Of tie IS aa5. Whish viii deprive
ihlm Of the shoiter gained bF passing tbe east
eIn channel Il is doubtful, however, whether
these reported obstructions viii really prove 10
be q serious obs tacla.
The water dsfenses, saying nothing Of this
last, extend about ihlce miles aud 6 half sl0ng
the banks Of the rivof, and, if properly worked,
vail no doubt seriously y engage the attsntI0n OF
oar feet
The land dsfensss of Port HUDSON ara mainly
Of very recent contraction. having been
mostly thrown up siuco our occupation ofBaton
Rouge.
They are nine 20 ten miles in extent, consis
ting Of q paEapet wal, irontsd by ditch and
more or less abstis. Those yFerks commence
ct point on ibe river Just below the firss river
battery, and extend ia e seni-cifcular form t3
Thompson's creek where the impossible marsh
already mentioned 0rns q natural terminus and
defense. The works gre extended 60 far 60 The
rear that they esn be inannsd without dangefoi
molestation from The gHuboats, being cut of
range Of out guns, aa5 vii kave to be carried
by laHd attack, unlCBs. indeed, The gunbOats
should succeed il silsucing the batteries on the
river, enabling Cur Scoops 10 enter from the
river side.
On these land deleuses are mounted about
thirty guns, some of them Of hsavy calibeT, and
in addition 70 tbeso the enemy is provided with
four field batteries. which can be readily moved
to any part Of the works
The rebel forces 90 Port Hudson ere comman-
ded BY Gen. Bel, who was, believe, educated
at West Point
The eommissary department issues raions
for fifteen thoussi q men bat shis includes the
negroes at work ou the forti6cadons, tie sick
AID the csmp f5ioWers ef every description
The humber Of soldiers is about twelve thou
sand, and the effective fighting force is not less
than ten thousand.
The rahsns consist chiefly Of corn bread and
uolssses, with meat, when 1t can be obtaincd,
which is seldom.
DoseTtions are numerous, and the sick list is
large.
Accsrding-to Jackson paper, JEFF. Davis
was in Jackson, MiBissippi on the 335h inst,
and left that day for an important point" just
about his time we heard Of him ct PoT. Hud-
son. and there is no doubt be was there. proba-
biy on the 2lst The details of his visit are
very meaeer, and he seems TO have kept 1t some
what secret at the time. Port hu0son Is o.
greaf impoTiancs, IS the terminus q the clinton
Tairaad. and no Doubt every possible effort will
be made 30 hold it.
General Besuragard Is also reported to have
visited Port Hudson about the time Of Jeti S
visit.
Tho Port Hudson Chronicle, OF the 9th, has
been received here Il consists Of two shori
columns Of matter-eno on each side OF g srnal
slip Of brown wrapping paper and is aitogeihoi
the most startling example of the scarcity OF
printing paper in Dixie, which nave seen. Il
is devoted mainly II startling ranors from the
North.
A bo7v Of ressI csvzlry, feem fifteen hundred
TO two thousand strong, separates on the west
err bank Of .ihe riTss- opposite and below
Baton Rouge. 1t is ir comRsnd Of Genera
sfaiev. Of New Mexico fame. Il watches every
opportunity TO fire upon our transPorts whe1
I tie guuhOsts are net around, and watches ou
movements with great vigilance. 1t Is UR
doubtedly detached from tie Port hudson arm.
for that puPose.
77-rr,-f,s4 T44rsrs The EnDeror Nap0lecI