Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-27
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VioKsBBRG, February ., 1868.
The military movements on the peainsuls sdn
maintain their old status, and nothing new is
discenable in that quarter. The camps are still
visible, and the boats &c and come the same as
they have done every Gay since their first arrigaf
one month ego. Areport is in circulation here
thas another army of sixty thousand is on the
way down The river, but the story does not come
from any authentic source. Nothing further hes
been received here about the operations through
the Yazoo psss, and the suspicion that q part of
the forces here were Withdrawn for that purpose
IS put atrest.
Within the last day CT two a story has been
afoat here to the effect that on Friday last,
while the enemy was sheIing she lower part Of
the city, Com. Porter lost his life from one Of
our guns. While the sbelling was going on the
Commodore was taking observations on horse
back, and being espied BY some Of our men, a
small riHed piece was brought to bear On him,
and sent him to Davy Jones locker. The origin
of this report comes from Yankee d%esertars,
whose veracity remains to be tested. Not much
reliance is placed in it; but one thing is certain
that as soon as cur guns opened on the nor
tar they ceased firing, and not another she'll has
been thrown into the city since.
The account we now have Of how the Era
No, 5 managed to escape our guns in coming
up from below, is, that she was in tow of the
| gunboat No. 2, and the latter protected by a
large coal barge alongside her hull, which saved
both vessels from being sunk seme such
arrangement was, no doabs, con.ri7ei fr that
TIP; but, in coming up by Warreuiou, they
were careful to take the darkest hour in the
night, aud no observations could be taken Of
the manner in which they were sheltered from
our shots. Nothing direct from the boat has
yet been received, and the manner of her escape
is probably mere conjecture.
Yesterday the transports were apparently very
lazy; there were frequent arrivals from above,
and an equal number Of departures. Toward
night there appeared to be smother evaeuation
by the entire feet, aud but very few boats were
in sight This curious movement sorely puzzles
many Of cur citizens and soldiers all Of whom
have their speeulations as to what it could mean.
But thu most reasonable conclusion that I can
arrive at, IS that Tie boats are engaged in bring
ing down the troops from above, and are row
concentrating them at the general rendezvous,
within seeing distance Of the city.
This impression is confirmed by the Federal
reports ia Northern papers, which state that
their camps are scattered along the river from
Young's point TO Milliken's bend and the fact
that the whole gunboat feet lies behind The
bend of tho river, extending up as far as Paw
paw island, if not above that point. give US
very strong reason to believe that there are
Yankee camps all along the river, aad the gun.
boats are close by as a protection against any
unlocked for forsy that might h-sppenupon the
camps. From these the reinfoTcemen.s are
drawn and brough; down to the canal.
Movements among the boats indicate O
activity, and a part of the programme is no
doubt being perfected. That the enemy is not
idle is well known by our own observations, but
the nature of their work has not been discovered
Any one can see that it win not do for them to
keep inactive much longer, and the immense
force must be put in motion in order to accom-
pish something before long. For fear CT q fail
IRE they would rather wait a year than run the
risk bat this avails them nothing, as failure
win assuredly accompany the attempt.
NESTOR.