Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-31
FRoM VERCINEA.

May 25, 1864
EDITORS APPEAL: Not having seen any
chroniele Of The late war movements Of Beast
Butler around the "Coeksde City and the
Sou;hsids Of Richmond, in our daily visitor, the
APPEAL, We ofer our services as Especial"
upon this occasion. We would have done so
at en- earlier day, but, laboring under the i'm
preston that some one else would perform this
task, we desisted; but seeing. this hss not been
done We now subjsct the following to the esgls
eyes of the corps on the tripod:
Il was late in The day of the 10th when the
6rst rumor was cireull I'd that large Yankee
force had landed simultaneously on the James
and AppoEnattox rivers, and were en- route for
Petersburg Alarm bells were Immediately
ueg, and the entire force, both militia aud Tegu.
lars under Gen L .ckett, were on the march 70
reiard the progress of the vAndals if not TO an
initiate them. At hrst cur whole force could
not have exceeded two thousand, rank and file,
but they were judiciously placed in the different
Qualifications around the city by the "her0 of
Gettysburg Gan 2. Had the enemy pressed
matters that night, they certainly could have
erstied their spleen, bat their diaioriness frus-
frated their suticipatioDs. As each sun brings
forth another day, SO did eur rsinforesmsnts
suuegr-sgheYetro this individual is unable TO
slate. and were We able would decline doing 50
for prudential ressons.
Tie movements Of the enemy might have
beea beautifully. planned, bu. weIs poorly exc
cuted The FIRST demonstration wSs by way 81
City Point. While this was IN progress, an
other more formidable column, ss it turned cut
alterw ards, the main column, moved upward
| from BHmuda Hundreds . On 10 Richmond"
hy new route. Thanks TO our vigilant gene
rails, B sauregard aud Pickett, them Touts was
sseer1sned, and our rsiniofcemsnts were then
disposed accordingly. Early on the l2h the
enemy hove IN sight near Swift creek, on the
lower side OF tho railroad; battle was offered
| them by Gan. HsygSod, Of South Carolina, but
/ thay declined A skiTmish took place, snd q
| great deal Of ammunition was wasted by them
| AZ long law with their psyrott guns, which did
Us yerY little harm Ga ths evening OF The same
| day they again pressed on 10 Petersburg, and it
| was thought prudent 70 make Swift cTesk our
| ins. Daring the night Of The 10 b several
| night attacks were attempted by the enemy,
b1s finding cur men prepared, hastily Withdrew.
| The last night attack they made was about I2
| O'clock, and while we were on duty ne could
| distinctly hear ths commands given BY their
officers Ono Of cur shArpshooiers VINO was
/ wounded during the night, was lying near 8
tree, and the Yankees had to pass him in order
to pet to our line, be relates that the men and
officers were under the influence of liquor, aud
that it wEs all their officers could do to get their
men to charge. On the last occasion, the colo
mel commanding them, finding things pre- ~
hot, Ordsred AbAsty retreat, which was promptly
executed ReinfoTeements coming up mex.
m0ning, 8 forward movement was made, and
The Yankees took the back track, toward their
transports While they we're thus situated the
msst of cur army passed their left fsnk, and
moved to the outer foriiheations on the south
side OF Richmond,
The enemy next dsy, fnding themselves out
wiltod, came rushing on in heavy columns
and attempted simultaneous assaults, but it was
all of no avail than they brought or thsir artil
Isrv, and soT sshile tho earth fairly shook be
meath lhe shock Of their arms, yet our men veTJ
quietly oec1pied the works, and each man picked
bis chance 80 PROSTATE WHY blue coat. Thing,
passed en- very well, but few casualties on oni
side, and the Yankees, being moro exposed sui
lered heavily. Daring thar night enc OF Gsn
Bssuregard's snSTes was executed, namely
Oar lorces were Withdrawn to the second liue o
o sorti6estions. the enemy thinking that fortune
4 Vas theirs, and that thsy were now sure eneugl
.son to Richmond" they troubled as but itti
that night, taking things deliberately, probably
notler inc. .haIlucination that our forces Wero bu
faw. and having already been driven back, a
thsv thought, nothing was 30 prevent them ron
=. easily getIing possession OF that much wilhed
for rebel capital. Bus things assumed differ
ant asuee.. Early next morning, ere Tevellt
: bad vaf sounded, our vetersns pushed foTWR'
. aud comoletely took them by surprise. Ihe.
, we're rot prepared foT such 8 movement on Gu
n.rt- and were much confused in consequence
: Gen, Hood, under the direction OF cur hguisiAn