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 Jackson, Miss.

(From the Memphis Bulletin) Highwaymen Arrested — Audacious robberies on Wednesday afternoon, just beyond the city limits, on the new Raleigh road ... The suburbs of the city are evidently very unsafe just now, and persons approaching or leaving it should be on their guard, having their revolvers ready and using them if necessary

The Battle of Murfreesboro (an eyewitness account from the Murfreesboro Rebel) — Yesterday the New Year dawned upon us with a bright, smiling and propitious face. The previous night was intensely cold, and must have seriously affected the condition of the wounded on the field. The dead lay scattered in every direction — the Confederate gray uniform and the Yankee blue in fearful proximity ... We saw hundreds of the wounded on the field and in the hospitals and from not one of them did we hear a word of complaint or repining. Many of their wounds were ghastly, many requiring amputation and the severest surgical treatment, but all of them bore up with the determined spirit of heroes. (The Battle of Murfreesboro, also known as the Battle of Stones River, was fought from Dec. 31, 1862 to Jan. 2, 1863. Of all major battles of the Civil War, it had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides. Read more at http://bit.ly/5F9ckJ) 

More Tyranny in Memphis / An order by Command of the Major-General, Headquarters District of Memphis — It is well known that many persons residing in Memphis, and under the protection of the American flag, are constantly plotting against the authorities ... It is further well known that the same persons are in constant communication with the guerrilla bands which infest the neighboring country. Many of these sympathizers have expressed a determination that the Charleston and Memphis railroad should not be used by the United States. For every raid or attempted raid by guerrillas upon the railroad, ten families of the most noted secessionists of Memphis will be sent South; and these will be selected from those of greatest wealth and highest social position first.

Latest from Memphis — The Confederate partisans recently occupied Collierville, burning three bridges over Wolf river.