Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-20
LRrrRR FRoa vICKsBURG.
Special Correspondence of the Memphis AppseLl
YICKsBURG. April Is, 1868.

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Special Correspondence q the Memphis Appsel
YICKsBURG, April Is, 1858.
For once did the Yankee predictions come
near the truth, and the statement thst the 18th
wss the day fixed upon for the assault. on Yicks-
burg. was partially fulfilled. On the night Of
the l6h the bali was partially opened BY ihe
passage Of six Of their gunboats in addition to
which two transports accompanied them, and
being lined with cotton and protected by the
cunboa.s, they hoped to make the trip IN safety.
The hour Of the night at which the passage was
attempted was quite dsrk-too much so to OBJ
tain good view without en- illumination Of
tie river This latter pEecaution had been
taken. and building on the other shore, oppo-
site our batteries, was fred, which enabled our
cunners to see distinctly the forms Of the enc
my's bosls.
By the time they came abreast The upper bat
teries one Of them wss discovered to be On Ere,
and in helpless condition. being entirely IN
manageable, and the flames encigcling the
whole craft As she drifed down stream cur
men who occupied a position on shore, close to
the river, could distinctly hear the Yankee eff
GERS give orders to the crew to heavs the cot
ton overheard, - and bale after bale was -sOused
into the river, but the hsues continued gaining
and in q few minutes more tbs crew were forced
70 abandon her and seek safety in the light
boat, in which thsy reached THE opposite shore.
The burning boat kept on floating down, and
as the flames increased assisted greatly in light
ing up the river, and our gins paid their re-
specls TO the balance Of the boats As they ap-
preached toward the city they opened upon as
with shell, grape and canister. YOlloy after
volley Of iron hail was sent over the devoted
city, while our own gauners were energetic in /
punching the iron sides Of the boats, and an
swfal up1oar of cannon and mortar was kept
uD for about the space Of one hour, By which |
time they had dri9ed beyond the reach Of our
batteries. From lhs indistinct observations We
could obsain under the circumstances, it ap-
pearod that al Of them were more or less dis
aBled, and it's known that all were unable to
work their machinery and were compelled to
aoat along with the current
About one hour afteTwsrd, heavy firing was
heard Of Wsuenton, and the arrival Of the boats
in front Of cur batteries there was announced by
the booming Of cannon, which could be dis
tinctly heard in this city As daylight sp-
preached next morning, the presence Of but few
vessels above was brought 70 view, aud below,
ying near Brown s. Johns.on's place, was q
gunbost and transport. Tbs latter bad been
ashed 10 the side Of the former and succeeded
n running the blockade. Everything was
quiet, though not destined to remain SO long.
When the large number Of boats was seen
coming down the river, the impression obtained
very generally that an assault and en- sttempt
10 land the troops was contemplated, and lis
about to be tested. But the Sc
1uel proved that this was not tie object, but
merely 8 safe passage below
About nine o'clock IN the morning another
was created by the enemy opening
N Sac city from their batteries behind the tim
1ar. Considerable talk had been had about the
ruth OF the report that such work was in pro
,ress IN thst quarler, and 1t was much doubted
y many Of the most accurate observers. But
when their guns opened on the city, the matter
vas at once settled by universal consent
The batteries are from quarter to a hslfmile
learer than the point at which the mortar wss {
placed some time since. At frst their shots all
ell short snd bursted over or plunged into the :
iver The firing vas continued at intervals sll ,
Jay, snd IN The afternoon they reached further
lp Town than in the morning, evidently gain
ug in practice and experience. A general at t
sek is now looked for at an early day, and {
nay come OF before Ihis ends publication. The S
7srott guns Of which such q great boast had s
,ean made have proved themselves to be infe- Z
ior to The mortars in point of long range. {
Some Of the crew that escaped from the burn f
og boat were caught up on the opposite shore s
.uring the day and brought IN. Among them, S
trangely enough, is woman. The mystery q
f q woman beirg found in such a place is not e
cry easy to be explained, though am informed G
" some who have seen ber that she is very Y
communicative, snd Ike Ell other Yankee pris- h
ners protests that her greatest desirs is to get
ONE. It hiss not been sseertained how many 7
YES were Lest on the boat but the previous t
sport that much larger feet had started down
4 their rear, and when the place became too hot {
hey were signaBzed 10 turn back; and, fur b
kenmore, that two boats were 50 badly injured S
4 coming toward the point above that they had s
beat hasty retreat, and were sunk on their S
ray up. g
Yarious corjeetuTes are entertained in regard t
D the object Of this movement Of the enemy o
lbetheT to stack below, or to proceed on down 0
, Port Hudson, OF to 60 up Red river. Gun c
oats viii not be Of much use to carry troops,
nd The single transport they got down win be o
insufficient to attempt any erossiBg--nor esn it
AIRY g force large enough to land with safety '
nywhero within reach Of our forces, and they 4
re everywhere, where ihey ere needed The
-oubles Of the Yankees have just begun. 0
NESTOR 0