Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-02-15
MoNDAY EvEsEa. FEBRUARY IS.
rus SITUATION IN nIssIssIPPL

TME SITUATION IN mEssIssIPPL
The late movement Of the enemy in Missis-
sippi, uhsfhsr REGARDED as military enterprise,
=. .strzEegie policy, or e0HP de guerrs, is car
Skinly tbs mostex1sordinAry Of the war. For an
army Of thirty OF forty thousand men TO cut
iisslf loose from its base, like balloon from its
mOogings, and plunge into the depths of an IN
explored country, confronting tho haxArds not
only Of resistance but Of exhaustion and star
Fstion. is a marx Of BOldBsss, not to ssy Of eI-
hsnsTscklessness, and Is but sn additional svi-
dsnos Of ths sxiremities to which the enemy is
driven in order thst an end msy be accomplished
or point carried.
There can scarcely be doubt, We presume,
bat that the capture Of Mobile is the ultimate
aim and purpose of this enterprise, whatever
may be It's present purposes, and, 90 far, from
sH We hsve yet learned, the enemy have met
with but few obstacles TO oppose his advance.
His movements hsvs been 50 rapid and eccea-
the chat our generals seemed to be bsflsd IN
their Efforts At resistance, not knowing where 10
make stand or what points 20 defend. Up to
this writing, We know nothing Of satisfactory
nature with regard to tie situation in that gusr-
Ter, though ii is more than probable thst fuller
astsils Of movements may come 20 hand before
our PsPer goes 70 press.
One plausible superstition Is that Il Mobile be
not really the objective point Of this movement,
it is their purpose to push our sTmy bsck into
Eastern Mississippi and Alabama, thereby So
- ~-91
road rem New Olsans 10 Memphis, and 70
desming the large belt Of eottoR-grOwing
county lying between thss road and the Aissis-
sippi rivsr. This supposihon would seem to
receive strength from the fRes that the Federal
foTes Is said to have divided at Morton, one
column gsing north and the other ssath. By
light dsioUr these columns sould again strike
tbs TsiiIoad, the one a. Canton and the ether st
Hsslshurst OF BrOokhsven. while At the sans
tine The YieksbuTg aud Jackson read is being
rapidly repaired to the latter place.
Several objects would be accomplished By The
eoUsummston Of design Of this sars. In the
6Estplsee tie navigation Of the riVsE would be
frssd from the Interruptions Of our troops on
this side, and in the second, the planters, as
sarea Of fusurs tranquility, might be Induced
e plant largely Of cotton, which is nov worth
mole than gold TO the Yankees, while q new
base or bases would be secured from which to
commsncs operations when the spring shall have
fairly opened.
This vas or theory Of the Federal move
neuts before they pushed their advance SO far
this side cl Jackson, and We DO not yet feel in-
elined 20 yield It. The line of read fTom New
Orleans 70 Memphis would be more easily de-
tended and more securely operated than any
othsI rosd IN the country, for he reason that 1t
runs close to and parallel with the Mississippi,
and is spPTOachAbls st 20 many points from the
riTe1. With this seeured, stoeksded and foTii-
fsd, and with fhsir great resources in men and
means, he line Of the Mobile and Ohio road
would fall an easy conquest IN their hands, IN.
less, indeed, more foImidabls efforts are made
for It's defense than has set been shown in de-
fsuss Of sny portion of The Mississippi valley,
she garden spot Of the Coaicder2cy.
We are 10Th to believe shat tho enemy Is SO
reckless as to project an overland expedition
from VicksburE sg.inst Mobile, at this season
Of The year Their policy hitherto has been 70
savanes BY gra5Usl approaches. and 50 we think
1t iii be IN this instsnes. The distance 70
trsyei, tke dangers TO bEEard, sas the obstacles
70 Be 0vercome, are too many and crest 70 iusii-
ty saeh belief Bat few days at most will
dsvsl1Pe the plans ard purposes Of the fee, /
when we shall Be enabled to pass G more eor-
rect judgment upon his oonduet Ii the mean |
tine the reader ia rsfsrred 30 our news columns
foI snch gencs IS maY come 10 hand.