Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-18
TuR wan NEWS.
aAh " 40 Az 80 '"
, The Richmond Examiner, Nay l0.l

Early yesterday morning the city was thrown
into great excitement by the report that the
Yeakees had seized the railroad ct Chester, torn
mn the track, burned the town, and were match
ing in large foFcs against DFewry'B bluff, with
the evident design Of attacking il in the rear.
The report soon became current in all parts Of
the city, and then came the ding-dong of that
everlasting bell This served to infisme the ex-
cisemens, and the inquiry Of every one wss-
what is the matter noHi" Proceeding quick
lv 10 the Headquarters of General Ransom, we
found that no official information had been re-
ceived there of the reported capture and burning
of Chester, but it was tros that the enemy Ess
engaged in demonstration against Dfe1iy's
bluff. The frat intimstion Of it was tbs foll0w
ing official dispatch
DREwRY's BLUFF, May 9-1O:S0, A. sI-
Major T. o Chesaney, A. A. G.: An additional
force Of the enemy is moving up the failro&d-
now nesr the outer line where il crosses the lail-
road S. NJ BARTON, Brig Gen.
This was quickly succeed by another:
DREwRY's BLUFF, II, A. NJ, MAY 9-,rhe
enemy have halted and formed line st PeTdu's.
s. M. BARTON, Brig. Gen.
Perdu'si is lust back of the outer line for'Iif-
cations of DfeWry's bluf-besween the railr,Ad
and Notifications erected in rear of the bluff--
probably distance of come TIVE len from the
bluff
In a very few minutes after the receipt of the
second dispatch, came the following, annouHe-
ing that the enemy had commenced their fire
DREwRYs BLUFF, 1880 a NJ, Nay 9.-The
enemy have just opened with artillery on the
left. S. H. BARTON,
BIigsdier. General.
We continue the dispatches in the order as
received, reporting the progress of the enemy's
movement:
DREwRY's BLUFF, 1890, P NJ, Nay 9.-a5a-
jOE T. 0. Chestney, a. A. G.: Artillery is heard
IN the direction of Port WalthAll JUNCTION
probably beyond, at Swift creek. No artillery
firing here now. 5. M. BARTON.
BTigadier- General
DREwRY's BLUFF, l PM, May 9.-Major
T. o. Chestney, A. A.G.: The enemy is moving
in full force against my south front on turnpike.
S M BARTON,
Brgsdier- General.
Here the dispatches stopped, for the reason,
We suppose, that the enemy's demonstrations
| ceased. Throughout the afternoon all was re-
ported quiet, aud we could get no further report
| of the progress of the enemy movements.
Up to late hour last night we could hear of
no news from the south side. The enemy sud
denly became quiet, and accounts up to very
late hour last night reported sll quiet Psrhsps
we shsll hear Of active movements IN that quar-
ter this morning.
On first hearing thst the Yankees were mov-
| ing against DreWry's bluff, Gen. Ransom gal
lantly took the field and proceeded down to she
bluff, Whers ne remained all day! He was lc-
tive everywhere, and seemed to bs alive TO the
cTisis. He was accompanied down by bis staf,
a very fae looking body Of Ofheers, magnif-
Gently mounted and equipped.
Gen. Ransom telegTsphed last night from
DreWTy's bluff, where he still remained, that The
enemy seemed to be retiring, and be had sent
out three regiments to feel them. All was quiet
THE NEWS FROM GEN. LEES ARMY.
The news from Gen. Lse's army is brief, hut
good. Yesterday morning the War Department.
received the following official dispatch:
NEAR SPoTTsILyAEIA c. H.-2:30 P. N. I
via ORANGE @. II. 5
To Hon. J. a. seddon:
Alter sharp Tenconter with the 5!h army
corps (Wsrren's) and Torbetts division of cav
airy, Gen. r d. Anderson, with the advance Of
the army, Tepulsed the enemy with heavy
slaughter, and took possession Of the Coar
House.
am more thankful to the Giver of all victory
that our loss is small.
R. E LEE, General
About nightfsll the department received tht
j
HEADe'Rs ARMY NoRTHERE VIRGINIA,
May s. ls64-9PE
Hon. Secretary of War:
After the Tepulse of the enemy from Spottsyl
vRnia Court House, this morning, receiving re-
Inducements, he renewed the attack on our no
sision, but was again handsomely driven back
There were but few rumors ahost yesterday o
Gen. Lees army, the chief interest being di
rected to the operations of the enemy on the sOltl
side. Every one seemed to feel assured tfs
Lee wss getting on well enough-whipping th
enemy right and left--and all auxiefy.Wa trans
ferred to the s0nsh side, where the enemy au
peared to be moving against DrswrY's bluG =
the same time threatening Petersburg and th
occupation of the railroad by his army. III
NOR Wss started about tbs city iset night tia
Lee had esptursd fifteen thousand prisoners, bu
vse learned, on inquiry ct the War Department
that it was without the least foundation. ItWs
Idoubilesa the emenAtion of the "reliable gentle
man"
RECoENoIssAECE OVER THE PETERSBUR
RAILROAD.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Gill, the eficisr
superintendent Of the Petersburg railroad, wisl
ing to ascertain the truth Of the rumoF of th
burning and tesring up of the track at Cheshsl
I started over the read with an engins and ca
: He proceeded as far IS Chsstef. and fcand ID
a road to that point unlnjured, bat lsarned til.
the Yankees had torn up the track short di
!, lance on the other side OF Chester.
y He WAS informed that about six thousan
n Yankee troops were in Chester yesterday NOR
d ing. They had not destroyed any property q
}, to last evening, but said they should bum ever
= house in the county last night. This was prot
; ably only q little piece of their brGYado.
a at i've O'Clock, when Mr.. Gill Jeff, heaT
y fght was reported to be going on about si
!. miles of Chester.
a Chester is about halfway between Pesersbur
\ and Richmond, situated directly on the rnilroat
!, sad is pleasant little country village of soru
:. dozen or two houses.
II THE STRENGTH OF THE YANKEE ARMADA L
d THE JAMES RIVER.
,r The Yankees must have AN immense srmAi
,e in the James river. A psroed prisoner vii
10 came up on the last flag of truce and who, o
the way, pesse9 through the whole feet, gin.
g. US what we have reason to believe is an entirei
10 trustworthy statement of the nunbers ai
! strength Of this expedition in the James rive
!, He states that he counted, on his way up, SKI
!, four lsTge transports, averaging, he would ss
" about five hundred men; eeventeen gunboat
~ carrying each from FIVE to eight guns; four moi
g itos, ons double and three single urTeted. Ffol
I'd the closest calculation, based on his obseEyi
L. tions, he would suppose the enemy to have
IN force Of some thiriy-two thousand. The enem
Id had some six thousand negroes, four thousan
u of whom hsd been landed at City Point, and tw
" Thousand below FoEt PowhatAn. With the ere
n Of tbs gunbosts, who will average about hui
y, dred men to each boat, our iRfoFmant thinl
te that the aggregate force Of the expedition,
us near ss eau be figured up, may be set dow
Do from thirty-eYe to forty thousand men, and Il
10 Asst-monitoEs, gunhoets end transports
! about huRdTed and thirty vessels in ell. Th
d. statement is probably the most accurate vel hk'
/, yet had of the armada in the James river.
he nun ,.yp.sDss ragyrs .,y,.y r.v,rs ,r,zrsT FR
I'D m A'A = IA ''N'o- - y -
rs From gentleman who left Chester last eve
e ing &C Eve o'clock, we have some particulars
st ihe shsIny esAi4 ef4es tnto inet bo"n my :
on pezIed there yesterday E4Ofni4a sAogt EWep
is minutes past eight in cavalry Snd infantfY.