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


Special Correspondence Of the Memphis Appeal
VIcEsBuRe, February 8 1904.
On Saturday a great degree Of curiosity was created
In this city on account Of certain movement among the
enemy over the river. which indicates that something
was going on, but the precise nature of which could NOT
be made cut. II was, however. discovered, that the
Yankees we're going aboard the transports, and that a
great portion Of their tents had been struck, looking
very much as If a general evacuation was being effected.
The rising river Of couiEe received the credit Of driving
The tAieving vandals out Of the swamp. Now. as the
old river has get to be in our favor for once, it is to be
hoped that he will keep on until he swallows up every
Yankee that GENES to invade our soil.
Last year high water was unfavorable, and caused us
repeated and sore disasters this year it is for our bene.
ft to have the river higher than ever before, snd now,
as the old fellow has got his hand IN there is no telling
to what proportions be may attain and the discontinue
Of the enemy vii be in proportion to the altitude OF the
river. Driven out Of the swamps, the enemy viii have
to seek landing places on high ground, and wherever
this IS found, viii also be found Confederate batteries to
check his advance to the interior.
Later in the day il was ascertainsd from reliable
sources that the Yankees had thrown q large force
across the peninsula to a point below the canal, and
that they were engaged in erecting batteries on the
Louisiana side opposite WsFrenton. OF course there
could be no use for batteries In that vicinity unless for
the profession Of ,hoir boats In carrying the troops over
tbs river, and their plans are now beginning to develop,
50 that we can see what they are driving at Tho at
tempt to cross the Mississippi Is to be mads at Warren
ton, where they hope the slow land on this eide will pre-
vent our forces from iaterrupting the transit
But the manner 81 accomplishing f.is feat is not yet
wholly understood, and the means with which they in.
tend to effect it, is rot apparent Il is now conceded by
The Yankees themselves, and confirmed by all the de-
serters and capdves who have reached here, thst the
canal is failure. and that the transports viii never be
able to go from river to river through this ditch. And
on this account they are marching the troops overland
to a point opposite WarrentOn. Now the question
arises how viii they cross over without the transports
Pontosns won't do, and the listle ferry boant won't do
either. nor can the gunbosts do much at that business.
Yankee ingenuity, however, viii no doubt adopt some
new plan by which this dangerous transit Is to be effect
ed. Unless the transports go through the canal, they
will never be able to get below the city, ard the Daviga-
ton Of the canal not allowing such = voyage, they will
be compelled to remain above. An attempt viii no
doubt be made 10 run the batteries by few more Of
the ~gunboats, but these win be ofyery httls use in car
rying troops, and as fast as they could be landed in
small parties the Confederate troops would gObbIe them
all up, in spite Of the E~unbos.a Altogether the cross.
ing Of troops in that viciAity is an awfully preeaTious
undertaking.
~ moving the camp rem 4oungs Point TO opposite
Warenton the enemy is getting a considerable distance
further away from Vicksburg than he il at present and
his prospects Of success ere diminishing every day.
With the exception OF the gpDboats It is doubtful
whether the Yankees will ever again get as near the
city as they were before, and their present plan Of at
lacking from below is playing most decidedly in our "a
vor, and ths hope is entertained lhRt the programme
may be followed ont, 50 that we may get them vOlun-
tTiIy just into the very place where We want them
Contrary to the general expectation, there was no
attempt made during the night BY any Of the boats to
pass down, ssd no other annoyance occurred As usual,
the revellie could be distinctly heard this morning, and
the motion among the feet was also indicative Of aetivi-
ty. The most unaccountable proceeding that could be
noticed was the going away OF the gunbOass-whitbeF
they are bound or what their object, no one can tell
but It is certain thet some Of them have been seen going
up the river this morning.
L would not be surprising to hear that our cavalry
had rsached some point on the river above and made sad
havoc with the Yankees, which requires the gunboats to
go up and see what is going on This is the only way
in which this movement can be accounted for, especially
as they did not attempt an advance up the YazoO, as
had been expected. If the guuboats should be with.
drawn from here the assault may be delayed for some
time. NEsToR.