Memphis Daily Appeal CS
Federal Rumors from Mississippi and Arkansas.
From the Memphis Bulletin, 23d.]
We learn that, notwithstanding the issuance of orders from the authorities in Mississippi, enjoining the strictest non-intercourse between Dixie and Memphis, the people in want of supplies continue to run the blockade and come through. A gentleman from Hernando assures us that all was quiet in that neighbourhood. Nothing was known there of the movements of either army.
About Nonconnah there is a cavalry corps which acts as a sort of police corps to “gather up” conscripts, and prevent cotton coming through.
In order to reconcile the people of Mississippi to the disadvantages under which they will labor as to the sale of their cotton, the agents of the Confederate government are going round buying it, paying for it bonds of the Confederate government, bearing eight per cent. per annum. The Confederates seem to have learned a lesson since they gave up Memphis. Here, every man’s cotton was to be burnt. Patriotism required it. In Mississippi, however, the government buys it up and moves it to a place of security.
The Confederates have another policy as to cotton in Arkansas. They have not only burnt all of the old crop of cotton of last year, but they have just issued an order to burn all the new cotton crop this side of White river. The consequence is, the Confederate soldiers are now employed applying the torch to all the cotton they can find. We learn that one gentleman, having a new crop of two hundred and fifty bales, had all destroyed except fifty bales.
Others are not faring so well. In this way the Confederates are doing themselves and their friends all the harm they can. Let them go on.
From Helena we learn that General Hovey is on the wing with a considerable force, in the vicinity of White river, and it may be that he will give the Confederates thereabouts more exciting work than destroying the property of their neighbours. General Hovey is a good planner, and never fails to execute what he projects. We therefore confidently expect to hear of some execution before he gets back to Helena.
LATER—The steamer Ohio Belle reached our wharf last night, and from passengers on board we gather a few additional particulars of the Hovey expedition:
It seems that it was the intention of the expedition to go up White river to Prairie Du Chien, about twenty-one miles above the mouth of White river, but owing to the extreme shallowness of the water, the boats could only get up some three miles. They came across no considerable body of the enemy, and had scarcely an opportunity for a skirmish. After remaining about the mouth of the river two or three days, the whole expedition returned to Helena on Friday.
We regret to learn that some few of the soldiers, without orders, and in a mere wanton spirit, burnt the houses of Mrs. Brandeburg and Messrs. Gradie and McHenry, for which they will doubtless be severely punished.