In recognition of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, "Civil War-Era
Memories" features excerpts from The Memphis Daily Appeal of 150 years
ago. The Appeal is publishing from Grenada, Miss. Oct. 29, 1862 Hen Teeth — A correspondent, who is a lawyer in this city, informs us
that there can be seen in Stillman's Block, corner of Second and
Jefferson streets, a chicken that has a head which resembles that of a
snake. The upper and lower jaws are furnished with teeth ... It has been
purchased by a gentleman in New York for three hundred dollars. (From
the Memphis Bulletin) Nov. 1, 1862 Kind Sympathy — Yesterday the remains of a young man named William
Nelson of Arkansas, a Confederate soldier, who was taken at the battle
of Perryville, and died on reaching this city on Monday, was buried in
Elmwood cemetery ... His remains were put off on the levee in a box, and
would have been left there probably to decay, had it not been for the
kind sympathy of Mrs. Susan Henderson, Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Curtis, who
had the corpse taken to Mrs. Henderson's and gave it a decent burial. It
will be some consolation to the friends and relatives of the deceased,
to know that young Nelson was buried by kind friends in Elmwood
cemetery. (Memphis Argus, 29th) Nov. 2, 1862
Memphis Correspondence from "A Secesh Girl" — Tell the boys, in
behalf of the secession ladies of Memphis, that we are waiting anxiously
for their return. We are stowing away delicacies of all descriptions
which will be spread before them, in ample profusion, upon their
arrival; we have also laid aside several boxes of candles, with which we
intend to illuminate our house when the Confederate flag again floats
over the "Bluff City."
Nov. 4, 1862 Memphis Intelligence — The seizure of property by the Federals has
gone much farther than has been generally exposed. Hundreds of
individuals and families are compelled to pay rent for their own
properties, and it is announced that none will be exempt such as will
"take the oath." Many men are paying rent for the use of their own
business houses ... Of the old police force, one hundred in number,
fifty-six refused to take the oath, and have been dismissed.
Look out for spies. The Federals at Memphis are constantly advised of
the position of things in North Mississippi through the instrumentality
of spies that daily pass our lines. By this means, not only the
positions and numbers of our armies are known to the enemy, but also our
plans.
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