Year: 1862

l.


My DEAR SIR: You are in position to know


more aud more directly, of what is transpiring


in the immediate scenes of active operations than


l am. We hear enough to know that our State
capital is now menaced by a relentless and
sanguinary foe. The State capital may
tall into their hands, but the advantage
will be comparatively tTihing as long as
we control the Mississippi river and maintain
our position here. This place must be held at


any cost of blood and treasure, for on It depends
the safety of Memphis, and consequently this is
the Gibraltar of the Mississippi valley The
enemy breads this place; they would have st-


talked it long since but for the known difficult
ties they would meet from cur river batteries,


aud this consideration has induced the Zoe to en-


deavor to accomplish their purposes by a circuit


Gus route aud get in our rear without the danger


Of facing Us in an open space, fair fight


The artillery company with which am asso-


eiated, has charge Of enc Of the batteries on the
efficiency Of which depends the safety Of Mem
phis, and indeed all the river Now the fact I
am about 80 mention viii show you and all in
terested in this matter, that we require your aid
and that aid l am sure must be apparent TO you
all, and will be given


Our company is now well drilled and as I
have said, very efficient. Ii was originally
German company, enlisted ior twelve months, on
the Both of April last At the expiration of
their term they will return home, many of
them having families dependent on them, which
have not been provided for as was promised the
husbands and fathers, and they are naturally
anxious for the welfare OF those who by all the
ties Of nature are dear to them. They feel, too,
that the faith that they reposed in the promises
made to them as an inducsInent to i0in the army
has not been kept and I apprehend that now
10 inducement viii prevail on them to re-enlist,
and as they form the majority of the company,
It is clear that when they leave our command
our battery is deprived Of Its efficiency


Now the qu stion IS pain, and I ask you and
every man ia any way interested in Memphis, /
and II our sacred cause, involving as it does
fortune, peace, happiness, quiet, prosperity and
life itself how can we best fill the places Of
these retiring connoneersf how can we restore
the efficiency OF that arm Of the public de- /
tense, without which your city viii not be /
safe single day Clearly, by immediate
ly replacing these men with the brave, ac-
tive men Of our city, Of whatever position I
Many viii say, " Oh, viii not 90 as a pri /
rate Let such stay away. Again, &c win |
not serve in the artillery, it is too dangerous,
too dsedly" I" None but the craven think Of /
danger IN a cause and at a crisis like this We /
want men who will defend their rights. their
domestic hesrths and their affairs, though their
hearts hlsOd be the sscr fee freely offered to
secure all that honorable men hold most dear and
most sacred.


| request you will kindly lay this matter be-
fore the Chamber OF Commerce. and if that |
body VIII take the matter in hand we shall soon
have one hundred or one hundred and fifty men
here under drill to learn their duties. Let no
msu, whatever his position, decline coming as a
private. 1 served IN tha: capacity for SIX
months, and l am proudeT OF it than | should
be OF the highest place in the army. The honor
Is in serving in this cause in any position where
we may best promote and advance the cause il
self


Ths artillery have no fatigue duty to do now
except that which provides for their comfort
The dril is now ali that the men are required
10 do, but all men ought to be willing to do any
sort OF physical labor to accomplish the object
we contend for.


Ask the Chamber of Commerce to send Us
lt least one hundred men, Gne hundred and
atty L they can, aud we will keep all gunbeats
rom descending the river, suppOsing Of course
hat our generals will project US in the ]
ear from thu attack Of infantry. At least
ne viii do all that stout hearts and !
Iong arms can accomplish, aud we
lave every cause to believe victory will crown \
,ur efforts, and our beautiful young city viii be !
protected in youth, and when peace is restored, !
70 on TO expand into one of the most prosper
'us and wealthy cities in our lovely South; but
legeci 70 protect her now and she will be desc
ated, and all We hold dear subjected to Insult, 4,
,iliage, fire and sword.


appeal in earnest to the good people of Mem =
his to send US these men now that we may :
ave them trained by the time our German :
Iiends leave to return to their homes Our com =
any is commanded by Capt. Robert Sterling, !,
han whom there is none superior as an officer
Keep the company full Of good men aud as long :
5 there ls HE spared 70 me- I wii4 defend Mem 4
bis IN any capacity 10 which / can serve her "
aost efftetually. YouIs truly, !.


THOMAS JAMES FINNIE