Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-08
LETTER FROM PoNCHArOULA.


| EDITORS APPEAL: On Monday, the 23d ult the enc.
my fred upon a squad Of our men gdardinR some
sehooners loaded with cotton lying in d a bayou On
the evening Of the day, Capt. Cochran. with
twenty went down the railroad on foot to dlscover
the enemy's whensbouts and Intentions Hs met them
six miles from s place advancing up the railroad and
skirmshsd with them until dark when the enemy halt
cd, huilt IRE and eamped for the night Captain c.
placed strong picket in sight Of their fres, and
reported with the balsnco Of his command at
this place. Colonel Miller immediately had every
thing prepared for stout resistance Early Tuesday
morning the 94fh our piokets commenced firing brsky
wheFeupon Captain Cochran, whore camp was nearest
the pest called his men hastily into Ine and proceeded
en- foot reinforce the pickes who were falling back to
the mzsh His arrival at this place was quite sppropos
ard soon brought the enemy to q halt The squadron
from the lss Mississippi cavalry camped above town,
composed Of many gallant spirits has ever been
coed fortune to meet, dashed through town uadsr
the eommsnd Of their gallant officers and soon made
their appearance upon the scene Of action and the
merry cracking of their Maynard rifles rsceiped the
enemy in full for for his Minnies Colonel Miller ar
rived in geod time and inspired all around him with
degrso Of his eoones and the most perfect conf
denee in their commander He stood erect ztormng st
the when they exposed themselves carelesely
though never moving q muscle himself notgiihstand.
ing the enemy's Mime balls were bespattermg
his uniform with soft clay and making shriIl music
about his Lieutenant Martin Cassetty Of Captain
Coehran's company by wadlng nearly wsstdeep in
the marsh the left Of the railroad gained favor able
position upon the enemy's flank, and with his little
handful Of esoluts spirits opened such brisk fire
upon hiu compel him to shift his quarters, when
being charged by Captain Coebrsns command in 'front.'
the enemy beat hasiy retreat, leaving fae Euhed
rihe and sundry little articles Of soldiers outfit that
fell into the hands OF eur brave rebels
About this tims courier from Wsdegboro' brought
information that gunboat conveying two sehooners
loaded With troops had made its appearance at that
place. Captain Heron was Immediately dispatched
TO meet them, and it coon became necessary for
Colonel Miller to withdraw al OF his force from
the marsh except twelve men under Lieut. Monirom-
cry whom he ordered to hold the enemy in check until
further orders, which duty he performed in the most
satisfactory for hours when be was ordered
to fan bsok IN the meantime Col KILLER finding him,
self confronted by overwhelming ODDS on the Wades
boro road fell back slowly before the enemys adyan
cling columns, keeping up a brisk FIRE and 20 doubt
wsunding great many Of them. About four o'clock
in the afternoon the command had reached the river
shout two miles above this place, where they made
determined stand, bringing the enemy ie halt and
fighting him With good eject until near night vheu |
placing picket in sight, Col Miller drew OF ha aas.
maud and capped fer night at Gates shoe manufae
tory
The next day forces remained IN stqtn qzo with
the exception Of some slight skirnishng During the
night however, we were reinforced by two hundred |
and fifty men, from the I4tf Mississippi infantry, to
gether with company Of volunteer eii,e ems, and
few Of th 4th Mississippi cavalry. The nexe evening
Col Miller determined to attack the enemy in his posi-
tion. The cavalry wss dsmouuted snd deployed as
slmlshers together with fifteen or twenty Of the
infantry and some Of the volunteer citizens They
then ordered to advance cautiously while the rest
Of tbe command moved down the railroad 10 support
the skirmsbsTs in became necessary; but the
onset Of orr troops was SO mpetuous that the enemy
retreated and boys pursued them with such an IN.
earthly ye as make them believe as they expressed
It. "the whole d-d rebel army was coming down on
thea.n
The enemy attempted to make a stand at several
places the railroad, but men, emerging from the
bushes close quarters compelled them to seek salty
Ia fight
Colonel Miller expressed his thankg to tie conmsnd
and commended It's galsntry IN the warmest terms
Captain Heron led the advance upon the left In truly
gallant STYLE while Captain Cochran pressed bin boldly
upon the right and would have prevented the burning
Of the depot had It not been hastensd by the emptyng
Of two barrels Of turpentine upou the floor Mrs.
fuckers hotel fred, but arrived in time
50 extingaiah the flames and save the building Our
loss was six and two herses wounded and two men
taken prisoners. The enemys loss, as we can
Judge was about thirty killed and weunded and two
prisoners.
Since the fight and the retreat Of the enemy,
mand has been reinforced by Colonel Simeno on's lst
Mississippi regiment Of infantry, and Captain Brad
foFds battery. No fears entertained Of renewal
Of the attack, as learned yesterday that the enemy
have returned TO New Orleans. REGULAR.