Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-21
Operations CoHrHenced-Batteriss on ac Leres
Opposite T~os0R-Shsliing car Batteries-Gua-
boats in Readiness.

OpCTGtsDHS on VIC LeCee
Opposite Tos5H-Shsliing car Batisries-Gua
boats in Readiness.
VIcEsBUBG. February Is, 1863.
As was predicted BY many, and. constantly kept be-
fore cur military authorities by the local press, il la;
Turned ont that the enemy have erected batteries on The
lower ED Of the levee. some two miles below where
the fest IS anchored, and 3 little above the point where
the mortar boats lay shsltered behind the timber last
summer. Operation on this work had been observed fol
a week or more, aud The prevailing opinion was that
batteries were being erected on tie levee-ss sfordr
the only groun3 from which they could get within range
Of the city.
Since Friday last the heavy weather so efecsualy
obseurss the view that nothing could be seen, but it
was expected that a deaoueweHt would take glace 81
soon a. the weather permitted on the suspicion frat the
enemy was improving bis chances by planting mortars
within range Of the city under cover Of the thick fog,
which hung ike permanent curtain OF night over tie
bottom land, in which the Yankees are located AZ
soon as the atmosphere became sufficiently clear en-
Wednesday to set q good view, the onemy's guns
opened on the lower part Of the city, aiming. no doubt,
81 enc of sur guns located in that vicinity. About one
o'clock the frst shot was fred, and at short intervals
the fring WIS continued till night Our guns replied,
slowly and deliberately, nearly shot for shot.
Although This movement Of the enemy had been er
pecsed, our Business men are 10th to realize the fact. il
VIII sender the lower part Of the ALPHABETICALLY that
part fronting on the Tivel-entirely u~ntezable. and the
sooner those in ez2osed positions get out Of The way
the better for them The depot Of the s9nthern rail
road seems te be the very center Of their mark. and the
trains will no doubt be prevented from stopping At that
place any longer. The telegraph Office is also in q
dangerous place, and win no doubt be moved our Of The
reach Of sheus. What is to be done wi h the post office
has noi yet been determined, but #. viii have to e k
some other locality FOR the safety Of the mail matter and
the convenience Of the public, ont Of the reach Of
dsnser.
Immediately upon tue commenesment OF the firing
from tae battery on shore, one of the ~gunboats dropped
down % the same spot Later in the day, she went
back again to the fleet above. Great excitement APP
psared 10 prevail among the shipping toward tho close
Of the day the ~gunbosts were ia motion moving to and
fro, and all the transports bad on a full head Of steam.
The effect Of our firing could not be seen, but It must
have proven quite an annoyance to the enemy. If onr
g1ns had shellel out the enemy while he was planting
these batteries, as was by the press, we
woaId not now be troubled from then. So far a. their
shooting Is concerned, there has been no damage done
yet. though the shells all come within The city line.
1t viii be very unfortunate for our citizens if Gensrs al
Pembertou %enforcss his order to remove the non-eom-
5as4nts peremptolix at his ~iuneture. The unfortunate
break in The railroad prevents exit by that route, while
al other means Of escape by the country roads is at
present impossible. The interruption on the railroad
viii not interfere much with the massisg Of troops here.
but there may be trouble in getting in supplies and IN
carrying away the -non-eombatants The accident en
Monday night was quite a serious affair, and caused
two men to lose their lives in a mos, shocking manner.
one was mlred Ia the mud beyond the power Of extrca-
ton and was steamed to death BY the engine. The
otherB supposed 70 Save been buried alive in The mud
and has not yet been found. The road is moi yet re-
paired
During the night everything Femained quiet The
skies cleafed OF and stars were again visible for the
time 90 a week This morning there ws noihing
s range 70 be ssea among the enemy. except the ire.
msndous steam from he hssi, which looked As If they
were All ready 10 start on e cruise. An occasional shet
was fred during the aight Tie effort yesterday was no
doubt for the purpose Of obtaining TIE range Of their
guns. NEsFoR