Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-01-22

water. The general appearance of
the town is disgusting, ....... 3.
could find no boats bonnd down
the river that day, so contented my
self with circling around s,..
The first thing that attracted my
attention was an iron-clad gunboat
which lay anchored at the month of
the Ohio river, and whose business
appeared to be to hail all steamboats,
which seemed disposed to pass this
port without rounding to" and Civ
ing an account Of itself I was told
that rebel boa. undertook to pass, a
few weeks ago, and failing to bait.
the gunboat put ball through her
broadside. She Immediately put for
the Kentucky shore and her crew
took the woods. The boat and cargo
were burned to the water. On the
levee lay twenty-six s4.pound guns,
guarded night and day by marine
soldiers. | could not learn their des-
tination, but they are destined for
some point on the Mississippi. There
are but five regiments stationed here,
nearly all having gone with the expe-
dition to operate against Vicksbnrg.
On Tuesday, Dec. 23d, found a
boat bound for Memphis that day, and
accordingly / secured passage. In
the afternoon just before leaving, we
ran alongside of steamer taking on
board a gang of rebel prisoners.
there were about 400 or 500 of them
and a worse looking set of men new
err saw. There were not dozen men
in the lot that had anything in the
shape of uniform, and not half of
them had blankets or knapsacks
Each one was examined as he went on
board, to see that he had no concealed
weapons about his person. After they
were all on board they seemed to en-
liven up at the hope of an exchange
and INDUCED in many expressions Of
joy. One lank and hungry-looking
fellow said, "Boys, hurrah for Price,
Van Dorm, Morgan and Brasg?" And
dozen family responded. when an
other fellow, who boastcd Of long red
hair and whiskers, said, taking off his
coat, "I'll tell you what, boys, let's
give three cheers for the Memphis Ap.
peal, Richmond Enquirer, Chicago
Times aud Dubuque Herald I" A few
cheered and many of them broke out
into a coarse laugh. They felt too
much of restraint upon them to
cheer at the time, but the moment
they started down the river cheer af.
ter cheer came over the water and
many a ragged hat was swung in the
wind. Perhaps these fellows do not
know who all their friends arc at the
North, but in the case of the Herald
and Times they know full well. Now,
if Mahony is loyal man as his party
pretend, why do traitors in arms
against this Government propose
cheers for him and his cause I?
About 4 o'clock. p. NJ, we got un-
der way for Memphis. We passed
Columbus. KY, at dark, and Island
No. 10. and New Madrid, before 10
o'clock in the evening. On the next
day, Wednesday, We passed Fort Pill
low and the ruins Of Randolph, Tenn,
town burned 10y our gunboats. We
saw Butternuts in various places
along the shore, and could OCCASION
ally get glimpses Of guerilla bands
and cotton burners. We landed at
Memphis at 3 O'clock, p. NJ, and l
found it a larger and pleasanter city
than l had anticipated seeing. 1t con-
tains about 1000 inhabitants, and is
situated on high ground overlook
ing the river. 1t has good lcvec
about half a mile long. The front
street of the city, should judge to be
about mile in length. The city is
we'll laid out aud beautifully orna,
mcnted. 1t is the home and rendezvous
OF the noble bloods and aristocracy
Of Tennessee. On the streets are
found soldiers, citizens, spectators and
guerlllas. although you may not be
conscious OF meeting the latter class
as they are sometimes dressed in the
garb of citizen and sometimes in
that Of a Union soldier. | doubt no,
that Memphis has from 100 to 20C
guerillas in her streets every day
but they are so disguised that it il
impossible to detect them. They come
in from some way during the day, and
at night commit some murder or rob
berry and stink away, and report thcil
discoveries to their chief. 1 believt
that there are not over ten thousanf
troops now at this point. II is vel
fortified on the river, but in the real
is large tract of country and nothing
that ! could learn to keep out an armel
forced but our infantry, and ther,
was hardly enough there on Christ
mas to stand guard over such wide
spread town. s)
Society in Memphis is very mucl
mixed at present. One may tall
with a citizen and conclude he is
good Union man, and before he ha
gone ten PAGES be fired at with . re