Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-12

greeid CoussDoudence Of the Memphis Appeal
V-lCKsBURG. March Oh, 1862
a degree Of i-nsxpReabIe and slmost opPres-
ssve silence has pervaded the camps and neigh
borbooa Of the enemy for a week past
Whistler this apparent inactivity is She premon-
i-sry symptoms Of active hosaities soon to com
nseacs, or whether it is because Of his inability
ID effect any more energetic movements known
only 10 Gen. Grant That al the army under
bis command is in perfect ignorance as 70 ms
purposes Is very evident from the fact that al
dsserbeFs who arrive here, know nothing what
ever about his movements, and the eorrsspon-
dents to Tho Northern press are equally in the
dark about bis future, aud his plans are probs-
BY better eomprehsnded By our generals than
By any Of his own.
From late indications the conviction is
strengthened that an effort Is being made to get
q part Of Gen Grants army below, in order to
90 down the river 20 act in conjuetion with
Cen. Banks army against Port Hudson. This
would Involve the reduction Of the latter point
first. after which both armies and fleets could
return up the river and operate againt this
place with their combined forces, which, in
their opinion, would insure SUCCESS and prevent
any possibility Of failure. However nicely
tesse schemes may be laid, it IS not likely that
anything very dangerous to the Confoderacy
win result from it,
Yesterday a number Of heavy shots were fired
By the enemy in the distance, and a good deal
Of curiosity was expressed as to the cause but
/ nothing could be learned about it. Il was,
however. supposed TO have been caused by some
of our troops firing into his transports, IS the
/ cannonading was heard shortly afer the srrivsl
oftwo steamers from above. The reply Of Gen.
Stevenson Il. Commodore Porter's brutal threat
to hang every prisoner who might be implicated
/ IN 6ring into transports, has not yet besn msde
public; but little attention is paid to this bonn
bssie declaration of Porter, and whenever a
good o2portuRity is afforded, his transports viii
sufsr the same as they did before; and if he
wishes to hang any g%usTillas, he win have TO
catch EN- FIRST. His eTder viii, however, bring
forth retaEspry measures. and as We have 8
balance of Yankee prisoners 10 our hands, the
laugh msy work round to the other side Of the
month before thsy get through with it, and the
sane regulations in regard to the officers in
Gsa. Buffers army may be extended to reach
I those of Commodore Porter.
The frequent heavy rains aad the rapid rising
waters mus make the temporary habitstions Of
the enemy anything bu. agreeable, and added
to these m-isfortuaes IS the malaria Of the swamp
which finds excellent food among the unseci-
mated invaders Of the soil, and thousands Of
them viii get their lHle farm in 8 very undesiTa-
Die locality. I ara strongly under the impress
son that Gen Grants army IS not in 3 cOndi-
ton nov to mskea hostile demonstration, and
evident that the longer be waits the worse
reduced bis army VIII become. Every day
week.-mrs. bis forces By the hundreds, anu it VIII
ngt reqaise q very long time for the whole Of il
20 be consumed by the devoariug hand Of dis
ease.
This 7 believe is the principal cause Of his
delay and inactivity. lie remains quiet per ne
eessty Having no ermy Of sufficient strength
to make 90 stack, he dare not venture with AZ
i-8.leouata force, and delay IS the only recourse
lsh gor hiu IN his dilemma. THIS may also Sc
count fr their anxiety to unite tie two armies,
% -f9g5 thsn g force of sufficient power and
strength 70 undertake The contract Of capturing
Yicksbasg Rsther than make q failure they
wa1.d nos aitsmpt 81 ct all-and failure is Ger
tain. unless hey como with a force innumera-
be, like Inc locusls Of Egyps to oysrygheim Tho
whole country simply by the force Of numerical
strength
Every dsy adds TO the strength Of our fortif-
csaons, and If The enemy keeps CT ct q good
disszncs in a threatening attitude, so IS to keep
M tbel necessary w2tebfulness Of our military
a1thorliss, we via soon have cur arrangements
al e5mpIet3, so that We msy call this place
really i~npreEnable. But q large amount Of
work VII yet have to be done, and a great deal
of energy IS required TO press forward the oper-
atoms in every quarter. It's not likely that
the enemy viii ever get into this town, and il
they should, I. is certain that they never would
get out again. As IL is, We ara rather desirOUs
for them TO come than o.herwise-because
when one sets a trap he would like to-catch the
game.
II i ehouid be tue intention OF the enemy 70
attack this place simultaneously with the at
t2ek on Port Hudson, We may expect that it
VIII come off in q short time, as The impression
IS very prevalent that an effort is now about
being made against the latter place By Gen.
Banks. A few days more viii probably develop
the plans, and then We viii be able 70 regulate
oRr defensive arrangements in accordance with
the requirements Of the times. NESTOR.