The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-31 00:00:00

THE FALL OF VICKSBITRG,

The reduction of Vicksburg is a consummation to
which the enemy have addressed exertions bat
little, if any, less than those they have put forth
for the capture of Richmond. They have regarded
that city as the key to the commercial use of the
Mississippi, and by the full command of the river
they expect so completely to isolate the great trans-
Mississippi country 48 to render its subjugation
easy and its return to the Union certain. It is now
to be tested to what extent these expectations have
been well founded. In regard to the first, the com-
mercial use of the river—which has been the object
for which the great States of the North-West have
been putting forth such tremendous efforts—we do
not see how it is possible for them to enjoy it.
For a distance of at least 2,000 miles the Missis-
sippi flows through a country hostile to the Yankee
race and Government. Anywhere along the whole
distance steamboats would be in reach of cannot--
generally in reach of the rifle—from either shore.
It is not possible for the enemy to maintain such a
guard of the river as to prevent batteries of flying
artillery from either shore, and sharpshooters, at
all advantageous points, playing upon the vulner-
able vessels with fatal effect, and picking off pilots
and officers whenever they venture to show them-
selves. Commerce is not quite venturesome
enough to run such a gauntlet as that. The people
of the North-West will find their hopes deceived.
They will discover that the promises of Lincoln
have been fallacious, and that their great ex-
penditure of life and means has been all in vain.
And in this disappointment will come a reaction,
under the sobering influence of which they may be
able to discover that peace is the only policy by
which they can win back what they so madly threw
away. As to the second calculation—that by
bisecting the Confederacy, and cutting off the coun-
try west of the Mississippi from communication
with the east, they may easily overrun it—there is
as little or less reason for its indulgence. The enemy
have, in fact, already held, for some months now,
military possession of the entire river, except the
half-dozen miles covered by the batteries at Vicks-
burg and Port Hudson. Communication for the
passage of troops, ammunition, and supplies be-
tween the two sides has been completely cut off.
The Confederacy has between, in a military sense,
cut in twain. Yet there has been no abatement,
but an increase rather in military operations on the
other side. The fact is, the keeping open of the
communication was more important to us than
to them, for while they drew from us only
arms and ammunition, we drew from them men
and supplies. They will now keep the latter
at home, and may readily obtain the former
from or through Mexico. They have cotton
enough to pay for all the purchases they may require.
It will only be necessary to change their base from
the Mississippi to the Rio Grande to place them in
as good a condition for defensive war as any people
ever were. They have a territory too extensive to
bo overrun, supplies too abundant to be exhausted,
a population too bravo to be subdued, and generals,
with one notable exception (the highest in com-
mand) too skilful, vigilant, and energetic to be out-
generaled. There is nothing, then, to fear for the
trans •Mississippi. What is most to be feared as
the immediate result of the fall of Vicksburg is the
conversion of the great army under Grant from a
stationary into a moving force. From its organisa-
tion, almost, it has been confined to the work of
taking that city. It is now free to operate eI sd
neretic
ment is now called to make the most e
where. Thia is the evil against which the Govern-
te the ect
direction Grant will move, ror to tu
thna
e a field,eff with
. a in g
what
preparation. It is not difficult to imgin
e
of so powerful an army coming es
t serous grounds for
alarm. It would be blindness the most i
not to see it, and im-
becility not to put forth the most strenuous exer-
tions
no corresponding accession on our aide. This is the
danger that presents
it. We can only pray that
Lions to guard against
management of affairs is intrusted
those to whom the
o he crisis.—Richmond Whig,
may be equal

mpiclheatre,
evening
rnogf
nt the Ol y
Aug.
,
Mr W. S.
OLYMPIC TIIEATILE.--1 •Emden, the ex-
announces isSaturday, B.
i sfionrgt hinealle vaegne
Jr To
The performances include 11 . m Taylor's
perienced anhd. obnetnerepfirt
highly suc-
cessful drama of the "Ticket-of-Leave Man," and other
attractive entertainments ; and the occasion Is • one on whit
h
Mr. Emden's numerous friends may amply testify their
appreciation of his sterling claims t - app 0 patronage and sup-
port.