Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-10
LETTkR FROM RECHmOND.


LETTkR FROM RHCHmOND.
Special OOnespOndenes Of the Memphis Appeal
RICHMoED, January :, 1863.
Never broke upon the worlds new yearmore brightly
or suspioiously than that which opened with ths dswr
Of yesterday upon the capital Of the Confederate States
A sky without a cloud, a temperature embracing to The
pulses Of health, a serenity all around and above in the
quiet atmosphere, it was a day when Tisnds might vel
exchange gratdlalons on the recurrence OF the snniyer
ssry, At 81 early hour il the morning the cheering inteni
genee ofthe defeat of the enemy at y urfreesborO' became
generally known, and gave additional animation to the
pleasant faces one met in the streets Thoughno formal
Observance Of he new year was kept throughout the
city, the offices Of the Confederate government were
closed, the banks suspended business on their Legal
holiday, and the hours from twelve to four were spent
in making and re ceiving calls in an transformations but
most agreeable manner In consequences Of the al.
seRee IF the President, no reception took place at the
preddestial mansion, but thu governors house was
thrown open to visitors, and his exeslEency, Governor
Leteher, Welcomed bis numerous friends with an old
fashioned yirg MIA cordially. The fine weather, the
81 riOus news and a generous bowl Of appletoddy in
the gubnerstorial dining room, all combined to enliven
his guests to an unvonted degree Of friendly AID patri-
otto feeling. Elsewerei all over the. city. the pretty
pariors, dressed with evergrsens. after the ancient usage,
and provided with dsinties, bespoke little the c~ontinu.
alce q the blockade or the e1istencs Of 3 desolating
war.
We hear little or nothing Of interest from the line OF
the Rappahsnnoek- Gen. Stuart had made q consider
able cireult with his daring light horse through the enc.
my's lines, having engaged considerable DO lies Of Van
KEGS at various points, capturing or burning sloresand
making some prisoners. About seveuty-fve Of these
have bsen brought 10 the military prisons in this city.
he was at one time within twelve niles Of Alexandra.
and according to a Northern account had actually cross
ed the Potomsc. If this be so, we shall soon hear Of
Important operations from that quarter.
After a week or two comparatively free from sense
ton rumors. we have several in circulation to-day Of tbi
first magnitude. Itis stated, for example, urisHTom,
confidence, that twelve large steamers and fifty trans.
ports havejust entered he James river snd are coming
up toward City Point. This would seem 10 indicate that
the Yankees design making another attempt upon Rich
mond without delay. We here also, that the 290 has
captured The Ariel, a California steamer, and bonded
her cargo cad effects, except Ave or ak thousand dollars
in United States Treasury notes and specie. No ship
msnt Of gold was made upon her for fear OF accident at
the hsnds I the dashing Captain semnes Indeed. il is
said that all the bullion from caliafornia for t7oor three
months past hes been retained at Aspiuwan on the 18th.
mus lest it should fan into TIE possession Of the Cor
federate cruisers, and that an armed steamer has been
sent out from Fortress Monroe TO bring t safely to New
York.
Yesterday was q NEST Interesting day ct several
points Of The United, as wei as of the Confederate
States. It's supposed that Lincoln had lomething to
say, in a special message 70 Congress, Of his Abolition
policy, and that he has either affirmed or retracted his
famous proclamation Of several months ago. AtAlbsny
also most imporsans positions were doubtless taken BY
Governor Seymour, upon his INAUGURATION as chief exec
utive officer Of the State Of New York. Ny information
derived from a most intelligent and trustworthy source.
very near the capitol in Albany, was that Seymour was
irrevocabiy pledged to the avowal Of policy which I
would place New York n direct antagonism4o he gov
ernmentat Washington, that be would take the highest
stase.righs ground, declare that no more political pris.
on rs should be made Of the citizens Of that State, and
positively refuse any more troops 10 lincoln upon the
programme Of the war which the latter has adopted
aad is now seeking ts carry out. We shah know in a
few days whether he did this or not
The hiring season" Of negroes Is at hand, and the
prices that are demanded for laborers and household
servants exceed anything ever heard Of bsfore. sei-
yseesbie field hands bring three hundred dollsrs readily.
snd a good cook OF dining room servant cannot be had
for less than two hundred and fifty dollars a year. The
streets are quite black with these q eontrabandsn that
have been brought into town to obtain situations, and
the careless hsppy LOOK they wear, one and ali, is a
striking commentary on The war. Many of them are
enough 70 know that the day has arrived
when, according to the fat Of Old Abe, they are no
longer saves but the " proclamation . is as harmless
here as if IL had never been published Let us hope
that in those portions Of the South which have been
overTun by he Internal emissaries of Lincoln, there will
be as little disturbance produced by his d~iabolicaI pro.
n~unoismento. But one almost dreadsto hear from New
Orleans, where Banks has gone to carry out Buffers
policy, though he processes to have disbanded the negro
re gments that Batler organized.
Governor Lefchar haz earsad 80
BY General Floyd, to be placed in eo-nfnsnent al he
State PeHiteniisTy, two Of them in solitary ceHs, to be
there uatl the yarkee government shan release
ooienei zarvona and has written a letter to Lincoln.
which win be forwarded by The first Gag o. truce. in.
iOrming him Of the fact.
The gsrrotsrs driven TO son,e extent from tie nonn-
Gus portions Of tbs city by the armed gusrd. have
taken to the suburbs and to the road d. Leading into
town, where they s~alupon travellers to stand ana as. =
iver. with he sudaeiy, il not the grace. Of Jonathan
"ho sadPaul Clifford Scarcely q nighs passes that
anne pnYyary person is not Knocked down, if procesd. {
ng en loot or shot at, II in a vehicle, By these aeoundrels ]
ths faetis a painfal one but eannotbs disguised. that
Richmond still continues to be The hiding plaes ~ :
and blOody gang Of c~utlhrOats andfobbers : )
ny age or country Of the world has seen gathered . Z
!
The smallpox is yielding = medical -skuI and com. =
uisory vsceiuaton IN the camps and hospitals bn. :
til pfevails to an alarming extsnt among our -oitizenp 4
nd a most malignant type Of scsrlet fever, almost b
the plague IA the fatal rapidly via wbiehft :
ar les of is victims has broken out, ehieay among D
dulss. aud bsflas the science Of the faculty. i
I hear upon what I consider excellent authority that
haFles'on is TO be attasksdin a very few days bY ; feet
G foHr iron clad Yankee steamers. s
The weather is ioFely DIxfE. ].
MONEY OPERATIONS AND THE WAR-The Kew c,
srk money writer's say there have been lsteIy some 2,
~5srafo1s N Cat msFkst for aceornt Of arises nsraiy 4
81 posted which are e~onsideled IS indicating a ehbe Cd
q IN The long duration Of the WA. N