Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-03-27
LKrrER FROm THE ARMY.

| DALTON, Ga. March %, 1864.
EDTroRs APPEAL: Ia writing this letter confess to
having tFofold object in view. FirSt, In common
with otbsr seribbess 80 get my name IN the papers
Second to communicate to my friends In East Mssls-
/ slppl snd West Alabama something Of what have
seen and heard my way bsek to, and since my arr'
val a. his place Having spsu several months in that
region, "crutch leave, aware thss your vsiu'
able paper obtains there 3 wlde crcaialOn and warn
reception at every hresds.
IIe Mississippi shortly after tbs Federal raid under
Sherman susith & Co.. and though Forrest that prince
Of cavalry ocsrs in tho north snd empty somAehs in
the SOUTH had forced the villains back the Mississippi
yet there were some Of the ssmtsubugatsd brethren
who we're sIl decidedly shaky In the region Of ths
knees and weak in the fsh They discoursed earreJiy
OF an empty treasury repudiated currency, and g
bankrupt Government. aThsy denounced, Indignantly
The ajax outrage" and pronounced the military bill
"humbug" With nervous, trembling tongues, they
discanied upon he "lmmsnse resources Of the Enemy,
and counted up bis overwhelming numbers. Then
With long faces snd ugubOus countenaness would they
croak their melancholy wall lamentsslon cur
own poor, naked, hAlEstarved, frozensd TO death
brokendewn. little army" With reversed glssIss and
fear distorted vllon they ses side, only
few miserable bands Of dsmoraizsd stragisrs' and
raising their voices In mournful cadence they chant the
dirge.like song. " Were lost.
Thank Heaven though there are but few Of this III
ira stripe that region. Many shers are, brave and
noble spirits in that goOdly land (which have not YET
bowed the knes unto Baal." wish some of these de-
spairing brothers could only come around, and with
glasses OF she army IL really ls thsy wOald feel
ashamed rebuksd, that they had ever es;crtaned 80
despcAble opinion ofhe brave who here confront
the foe. have been with the army in the field aow
nearly three years and assert without exaggeratOn
have the army in as good condition or in
better spirits than at present The almost uni
vsrsay well fhOd and comfortably elads With many
merry jest, they laugh the old times, when bare
feet and ragged clothes elohss st ALL wsz the or
der of tie day.
"HdistarYed," hear some poor dssponding fellow
say. That dOns know what he il talking about
lie is too FAR in the get gopd view of things
send him up the fron he had Better have his pa
psrs all right before Ls ArtG The boys here active
viglInt and jealous OF all such, and VIII eonscript him
certain Il they get a ohaucs at him.
True it is that the rations scarce and the fare
rough but have never sesn the men looking so uni
verEAlly Fat and hearty" as now II IS a fact which
sstonsbed little on meeting the men of ny regi
Some OF them had known for years yet scErce
ly recognized them, tsey had grown heshy. Some
who during their whole Of services up last fall
bad bsen siekly and feeble and healthy
any in the command Indeed If .he surgeons 90 not
manage to get up a tight epidemic pretty soon.
their occupations gone" and cannot how they
are "a avoid conscription
The morale and discipline Of toe army sre now, for
tie frst time since tia Kentucky campaign, equal If
not better, than when Gan Bragg moved it from
Tupso IN 1862 This tbs plsc7, above all others to
had eontsnted hearts and perfect confidence in tho
faAl issue Of our struggle To those who snywse
tendsrfooied, subject at acks Of the national
blues. no better remedy be proposed thsn Tiyit
to the boys In camp.
Though L Is sad indeed to say goodbysto those loved
ones whose bright eyes loving snles and mite minis
zons kve soothsd ard chesred the hours
Of our crippled solitude yet s delightful after alb
sence OF several months to come 70 the front and draw
the Inspiration Of genuine and lofty patriotism from
thensppy faces and cheerful conversation Of our
varsczTred veterans. Among them you find no faint
hesredness dosp ndeney disposition to fstsr
turn back from the glorious struggle, in which they
gagged three years ago.
Ths Isng years of trial snd suffering, through
which they have passed, have only served to
steady their nerves. Strengthen tseir sinews and pre-
pare for the patient snduncs of futurs hRrdshps The
cry, we lost, s'uever heard smOng these
brave feews the faint echo Is times waited
song Of victory not defeat They may be overwhslned
by numbers, but these proud spirits can never be van
qlshed Undsr tho leadership Of the veteran Johnston
supported, the side by Hardes, that inAexible
wETrioF and the other BY hs ohvarous Hood, they
feel they invinolbls
The weather has been very cold for several days,
and tie have been lying up pretty close in their
comfortable log huis Oa Monday night there was quite
heavy fail Of snow. Tuesday morning, perfect
baIllng mania seemed to have sszsd upon the
whole army. vas first iDa1garatsd aEoag the rsgi.
menT, then spread to bngsdes, and afterwards whole
divisions opposed TO eaeh other In fierce conflict
Rsgimsnts with their coors turned line in
tual battle. Quite number Of eolors were captured,
and borne of the 1eld during the dsy No mercy was
shown to officers and being conspicuous offsets for the
ensmys snowy missiles, many bar and bore limp
ing and bruised evidences next day Of rough usage in
the tight Iudsed, In instance in Stevenzons dlY
sion it Is said a5reak was treated to regular WaloH
ing In the snow.
In the engagement bstween Govan's snd Polks brig.
sdes Gen Csburns, IN attempting to execute flank
movement, captured. and having been released
parole, afterwards rstaken the ranks Of the
emy with .'ammunitiOn" in hE hands, and Il being
well established fact that he bors srms, he
demned 70 be bRiled, execution to take place big
snow. Buoysnt in Epris and confident IN the eayIs
be position which he oeeuPsss with the army "old
Pat at his post in the hour of danger is whsn
of duty, with his native aptitude 10 eireumssAnces al
ways ready for a "froio or fight"
The battle OF Ringgoid is of Itself monument Of
Immortality to Gen ClSburns and bis division. MID
the 1nfusIon and demorsEston Of hassy retreat, in
the fsos of enemy exulting In the strength Of
psror numbes, and flashed with recent victory they
brsvey uithsiooa bis fierce onset and with unsurpass
ed heroism, haring back in CONSERVATION and dEmsy
biz advancing iegons turned She tide Of battle from
our routed army, preserved it from destruction, and
saved for rs tbs petition which day confident
ly hold.
The snow has all disappeared, and with the exception
Of & tremendous March wind, blowing "great guns"
about my little shsny 's A-quiet along the llnss TO-
night ROVER
Federal Essses Before RicSmSHd.
The official report Of Mcclellan, which hss ust sp
psared In the North, throws light as to the sx'