Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-19
TEACHINGs or IRssroRv.

their castles burn" ..s. i-.- --
why not their vessels TOO f'-BTRON.
have been much surprised that darng the long and
prOraetsd siges Of yeksburg that there has been no
display Of inventive genius or phosophe research for
all know that in al prolonged seiges, slme arts
hsTe been tried to babe ths skill or to test the iogenp
y of the bssegsrs but we will leave the waters of the
Mississippi in gloon, unTiumnsted save by the di.
ehsrgs OF aflerys much 50, that at =rent times
Csnd ens Of them not very dark night) have not
been able 70 tel an iron-msntled guaboat from the lun
berins eoal bost The sentines peerihg into she dark
ness havenot been able divine the mysterious secret
Of the floating craft resembling somewhaa the graphs
eay related adven uFeof the floating Methodist meet
ing house,
Has ever the slightest attempt been made to annoy
the enemy's fset We read IN history that Geneserc
saved Carthage when IN its utmost perl, by sailing
fire feet boldly into the midst the vessels Of his foes
and destroying them, thus compelling them to hastily
abandon the Siege. Constantaople was delivered agsin
and sgau from the saraeehs BY the uss Of Greek FIRE,
., mposedOf nsPths, sulphur and pit h but St the
siege OF Syracuse the inventions FOR its defense By Ar.
chin das has excited wonder snd admiration Of sue
eeediug sgss that history is full Of such records, ard
that eyer ihs i1hablisnts Of Kew England drove the
British feet from her waters by tho masy different cor
tryanoes employed Cor their destruction Has the
South Archlmdesi Has she no poyere Of inysntleni
Or do prefer, Ike the old Marshal of AHstris Of
holding to the old systems Of exploded tactics, and not
degTsds tAe noble seeneso Of By any new ponbiua
tionA Red dtaPeiE, the world over, frowns Indignantly
the Napoleons Of q new era Fiis rights fle left
load charge but do not spoil the sport by any new
or Inssnious devices.
History Is worse than idle story made to amuss a
child unless we reduce It to practical use Neither the
vessels OK the Romans nor those Of the Saracens,
elumsily IS they may have been built, win compare
with the utter helplessness Of steamboat fee, with
their fres down Imagine, If you please, several fire
RATS if nothing better could be procured floating
amongst feet Of one hundred TO hundred and fifty
steamboats,, most Of yhoh are in that condition They
cannot rerest beis sbere are the dreaded batter
es nor above for there arc the more dreaded Are yes
ssls. TurnwheTe they may destruction is inevitable
cut loose drifting against eaeh other mingng together
In enc concentrated mass OF fame, blown upward and
apart By magazine explosons-what mind can picture
sucl scene and yet such has been, ana such might
be again particularly when we consider thai the large
majority OF such feet is composed Of but fra wooden
transports, allied With troops with but single plank
between them and the swift waters Of the gigantic
Mississippi Of whom Is said 'st she never gives NJ
live msn.s
1 II such ap event could he accomplished IT would do
noEs 70 end the var ,hsn many battle, and hs losi
many thousands Of our brave meE How could such 8
loss be repairedi The sege wonld have 10 be aban
dOned. Why not try it, Whers Is the genius of al
age inventive far beyond any that have preceded f
has its d6euliies some may say that impTsctica
be but his wsFd is obsoletsin ape Of railroads
steaabokts and ieegraphs Bet,etto try and fail thar
10 do nohiHg it viii at least startle our foe fiji h
mind with dismay, unsetts bis plans. give him some
thing to do to defend himself and probably wou'd d
much to disturb hz cool and deliberate preparations
our own ruin ! sometimes wonder whether We are a
war. Ike the saying Of the gallant bfagrude- Fgh
the enemy wherever you find him" and VIII add b.
every nsans placed at oug disposal We not fghi
ing civilized foei e couftsses sf honorable wsrfar,
are not extended 20 MS shey Contemplate without 81
emotion Of pity, without = word Of sympathy cur do
trueon BY means that would be revolving The nature
even Of the fCfoths and Eanlas
Whentle Indians WisA 20 try the maess cl a cap
I've, they Say 'stTy him with are sossy L
AJAX,