Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-17
- 80 vroKsnuae.

Spselsl Correspondence Of the ApTehlI
vIcxsBURG. February p, 1903.
AS L closed my last ieter with an account Of the
passage Of another ganboat on Friday night ! WI
resume the thresd Of my narrative, and give yeu spea
additional particulars as have since come TO ny Know
ears. When the boat FIRST appeared n the bend q ne
river above. She was Hoasing quietly and silently almost
against our water battery. The ssntInels observed a
strange object in the water, but the intense derkness
prevented them from making out what It was Nase
v~stebine 4. one Of the s~entinels called ont with 6 lsad
voice. eTtisaboati7 The officers we're immeaialey 8
their posts, and gave the proper orders 70 the men ~
the guns. The crew on the boat heard orr officers give
the orders, and Immediately got up q full head g steam
and skedaddled with all their might.
After she had passed the batteries everybody expect
ed to see her at the mouth Of the canal below, the next
morning. But daylight appeared and no boat was T.
Be seen. The day waxsd and aaned and sin no tidinss
could be had Of the boat. That she was not in sight
was certain, but WHITTIER che had gone or what her OBJ
iset no one could tell. Not even has il yet been sseeF'
tsinsd what kind Of a craft IT was-some say It was 3
tug, some ran. some a gunboat, and some e little 7aes'
ssuasr boat No one on our side Of the riger has yet
seen enough Of her 10 know to what class she belongs
she must evidently thAve gone on Q voyass down the
river, or at least far enough to be out Of sight from
Ysksburg
The men at our guns acted with great promptness and
energy on this occasion, and acquitted kmselves with
great credit. Had At not been for the darkness, il is not
Bksfv that the craft would have succeeded in passing At
al. Asnis,i it Is believed that she suffered severely
from some of our lower batteries, who Insist thsi three
successive shots struck her very effectively. Much as
it is to be regretted that these boats saoUid run our bat
teriss 1t pleasure. It IS nothing move than has been ex-
peesed By those best informed, and t has long sincebeen
conceded that if running the blockade was al the gun
boats aimed at they would be likely 70 accomplish their
object without much difficulty.
Unless these boats are Intended as conveys 20 tfa
transports in bringing troops scross the river be-
low, they win derive no advantage whatever in ms
king these adventurous trips. By some it Is believed
that they are on the wsy to Port Hudson, to assist II
the attack on that place, but this is not likely, as they
could not csrry any sort Of an adequate foros with them
unless the transports are got below, and if the canal Fl
not IN n~avigable the transports can never get down. I
Is more shan likely that a force is to be thrown across
the peninsula, and the few transports which have
been captured below viii be employed in bringing then
over the fver, while the ~gunboat' act as conveys t
protect BE operations
Everything remained quiet with the feet above yes
tsrdsy. and no additional move was discovered on land
II IS stHl beHeve5that batteries have been erected 81
the Ievee within range Of the city, and when the grant
assault comes of will open their load-mouthed thunder
upon the town. If an attempt should be msds 10 storm
this place and to land troops at the wharf, there viii b
the a~wfulest slaughter among the Yankees that has ye
taken place. The running down Of the boats indicate
that the enemy looks to 8 point below for an adysre'
rsshsr than au immediate attack on the city. Which
ever way he may come, viii prove equally dlssstrou
to him, and welcome to our brave troops who ar
q sprinr for q fight"
The heavy and %incesssnt rain since Saturday evening
has put quietus upon all military operations, and tn
fog this morning obscures the Yankees entirely from
sight. It Is not likely that they remain idle while the,
can work without being observed and their prepare
lions must be nearly complete by this time. It is to b
hoped that the enemy may eome into the net prepares
for him-ia fact, he cannot avoid it If he attempts al
advance on the Place at all NEsToR.