Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-06-15

From ihe MeutEonary AQYeIuse1l
Everything " kich comes to as from he North
and Wsst, and tie very silsnes Of our own army
movements in Mississippi, betokens that esE-
tsst of no ordinary moment is wagiug for the
supremacy in the Mississippi valley. The great
turning point is Vieksburg, without the pos
session Of which th5 snemy cannot have undis
BHted sway to transport his trseps and supplies
down the Mississippi for tho conquest ef terfi-
tory east of tAat stream, and with which in our
possession, we can partially command tbs river,
and communicate with 0ur troops to tho west
ward in Louisiana, Texas. AgkaHsaz, and the
IadiaR country. Thus far Vioksbury has held ont
wsll, and, It Is not doubted, viii be able to with
stGud the assaults of Grsnt FOR weeks to esme, i
necessary. NstUrslly is one of the msstedo-
fensible positions on the continent, and with
determined spirits who man the guns behind the
hills and bresstworks, supplied With provisions
enough for months TO come, it is not considered
st ai pr0babie that th5 position u1uld ha ts.4oss
before the fortunes of the campaign in tha field
sztsids of Vieksburg would result dissstrously
to one party or the other. Upon ths movements
in the rear Of Vicksburg, We therefore lock
with mors immediate interest thsR to the city
itself If Gen. Johnston whips Con GfRRt
badly in the field it fellows necessarily that the
siege is raised and Viczsburg is reseuad il, on
the contrary, Grant should oVerpoWer Johnston
with sufficient numbers ts hold the ground the
garrison would be starved oHt. This is the is
sue that has 90 b5 tried. That the result will
depend as much upon strategy as numbers, is
our great Chance, and yet it would be weak to
under estimate the powers of these, and make
ne adequate preparation for tha hosts that are
now swsTming in sveTy direction TO General
Grants reiisf. The repeated reports that
GoSeral Kirby Smith is at Milhken's bend
with gUite = considerable force, gains ere
dense, and if this be 50 he nEy prove an i'm
portant auxiliary 10 Johnston in cutting of
Grants supplies ans reinlarcements, and also
render material aid IN other respects WheH the
Aght Genes of that General was never yet out
of place when needed TO turn the tide Of battle.
Bat even with the sssiSiRace Of Kirby Smith,
Johnston viii want every man that can be
spared from other points TO be successful
he is confronted by g powerful and well
appointed army greatly 0utnumbering his,
ana having the advantage Of a long pre-
viousig organized campaign which was in pro-
cess of accomplishment when he reached the
scene of action. 1t is too evident to admit of
argument thEt no ordinary force can cope with
Grant; the enemy approaching the Importance
of the campaign is throwing him reinloTcsmsnts
from every quarter, and if our Government is
sufficiently alive to the magnitude of the con
test, meIe of our forces VIII be speedily c0neen-
trated under johnston for this last great
struggle iOT the Mississippi. It becomes
eur people under such circumstances to be pro
pared to bTsvely face the consequences. We
hope 70 be victorious, and yet it is possible we
may be defeated. We have suffered greater
losses than Vcksburg. and instead Of being
disheaTtend rose with the occasion and hurled
back the enemy with a power which Only
people can de who are conscious Of the right
and confident Of the sustaining hand Of the
Almighty.