Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-11
- LION y~1oRsRURe.


Special Correspondence Of the Memphis Appeal
vioKsBuRe, February 10, 1868.
Since Saturday last tao moyemeas Of the enemy On
tie peuinsala have been Of a character Sufficiently pua-
cling to the outsiders to crssts almost any amount Of
conjecture As to their probable meaning. Nothing has
yet t~ranspire5 that can in any way throw enyhFht upsn
the subject It having bsen observed that troops were
Being taken On board the transports on Saturday and
Moved up the river out Of seeing distance, the impress.
sion obtained prevalence that the present camping ground
was being evacuated and the troops moved further up
to more fessibls and dryer ground. Bat nothing fGr
'her being known about It. and the motion Of the boats
being sin the same the conviction IS gaining strength
that sueh is really the case.
The g~unboats having been seen going up, has given
rise 70 tbs talk that they were leaving US, for the pres
ent st least. The camp opposite te city is sll being
maintained, and how many Of the troops have been
taken owsy is not known. Nothing further has been
heard Of tue Federal camp lately established opposite
warrsnton though it is Supposed that such a demon
sraaon hss been made, and that a camp exists in thst
vicinity. No indications yet Of any intentions for an
early assault upon oT works
The water can new be distinctly seen enerosching
upon the peninsula IN the direction Of the Federal
camps and, If they are not now engaged in evsousting,
they viii be driven to It very shortly, Il is currently
reported that sons patriotic g%uefllas have cus the
leveos above Young's point, which let's the water in
over the ground now occupied by the enemy. This re-
| port has not yet assumed a sufficiently definite shape to
be worthy Of ~ereasnee but the fact ia palpable that the
water is inuuding upon terra TRINA to an uncomfortable
extent sor The Yankees and it is only from the rise in
The river that the present movements can End an expla-
naion.
Yesterday a consraband, Who had made his escape
from the Federals, arrived here, having been en- the way
for several days, and got to s point on the river SEINE
forty miles below. before he could find any means Of
crossing. -Four desersers from the army also came
over. pretty much In the anne Way as the nigeer-by
going great distance down the river The report I
gather from them is that the canal ls a failure, AID that
the high water win soon clear the swamp Of al Yam
KEGS. They sre not working much on the ditch, on &C
count Of the high water. In order TO conduct their
labor with success, they have constructed Golfer dams
at both e-xtreniiss to keep cut the water while they are
deepening it.
Onsunday night g eonfsgraticn was visible from this
| city in the direction Of the Federal army. apparently at
a considerable distance. The presumption was that
they were engaged at their fsvorite business of burning
houses, and some innocent planter has no doubt bee the
victim Of their thirst for pluder. Nothing is too low
for tbese hessless wreiehes to do, and they love TO turn
helpless women and innocent children out Of doors and
then put the torch to the home Of the unfortunate vic
tim. When they visited Desoto last week, the few
tenantless houses could not escape the torch, and for the
very hsnkering Of their hearts after destruction. they
were consigned to the flames. Such scenes show that
we are not fghting with an snemy that pays .egard
to the rules Of civilized Wa=ss7e.
Since the ssisAses Of the city have been turned ovsr
{ !, bugadier-General Lee, there is decided aud en-
o~oursgiDg Improvement in the management Of affairs
about The batteries. Hisnot at all likely that smother
boat could succeed in running right up to the guns be.
fore being discovered Daily practice is now given 10
she men at the guns, and tbs range and effect is being
ascertsiaed. In erder 10 be in readiness for another sd
venture, such IS occurred a week ago. Even II the
whole feet was to come now the batteries would be pre-
pared forit.
The talk still continues aboUt works being thrown up
BY the enemy behind the timber, for the purpose Of
placing mortars thsre to shell the city. The only point
where ssch 4 work Tss practicable at this time would
be on the leTee; and no place can be found that would
be beyond the reach Of eur guns. Anywhere behind
the Ievee would soon make II q water battery, and II
i would become entirely untenebl both by reason Of the
hso5 and from the range Of our batteries But in spite
Of these objections such 3 work n GIT be in progress q
erection by The enemy for the purpose of annoying the
city. NESTOR