Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-08
LETTER KROm RrCnmOND,


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LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
Special Correspondence Memphis Appeal
- RICHMOND, April 2, 1864
After delugs of rain all last night, accom-
e binding snow storm for four hours, the sir
being filed with fakes of such size that one
was slmost enough to whiten the top of hist,
and when the earth had been covered to the
depth of three or four inches, rapid thsw set
in, which has made the streets and roads mere
beds of slush. The opening of the campaign
in Northern Virginia is probably deferred till
the middle of May. The turnpikes in the i'm
mediate neighborhood Of the city have been
brought within ten days to their worst possible
condition, and at the front, where heavy prOvis-
ion trains are constantly passing slorg and
plOughing deep into the soft red clay, tho roads
must be for several weeks to come wholly i'm
practicable for military operations. L is diff
cult to say whether the delsy will be more en-
barrassing to US or to the enemy. Il will afford
Grant better opportunity for mAssing an i'm
msRse body Of men, bat then It win also bring
him much neArer to the sitting of the Rspubli-
can convention, the deliberations of which body
viii be of the greatest interest to him, and oc-
cupy, naturally enough, large share of bis al
tsntion. It will enable the Confederate author
tiles, on the other hand, to bring into the field
far more considerable number of the new con-
scripts than If active hostilites were to be com
meEced by The middle of the present month. It
will also permit US, perhaps, to ascertain more
clearly the exact purposes of the enemy, and
thus be prepared the better to fhwart them.
With such man as Robert Z Lee at the head
Of the army confronting Grant, we may bs sure
thst the time viii not be thrown away. He
will pretty surely leave undoue nothing that
can be donc for Strengthening our lines of de.
fsnse and putting his troops in the best possible
Sighting trim.
There is another serious consideration forced
upon US by the heavy rains of the ssason-tbai
Of the growing crops, now of Eenfold more i'm
pOrtanee to US than they have ever been. All
the rivers in Virginia are in inundation and =
great quantity of wheat and corn must of ne
csssiiy be destroyed upon the low grounds, al
Of which are mOre OF less under water. No in.
formation has yet been received Of tho extent oil
the damage on the line of the James or the Ap.
pomastox, the two streams whose overflow gen.
orally works the most mischief, but it ia feared
that many farmers have suffered severely. Itit
not too late now, for sgriculturists in the soutl
to repair the disasters that may have been oc
Nv 4ha NJ
prove to have been excessive, it is to be hoped
that every acre that can be planted in corn will
be made available for the production of supplies
The sad case Of the Rev. George d. Arm.
streng, Incorrectly given in our newspapers as
James d. Armstrong; who has been sent BY
Beast Butler to work at HIitsrss with bal
and chain on his leg, has created very strenQ
and deep feeling of indignation here, where hs
was well known aud much beloved. His bear
ing under determination was in the highes
degree courageous. The heroes Of This war ar,
not those sloDe who display their heToism OF
the field Of battle The name of this martyr il
the cause of political and religious liberty vii
be placed high upon the scroll of fame. IL
comes Of brave stock. Thirty years age h
brother, William J. Arms Erong, then pastor o
the 1st Presbyterian church in this city, die(
the death of Christian hero on the dscl
Of the Lexington, passenger steamer running
from New York to Providence Retaining hi:
eomposure under circumstances Of the most i'm
minsnt peril, he passed the last hours of hi
earthly career in encouraging and praying will
his unfortunate companions, the lives of msny
of whom he saved before losing his own. But
Ter could not possibly have encountered min
lister of tbs gospel in these Confederate State
less willing to tTuckls to him shan george d
Armstrong.
The Rev b. T Lacy, chaplain at Jackson
headquarters during the last campaign of tha
lsmented general, delivered most impressive
lecture here night before last, TO a large audito
~, on ''the religious character of Jackson
Mr.. Lacy gave many personal anecdotes Of tn
great leader, which have never appeared il
print, and made some statements Of the mora
condition Of our troops, that excited equal SUI
prise and satisfaction. One circumstance wa
related by him, which deserves to be msnticne
far and wide, as comforting lasting honor ON
particular regiment
Two weeks ago he preached at the camp {
the 18th Mississippi. After the services the reg
iment held meeting to consider in what mar
nsr they might contribute to the relief of ib
poor in this city. As you may suppose, Ii
noble fellows had no money 10 give. SEations
so far from their homes, and these homes bein
mostly in the enemys lines, they were in 7,
eeipt of no boxes containing private supple
out Of which they might make up eOntribJ
ton Of food or clothing. Their own wardrobe
were ragged enough, and they ate nothing then
selves but the army rations, sufficiently mel
ger At best What could they do for the poor {
Richmond1 They could, and they did, do thi
They YssOEDsd as a Tsgimsat TO f0TsgO their rGtiSE
for one dag IN each sosek and apply the eoHsHlHt'
tiOa IN nsnsy to The poor fsHd Of tie capital!
u Do the records of human charity contain any
thing more truly sslf-saCEi6cipg and magasR