Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-05-04
LRTTzRs FROM vroKsBURa.

Special ccrrespondeucs of the Memphis Apfoai.l
yIcRsBURG, May 2, 1863.
Ia tho immediate vicinity of Vicksbuyg there
has been no movement worthy Of note for the
last twsniy.lonr hours. After the attack on our
works at snyder's bluff on Thursday, everything
settled down into quielness, and no further
firing has been heard in that direction. On Fri
day morning Il was reported that the enemy had
landed troops in the neighborhood of Chieka.
saw bayou, bat no confidence was placed in the
rumor, and during the day no further tidinqs
were received te confirm it. No firing has been
heard from that quarter, and I think everything
remained quiet up to last night.
In front Of the city The enemy woro not alto.
gether inactive, and q party of engineers were
on the peninsula, between their land battery and
the city, evidently engaged in surveying the
ground for the erection Of more batteries at g
point closer to the city. It is to be hoped that
if anything of this kind is agaiR attempted, our
guns may be allowed to play upon tie indus.
hious rascals. I believe Gen. Pemberson par
takes Of this feeling himself, as our guns were
busy yesterday in Smelling the Yankees, and
Gen. Pemberton being in tho city, IS supposed
TO have sanctioned the firing.
The enemy is now taking the initial step to.
ward an attack, or rather toward the reduction
of this stronghold, without a fght. Above and
below he is throwing out bis forces to surround
us, and to cut off our communication in the
rear, while the gunbosts and land batteries are
threatening US in front. At snyder's bluff, on
the Yszoo, the attempt has already been made,
as also ct Grand Gulf, below. This latter point,
I have reason to believe, viii give US some
trouble, as the enemy has landed his forces
below that point and advanced directly on Port
Gibson. This viii take them away from the
river and from the protection of the gunboats
but the question is, have we men enough to
meet them.
The transports which were run by the bat
teries on Wednesday night having been en-
ployed in bringing the troops across at Bruins.
burg, some distance below, and these have ad-
vanced toward the interior and reached within a
few miles of Port Gibson. Here they were
met by our troops under Gen. Bowen, and an
engagement ensued, which continued the greater
part ef yesterdsy-the enemy coming in over
whelming numbers and our men having to 6ght
them in the open field, rendered the chances Of
a small force against a large che very desper-
ate, but our hdomitable boys and their gallant
leaders held their ground.
The particulars of the fight are not yet made
public, but the loss must be heavy on both sides;
the enemy being at last repulsed and our troops
holding tho battle ground, the struggle ceased.
Gen. Bowen had four horses killed Under him,
aad the gallant Brigadier-G General Tracsy fell,
pierced with mortal wounds. The proportion Of
mortality among our officers is mo doubt heavy,
judging from the severity of the contest aud the
length of time it continued. Reinforeements
being sent forward, we shall be fully sble to
drive the enemy back to the river, aud there is
soma hope Of cutting off his retreat and captur-
ing the whole force.
Phs battery which the enemy had planted on
the peninsula, and from which they shslled the
city last week, has been removed. Il was case
mated with heavy timbers and railroad iron,
and the port holes contained empty powder bar
rels as imitation guns. It having been ascar-
tanned that the battery was abandoned, some CT
our boys went over on Thursday night and fred
the wood work, which was burnt out. do not
think that this burning amounted to much, SIS
the enemy has plenty Of energy to erect another
in a day or two. NEsToR.