Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-23
- FRoss vsCKsarne.

Special C0rresp pondencs Of the Memphis ABpsali
YICKsBURG, March il, 1859.
Yesterday evening the skies above the mouth
Of Yazoo river rasemblsd very much the ssme
as that which was witnessed Just two months
sgo, viz; on tbe DIST Of Jauua5y, when the en-
eny's feet made its appearance again in thai
vicinity after the defeat at Chiclrasaw hayeu.
Long and continuous columns Of thick black
smoke were seen to roll out Of the smoke stacks
The presence of a large feet was plainly indi-
Gated, and IN g few days thereafter they ap-
peaTed in sight above Y0ung's point, where their
pestiierous presence has continued to the present
day.
Such scene again was presented as the eur
tain of night ovenprea5 the scenery Of yes,eT-
day aae7noon. Unusual commodon was seen
among the steamers in the distance, extending
up the river to Pawpaw island, IS vel as in the
mouth of Old river. The multiplied clouds Of
steam and smoke gave Us to understand that
the feet was in motion coming down, and shat
it consisted Of S very large number Of vessels,
and again did the impression obtain that an at
tack on this place was in contemplation, and
might, perhaps, be made before morning.
The smoke Of one or two boats was also seen
in steeFs bayou, coming down. This was no
doubt one Of the boats returning from their
stealing expedition up Deer creek. The point
where SteePs bayou smpties into Old river, can
be seen from town-or rather the smoke Of a
steamer in the bayou can be plainly noticed,
and from this we know that some Of their craft
have sgain returned from that section No
doubt cur planters, who have been visited by
this band Of marauders, are entirely ruined, and
the couEtry destroyed and desolated.
Ikave the consolation to know that the enc
my will not be allowed to remain long in un-
disputed possession Of the country which he is
BOW devastating. Certain Preparations are maxi
ing which wiz very shortly astonish him, and
make him wish he hsd never attempted the
trip, and though be may not expect any teuble
at all, it is more thsn likely that he win be
severely ehastised before he gets back to where
he started from. But unless our officers are e1-
peditious in their movements he may coDtrive
to escape the well-merited punishment.
The most agreeable part Of the operations be-
fore this city has juss commenced. Heretofore
we have been the recipients Of the enemy COM
plilheuts without any hand in the fight but
now the tables are TUNED, and instead Of re-
ceiving all the blows, our men at the guns have
been engaged in dealing them out to the Yam
KEGS. 1t is now becoming an interesting ques-
ton how they are to finish their canal Our
gunners have taken it into their heads to pre-
vent any further work on it, and whenever a
Yankee shows himself in that neighborhood, an
iron messenger is seat over to notify him that
We protest against any further work On the
canal
The dredEe boat has made repeated aud per
sistent efforts to 20 toward the lower end sud
to dig cut the mud, but our guns invariably
drive her back to her old quarters. Severa
efforts have been made to resume the worl
under cover Of darkness, but orr guns can shoot
as well in tho dark as in daylight, and are 81
arranged as 70 sweep the canal every shot, snC
/ the Yankees find the annoyance so great tia
but little has been done during the past week
How they viii manage to get the transport
through is net very plain, and being matter j
which the Yankees alone are concerned, leave
them to gheir own cogitations.
Much interest is exhibited in regard to the tw
Federal vessels below. ANY number Of wild re
norris are in circulation about them. TIE lest
1 heard from official quarters vas that they ha
cot sboye Rodney. snee then nothing auiher
lie has been received, though madame rnmC
has it that they passed Grand Cult on Ihun
dsv morning. Bat shis is doubtful. as our Cor
fsdsrats feet will turn up somewhere betwee
this point and the last named place. u is PC
easy to account for this silence ia regard 20 y
Qussa of the Hest, but you may depend on
thas Commodore Farrsgut win have TO light b
fore he gets 70 Yicksburg.
Yesterday forenoon, two Yankees swan q
o Mississippi river to gel away from The Aboliiie
service. They were both adritt on log an
carried with the current cut Of sight, but the
no doubt they landed safely at some point ,