Year: 1862

Army Correspondents.
CAMP GILBERT,


MEMPHIS, Tenn, Nov Gath, 1862.


DEAR TINES We left Cairo the Goth |
inst, and rejoiced on receiving the news of
our removal from here.


We arrived h"re in Memphis Yesterday,
and pitched our tents four miles from the
levee on very desirable location. The
land surrounding is we'll timbercd. The
dry leaves we gather, which makes us com
fortab'e material to lay on at right, consid.
cring soldiers fare generally. We are
blessed with good wafer, AMI healthy, de.
l'sbtFul climate. Memphis is considered
very healthy location, but there are some
secessionists left here to enjoy it's salubri
Gus atmosphere. There are a great many
dwellings in the more retired portion of the
city which indicate wealth, that are d sert.
ed by their former inmates. 1t would an
pear that the rebels have at present, from
The appearance of things generally, every
man capable of bearing arms in the field,
except niggers, to be prepared to meet the
coming contest. There is one very fine
dwelling about quarter of mile from our
camp, which cost net less than $5O, 900,
supposed to be the property of the rebel
Gen. Cummings, once very wealthy
planter, who gave as ner as can be ascers
tanned, half million Of dollars to the
rebel cause at the outbreak of the rebel,
lion. There is now left for the protection
Of the place but negro family who live in
one Of its adjoining tenements Our boys
frequent the place daily for water for cook
ing purposes, when by their anxiety to
c'nfiscate, and looking for place of entry,
they finally found access to the cellar, hen
eight barrels Of tempting molasscs met
their gaze, and in two days they coufiscatcd
four barrels and appropriated it to their
own use, when the discovery was made
and stop put to the proceedings by plac,


ing guard to its surroundings from our
own camps, which aggravated our boys to
some extent.


Yesterday We received orders to start for
Holly Springs tomorrow, which is about
forty miles from here. A whole division
will probably leave, numbering about thirty
thousand, where it is supposed we will
participate in big battle Our forces can.
not attempt an attack on V,cksburg until
rise in the river will afford an opportu.
nifty to do so by the gun boats, which will
cooperate with the land forces. | don't
think they will stand fight there, but will
evacuate. They certainly cannot think Of
making strong resistance and have a hope
Of success in the result, if they realize our
strength which will he brought to bear
against them. The will hate to lose it no
doubt, as it is one Of the most formidable
points on the Mississippi, and they know
the odds will be fearfully against them.
think they will fall back on jackson, where
they can nrn''y eupr with US in advantage,
as We could not use our feet at the latter
point, at which place they will make q
strong stand Of defence, il such should be
the case. | have no confidence in our &C.
compli>hing much this winter as wet
weather will hinder us from so doing, as
we all know the progress of large army
in such climate at that 81 ason of the year
is very slow. The rebels strength in big
force at Vicksburg is visionary. like other
icint iGeas thrown out to delude us, so as
to take us weeks to prepare for the attack ;
they are now putting forth all the energy
ard tact conceivable to man. All are alike
in distinction now in the Geld, from the ages
Of sixteen to sixty, as near as can learn !;
they will shake their last fang to recoil only
in bitterness, but when the fighting will be
done the conAscation act will be enforced
by some Of US boys to perfection, if we get
them within reasonable time before another
Buell. takes command to pat jeff avis on
the back, and hoodwink old Abe. II rebels
deserve death, they certainly deserve the
condscation Of everything they possess
that would prove available to Uncle Sam,
and we want generals that will think and
act on such principles, othcrwis: the Union
is shattered never to have its fragments unit
ed.


! hope to live through tho trials and
and conflicts Of the coming battles, and
surmount the despotism which yet exists
and shall be trampled under the feet Of the
noble heroes whose march shall bs onward