In recognition of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, "Civil War-Era
Memories" features excerpts from The Memphis Daily Appeal of 150 years
ago. Perspective from our staff is in italics. May 22, 1862
NOT YET. We notice that several of our exchanges are impressed with
the idea that THE APPEAL has already commenced to be issued at Grenada
which, of course, is a mistake. We shall continue to publish here until
the city is in complete and undisputed possession of the enemy, and will
issue a paper "up to the morning and evening of the last day." Our
preparations are such that we can continue our daily issue at Grenada
the day after our removal from Memphis, and will do so, shall we ever be
in the varying fortunes of war, be forced to that necessity. Our
loyalty has not been of such a "negative" character that we can hope for
freedom from Federal molestation.
(Preparing for the fall of Memphis, Editor John McClanahan moved
the Appeal's printing press to Grenada at the end of April while he and
a skeletal newsroom produced the last Memphis issues from rented
presses. McClanahan wanted to avoid the fate of the Nashville papers
which, except for the heavily censored Banner, had all been shut down by
Andrew Johnson after the city fell.) May 23, 1862
Letter from Corinth. Editors Appeal: Still no enemy. Not a shot, save
of musketry between pickets and skirmishers ...All is silent in the
valley of the shadow of death.
May 25, 1862
We learn that there are parties in this city -- secret sympathizers
with the foe, doubtless -- who question the genuineness of Butler's
infamous order authorizing his drunken and ruffian soldiery, under
certain circumstances, to treat the ladies of New Orleans as common
courtesans... We can state that we have copies of both the New Orleans
Picayune and True Delta containing this atrocious document. May 27, 1862
200 RECRUITS WANTED! I will receive Two Hundred stout, able-bodied
men, if they will present themselves at my headquarters by the 1st of
June... Come on boys, if you want a heap of fun, and kill some Yankees.
N. B. FORREST
Compiled by Rosemary Nelms and Jan Smith, The Commercial Appeal News Library |
