, 1864-11-29
OUR MEMPHIS LETTER,
The Late Arrests-The Defense Of
Memphis Washburn-The
Alarm Last Veel<-The Future Gov.
erNOr of VenMC86cc-sIhe EnIaucfpQ.
lion Question.
[From our Special Correspondent
MEHru1s, TENN. Nor. -. 1864.

| THE LATE ARRESTS.
Sunday morning the law-abiding citizens o
Memphis were nota little astonished to &C,
the provost qua d patro11ing the streets, ant
making numerous arrests; passes were in ever
greater demand than usual, and woe uut<
those who had them not! This procecdinsl
was the result Of the authorities having 70
ccivcd information that men believed to be
connected with Forests nrmy and the gueril
Ia bands in our vicinity, had found their way
into the city as country people coming to
| purchase supplies. The authorities having
received this intimation, made descent upon
them at the different boarding houses and
other places Of resort, and also picked up all
suspicious looking persons in the streets.
Among the number Of those arrested we're
some countrymen who subsequently obtained
vouchers for their loyaltyrfrom wcll-known
citizens here, and were released, the other
number, several hundred believe, are held
for future investigation; it is rumored that
there are two rebel Colonels among them.
It is known that rebel spies do come to
Memphis In disguise continually, and last
week, I have heard there were several seen
and recognized, but they managed to elude
the authorities and leave the city, no doubt,
taking out the Information they desired to
obtain. The authorities are very yIgilant.
but these Confederotca being perfectly 1ami-
liar with the city, and every approach to it,
kno" how t.; to aTold @ the pieSets, and When h
conceal them.
THE NATURAL pErEssEs OF AEnH1s.
The city has settled down into perfect re-
pose, SO far as Forrest Is concerned. Oar
people have now no apprehensions of his
coming, and the military know that twenty
five thousand men cannot take the city, US
its natural defcnces are very good. bayou
Gayaso makes almost circuit around the
town, and the bridges over it can be torn up,
as they have been at every alarm, in very
few minutes and when this is done It would
into the city, except on the South side, where
they would be subjected to q raking fire from
Fort Pickering. On the outskirts Of the city
arc the four new forts Of which have told
you, and they, with Fort Pickering now COM
mand every approach to the city. Guerillas
may approach in small bodies, hdt no consid-
cradle rebel army could come within twenty
miles Of Memphis without our being aware Of
their vicinity in sufficient season to give them
warm reception.
GEN. wAsHBuRS.
When the late alarm was given, there were
over thousand scouts out, patrolling the
country outside Of our picket lines, and this
side Of the Hatchie. It Was this fact which
gave Washburn confidence that the alarm
WAS groundless The account given Of 1t III the
Missouri Dea4oeTm docs gross injustice to
Gen. Washburn, and should never have been
admitted In so truly loyal paper. Gen.
Washburn was at the theater at the time, and
did very much to restore quiet to the audi
cnce when the alarm gun Eas fired :; he went
disposition, but neither himself or any officer,
civil or military, in the city Of Memphis, was
at all Alarmed, and the only regret expressed
by any body wns on the part Of the militia,
who deprecate " scares'' as injurious to trade
and who desired that the rebels might make
serious effort and thus determine the ina
bility of any rebel force that could be collect
ed, taking Memphis, and at the same time By
demonstrating the thorough loyalty of the
great 1nass of the people Of Memphis, justify
The most libt1nl extension by government Of
trade facilities to the city,
TIE ALARM LAST WEE.
ought to tell you that the late affair Was
not an idle scare as 1t was at the time sup
posed to be: Subsequent Investigations show
1hat 113o1..1 Col: KapPns5, Comma somm7ndant Of Fort
alarm, Us he heard brisk infantry firing for
some time in 4 direction south Of the Fort.
It appears that woman was, ",as usual"
The origin Of the difficulty. Al Camp Shiloh,
several negroes belonging to one Of the col
bic colorcd woman. Others took sides, and
the atlair eliminated in fight, in which a
large number took part One or more regi
lnents, {colored, y short distauce from where
the difficulty occurred, snpposfng that the
out skirmlshers and advanced to meet them.
"a majority Of these regiments are young, ro-
bust negroes, "chock full" of fight, and glad
Of any opportunity to display their yalor,) As
they approached, the others threw ont skir-
1nisiaers also, and prepared to meet them. But
the alarm guns at the fort at once impressed
them with the magnitude of the force they
would have to resist, and they returned to
their quarters in haste. Prompt measures
were taken to investigate the affair. The
militia were Informed there was no further
need Of their valiant services, md order was
once more restored. tits reported that in the
fracas nine We're killed and about sixty more
OF less wounded. The originators Of the quar-
rel were arrested, and It is supposed that
several of them would be shot. These diff
culties among the colorcd troops are very un-
frequent, so that this caused considerable sur
prise; they are well disciplined and thorough
ly under the control Of their officers.
THE FUTURE GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE.
Nov that our State has been by the recent
election deprived of its Governor, some
anxiety Is felt in regard to his successor, and
it is understood that the leaders Of the Union
lmrty in West Tennessee have had several in
formal consultations with rcsard to the Mil
jtaTy Go1ernorship. Ofthe two men whose
claims have been considered, Maynard and
DroWulow, the majority favor Brownlow: AL
admit the eminent fitness, the statesmanlike
ability. and the undoubted patriotism Of Mr..
Siaynard. but il is thought Mr.. Brownlow will
be ihc most !" thorough' In faycring the 10y
II people; and in every possible manner show
jn1 disfayor to rebel sympathizers.
THE CONVENTION.
M stems will be taken in West Tennessee in
relation to calling Loyal Constitutional
convention until o proclamation authorizing
:he election Of delegates to such ennyention
las been issued By the Governor. It is to be
hoped that such requirements may pc made
that none but truly loyal men can vote for dele
:-atcs to this Convention no doubtful man,
10 man not. thoroughly impressed with the
duty Of sustaining the whole policy OF the
Government and making Tennessee free
Stale. should be sent rs 3 delegate.
TIE Es1ANcHATloN QUESTION.
Tho emancipation question is after all the !
hardest test oi loyalty. Manya man was acs
lively Union until Government found It ne:cs-
cary to touch the negro, then LIS patriotism
died ont; and We have had in Tennessee
merely that lan hearted Unionism which de- !
nounccs the rebellion, and at the same time
dcprccates the policy that the Government