Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-02
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Special CrresYondence of the Appeal
VIcKsBuRs. January 81, 1865.
Bvth order published By Cen. Sherman % his army
onthe 4th Inst ii win be seen that he acknowledges q
defsat at Vicksburs and gays We failed ia accom-
plishing one grsu purpose Of our movement the cap
t1rs Of wick shuig," and then tries to defend his defeat
bv saving that bis army was only q psrs Of a combined
movement il which Others were to assist bat thas GER
,afs esnsneeneiss must have delayed the Others, and he
was forced to retire. While be was honest enough 70
confess that his army before WIS TOO weak, he might
have added that be never viii set an army strong
enough to take the plsee.
The la.est news from The North. IS reported IN The
Chieseo Taaes. that great dissatisfaction, mutiny ard in
subordinaion prevailed ii The army after ths repulEe at
Wick burg is all confirmed by what desertsrs who have
reached here say. Tsers is always considerable mar
gn required to any reports brought over by deserters
and the universal mepdaeiy Of the Yankee nation
makes Us careful how to believe AL their tales but
VII n confirmed again ard agaiu, we at last make uP
our mind to believe them.
Yesterday was markedly q certain degree Of anxiety
by The citizens here. For several days past She scouts
Of the enemy faye exhibited their audaeity by coming
M close to the bank o. the river opposite towa, and
dsy before yesterday they were seen 70 BE- surveying
The grounds, which evidently indi sated that it was their
intention ts plant batteries in that vieinisy. The engi-
nsers could be seen at work with their Instruments and
the asg.bearers, carrying 3 small white Tag at the end
Of apoIe, ware also noticed in carrying out the orders
OF the former.
It was very generally believed ihet by yesterday
morning there nieht be discoveries made Of new bat
tenes. planted on the levee during the preceding night
yesterday morning q number Of Federsls appeared
again on the river bank IN Desoto, The party seemed
10 consist Of about City mez. bat they sestsered in dit,
ST. l.. - -,-a hive snail nartipz nj z half
dozen could be seen. Tie levee and undsrbrash oh
strnctinz The view. it could not be asceraired what they
were driving at but all persons or this side are appre-
hensive that a battery or two viii spring up in that
quarter.
The natural and vindicHve spirit Of the enemy was
Yesterday Illustrated by the burning of three or four
small wooden houses in De Soto. These buildings were
sftuated immediately opposite some ofour batteries, and
Why the enemy should be allowed to come up in the
middle Of the day to put the torch to them, is a mystery
that can only be explained il the inner sanctum Of the
military authorities. A few shells thrown over there by
eur batteries would keep the vandals ct s safe distance,
and the citizens Of the town wosld At least be spared
the bumiliaang spectacle of witnessing the torch ap-
piled to their properly.
some suspicion exists that the enemy has planted bat
tsries ia the rear Of these buildings, and when al was
ready, they were fred for the purpose Of giving them q
coed range at our batteries, while they answered as s
good shield during the construction Of their works. Il
s not yet by any means certain but that they have been
doing tAis, and that this city may be visited with
shower of iron bsl at any moment. It is not expected
that any notice viii be given OF the time Of attack, aat
the most unsuitable hour 10 the Eon oOmbatants will Nc
doubt be selected
Nothing more has been observed Of the steamer il
the canal. The water viii probably not yet sdmit Q
navigation in thai stream. Several large gunbOats weF
seen to arrive at the point above during The day. Th'
ferry boat lying below the city also made several effort
TO 90 down the river, but oar batteries on ttis sid
always checked her progress, and forced her to get il
close to the Yankee shore and abandon the attempt c
going down the river.
Our pickets and sentnels St the batteries we're aston
ishsd At 3 lats hour last night to hear heavy musketr
IN the Yankee camp, and It's supposed chat q seriou
mutiny had taken place, as no other cause could accom-
for the firing. There were several voneYs, and the SCUM
indicated that several thousand shots were fred. 1t
to be hoped that this suppOsitOR may prove to be true
NEsTOR.