--The
Vicksburg Whig says
J. R. Davidson, who was connected with the
Memphis Union and Appeal up to its suppression by
Sherman, has arrived in that city.
The
Whig adds:
‘
He was a strong Union man, and at one time belonged to the 24th Indiana regiment, but the proclamation of
Lincoln caused him, like many other
Unionists, to turn a complete somerset, and unite his fortunes with the
South.
He came into our lines, took the oath to support the
Confederacy, and will enter the army.
He says the proclamation has created immense dissatisfaction among the troops, particularly the
Western men, and that the day it was published a company of the 16th III.
cavalry became so clamorous that
Sherman had them placed in irons.
Many officers are stopping at the hotels in the city, having sent in their resignations, and declare that, under no circumstances will they return to their commands.
Civilians are not prevented from entering or leaving the city, and all who bring cotton are allowed to take out provisions, &c.
Nabers, of the
Bulletin, is working for a seat in the
Yankee Congress, and
Sherman has guaranteed him the support of the military.
The stock of provisions,
dry goods, &c., now is very large — greater than has been known for years.
Mr. Davidson says there were not more than ten thousand men in the city when he left.
There were three brigades of infantry, one full company and several detachments of cavalry, and some light artillery.
No further fortifications are being erected.
The works at
Fort Pickering are about completed Two of the principal streets, running down to the river, have been graded to the water's edge, to enable the gunboats to throw shell up into the city, if necessary.
There is but one gunboat at
Memphis; the remainder are at
Helena.
The mortar fleet has been laid up at
Fort Pickering as useless, some of the rafts on which the mortars are erected being almost shattered to pieces.
The
Yankees say that every shell fired from the mortars costs them the handsome sum of fifty-two dollars.
’
