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 Atlanta. Perspective from our staff is in italics Sept. 9, 1863 The Armies of Tennessee — The Confederate troops have all been withdrawn from the line of the Tennessee River, and we have pretty well authenticated accounts that Chattanooga was occupied by a Yankee force of two or three regiments. Sept. 11, 1863 It has been disputed whether this war should be called a revolution or not. The following members of the press would be likely, from their own experience, to take the affirmative of the question: The Memphis APPEAL, now published at Atlanta, the Mississippian, at Selma; the Huntsville Confederacy, at Marietta; the Knoxville Register, at Atlanta; the Winchester Bulletin, at Newnan (Ga). Sept. 14, 1863 The following is a letter from Old Abe to General Grant: My Dear General: I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment for the almost inestimable service you have done the country. (The President then refers to Grant’s capture of Vicksburg) When you got below and took Port Gibson ... and when you turned northward, east of the Big Black, I feared it was a mistake. I now wish to make a personal acknowledgment that you were right and I was wrong. Yours very truly, A. Lincoln From the Front — The result of Gen. Forrest’s movements has been not only to check the enemy’s advance, but to drive him back to the vicinity of his main force, on the river. The Federal column succeeded in coming within five miles of Dalton, and thirty-three miles south of Chattanooga, but it has been driven back, and on Sunday Gen. Forrest’s headquarters were at Ringgold, twenty-three miles below Chattanooga. Military operations are on foot in the vicinity. Let us all be patient. Sept. 15, 1863 Classified Ad — The Memphis Dixie Works are now being removed from Canton, Mississippi to Macon, Georgia. (This manufacturer of wagons, carriages and military supplies, like the APPEAL, moved from Memphis to more hospitable locations during the war). |
