The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-11 00:00:00

r-.~T i

N°. 22,138

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 11, 1863

Now Ready, in post Bvo., Its. 6d.,
THE THIRD VOLUME of \VASFIINGTON
IRVING'S LIFE AND LETTERS.
LW' This is Copyright, ar,d Booksellers are hereby cau-
tioned against any infringement of such Copyright.
Richard Bentley, Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.

EA.—VACANCIES for MIDSHIPMEN and
APPRENTICES in a first-class London shipping firm.
Premium moderate. Aho apprentices without premium.—
Apply to SIMMONDS and Co., 38, St. ➢Lary-at-hill, East-
cheap, E.C. Third officers and Stewards wanted.

ings Bst 71b ; winners extra; second to save his stake.

country had so magnificent a prospect before him
as General Jackson. Whether he desired it or not,
he could not have escaped being Governor of Vir-
ginia, and also, in the opinion of competent judges,
sooner or later President of the Southern Confe-
deracy. But not for one moment did he question or
murmur when struck down at the zenith of his
fame. " These wounds are right ; I would not part
with them." Such was substantially the language
of his It.st few days. _ .

Golborne Course. 7 subs.
Mr. W. Phillips's Persuasion, 2 yrs, Sat 121 b (in. 51b ex.)
(Wainwright) w.o,
The Maiden Plate of 40 sous, three-yr-olds, 7st ; four, Bst
41b; five, Bst 91b six and aged, Bst 121 b ; f and g allowed

"VAST AND WEST INDIA. DOCK
"LiCOM-
PANY.—The Court of Directors of the East and West
India Dock Company hereby give notice, that the Transfer
Books of the said Company will be Shut on Saturday, the
20th day of June, and Open again on Fridly, the 3d day of
July, 1f63.

Now ready, royal Bvo., with Map and 50 Illustrations,
TRAVELS ON HORSEBACK IN MANTCHU
TA RTARY ; being A Summer's Ride beyond THE
GREAT WALL OF CHINA. By GEORGE FLEMING.
" A more interesting book of travels has not been published
for some time past than this. A new world has, in fact, been
o Cued up by the adv,nt .roux spirit of the triveller. The
descriptions given by str. Fleming of the Great W.ll, of
Moukden, the Mantchu capital, and of the habits and occu-
oati.ms of the people, make an exceedingly interesting and
highly instructive book."—Observ, r.
Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

31b. One mile and a quarter.
MiNßarber's Cutler. 4 yra, Bst 41b (G: Noble) 1
Mr. J. Davies's Bowman, 5 vrs, Sat olb.. (H Grimshaw) 2
Mr. Osborne's Fanfreluche,.3 yrs, 7st (Whiteley) 3
Mr. W. T. Parkb's Gammon, 3 yrs, 6st 131 b
(P. Harrison) 0
Betting-5 to 4 agst Cutler, 9to 4 agst Bowman, 3to 1
agst Fanfreluche, 10 to agst Gammon (off.)
Won by ten lengths ; six lengths between second and
third. Gammon was left at the post.

By order of the Court,
GEORGE COLLIN, Secretary,
East and West India Dock House,
Billiter—square, sth June, 1e63.

The unchronieled incidents of the week of battles

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

HAMPTON RACES.-WEDNESDAY.

Now ready at all the Libraries,
A NEW NOVEL, BY THE REV. J. PI CROFT,
Author of " Twenty Years in the Church,"
DR A GON'S TEETH.
2 vols., post Bvo., cloth boards, price 21s.
L. Rooth, 307, Regent-street, W.

The first day of Hampton races never produces any very
great amount of excitement, the second one being that on
which the Londoners attend in such strong force. There
was, nevertheless, the same variety of amusements on the
course as in former years, and they apparently met with a
fair amount of patronage. The stands were extremely well
filled, and on the opposite side of the running ground,
which was in very good order, a good number of drags and
carriages were assembled. The racing, a full account of
which is given below, was of such a character as to call fer
no special comment. It will be seen from the account of the
betting that most of the favourites won the different races
for which th3y competed. For the Two-Year Old Stakes
Birch Broom, with odds of 3 to 1 on him, literally cantered
in first. Buckenham and Canary were equal favourites for
the Surrey and Middlesex Stakes, and passed the post first
and second. The weather, which looked threatening all the
morning, held up capitally, there only being one shower
during the afternoon.
The Stand Plate (Handicap) of (0 soya; for all ages.
Winners extra. Three quarters of a mile.
Mr. W. W.,Baker's Bolero, 4 yrs, 7st .... (Nightingall) 1
Mr. G. Angell's Cadiz, 3 yrs, 6st 51b .. (A. Woodhouse) 2
Mr. B. J. Angell's Lord Burleigh, 4 yrs, 9st (Hibberd) 3
The following also ran :—Gem of the Sea, Change,
Walpole, Odine, Rosina, Zetlo, Copia, Atlas, Energetic,
and Maubourquet.

TO CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD.—An ADDRESS from the CHRISTIANS
of ALL DENOMINATIONS in the CONFEDERATE
STATES of AMP RIcA, signed by ne'.rly One Hundred.
Ministers of the Gospel, in THE INDEX of June 11.—Pub-
lished every Thursday, at 13, Bouverie-street, Fleet street,
E.C. Price ed.

THE CZAR'S DREAM, by " JOHN DAVIS,"
with Anticipations of Bibury and Stoc bridge, by
" BEACON" (late of Bell's Life); and all the Sporting News
of the Week—see TIIE SPORTING GAZETTE (Limited)
of SATURDA Y, June 13, the only p per that prophecied
Ma caroni and Lord Clifden first and second for the Derby,
Queen Bertha for the Oaks, and the Ranger for the Grand
Prix de Paris.—Price 3d. ; Stamped, 4d. Office-11. York-
street, Covent-garden; and to be had of all newsagents.

Betting-3 to 1 agst Atlas, 4to 1 agst Bolero, 6to 1 agst
Cadiz, 7 to 1 agst Gem of the Sea, and 10 to 1 agst any
other.

At the first attempt they left the post in close company,
Bolero having a slight lead, which he retained for the first
50 yards, when he was pulled back, and the running was
taken up by Gem of the Sea, who, in company with Lord.
Burleigh, Cadiz, Rosina, and Bolero came on in advance
into the straight, when Gem of the Sea gradually dropped
back at the distance, resigned the lead to Mr. Baker's colt,
who came on and won vEry easily by a length and a half,
four lengths separating the second and third ; Atlas was
fourth, Walpole fifth, and Maubourquet nest; Gem of the
Sea and Rosina were the last two.

The Two-year-Old Stakes of 3 sous each, with 25 added,
for 2-yr-olds ; colts Bst 101, and fillies Bst 71b. Winners
extra, with maiden allowances. Half a mile.

Lord Westmorland's Birch Broom, Bst 131 b (car. 31b ex)
(J. Goater) 1
Mr. Josiffe's Stonewall Jackson, Bst 71b.. (W. Bolton) 2
Mr. C. Reed's Little Go, Bst 71b
Stainley, Elise, Maud filly, Blight, and Land of the West
also ran.

Betting-3 to lon Birch Broom, 10 to 1 agst any other.

Little Go was the first off, and came on with a clear lead,
having Stonewall Jackson and the favourite as her imme-
diate followers, the others following at wide intervals. At
the distance Birch Broom came out and won in a trot by
half a dozen lengths. Elise was fourth, the Maud filly
fifth, Blight sixth, Lord of the West and Stainley were the
last two.

The Innkeeper's Plate of 30 sovs, added to a sweepstakes
of 5 sovs each, for 3•yr-olds and upwards; weight for

age, with selling allowances. Three-quarters of a mile.

11 subs.
Mr. Taylor's Dirt Cheap, 3 yrs, Est 61b (£5O) (Bradford) 1
Mr. Angell's Vigil, 4 yrs, 7st 91b (£6O) (Perry) 2
Mr. Nightingall's Fitz Ruyter, 3 yrs, Est 91b (L5O)
(Nightingall) 3
Peru, Rockley, Bedford, Good for Nothing, and Sevin-
ton also ran,
Betting-6 to 4 agst Dirt Cheap, 3to 1 agst Good for
Nothing, and 8 to 1 agst Vigil.
Several failures were occasioned by the majority of the
riders being over anxious, in the first of which Bedford and
Sevington ran the course, and Good for Nothing to the dis-
tance, before they could be stopped. When they got away
Vigil jumped away with a clear lead, waited upon by Good
for Nothing, the favourite, and Fitz Ruyter to the distance,
when Dirt Cheap went to the front and won in a canter by a
length and a half. There were three lengths bet seen the
second and third, Rockley was fourth, Good for Nothing
fifth, Sevinton next, Peru and Bedford the last two. The
winner was bought by Mr. W. Robertson for 210 guineas.
The Surrey and Middlesex Stakes (handicap) of 10 soya.
each, 5 ft, and 2 if declared, with 100 soya. Winners
extra, The second saved his stake. Two miles. 40 subs.,
19 of whom pay 2 soya each.
Mr. Saville's Buckenham, 4 yrs, Bst 61b (J. Goater) 1
Mr. J. Day's Cauary, 5 yrs, Bst 71b (S. Rogers) 2
Mr. Fuller's Walpole, 4 yrs, Est 71b (Nightingall) 3

Killed l,OOO
Wounded
Prisoners

Total

The following also ran :—Gibraltar, Flash-in-the-Pan,
Brian Boru, Gasconade, and Truant.

Betting-9 to 4 each agst Buckenham and Canary, 6to 1
egg Truant, and 100 to 7 agst any other.
Immediately they reached the post Mr. Marshall got them
in a line, and at once despatched them. Gibraltar, after
running a few strides, was indulged with the lead, followed
next the rails by Flash-in-the-Pan, Brian Boru, Truant,
and Canary, in the order we have given, the latter being
two or three lengths in advance of Buckenham, who brought
up the rear division. Passing the stand Flash-in-the-Pan,
making use of his lenient weight, went to the fore, and
somewhat improved the pace, Gibraltar going on second, at
whose quarters were Mr. Bryan's colt,Truant, Walpole,and
Canary, the lot, as they ascended the hill,spreading widely.
A. 9 they rounded the top turn Flash-in-the-Pan had placed
several lengths between himself and followers, but as they
proceeded along the far side he appeared to come back to his
immediate followers, and they ran almost abreast to the
three-quarters of a mile post. Here they split, and Canary
at once took the command, waited upon by Gibraltar, Truant,
Brian Boru, Walpole, and Buckenham, the latter, appa-
rently full of running, waiting until they entered the
straight,when he ran past his horses, and took his place on
the inside, next the rails, at the girths of Canary, who was
in trouble at the distance, when Goater brought his horse
to the front and won with consummate ease by two lengths ;
Canary,who ran an exceedingly game horse, defeating Wal-
pole by a length and a half for the second money. Gibraltar
was fourth, Flash-in-the Tan fifth, and Brian Boru sixth,
Gasconade and Truant were pulled up, and did not pass the
post.

The Claremont Stakes of 10 sovs each, 5 ft, with 50 added,
for 2-yr-olds; colts, Bst 101 b, and fillies, Bst 71b. Winners
extra. New T.Y.C. 18 subs.
Mr. E. Brayley's Black Friar, Bst 101 b (Cowley) 1.
Mr. G. Bryan's Woodcraft, Bst 101 b
Mr. H. Marsh's Lady Nichol, Bst 121 b (includ 51b extra)
(A. Edwards) 3
Mr. Merton's Lady Warwick, Bst 71b (Reeves) 4
Garotter was struck out at 10 54 a.m.
Betting-0 to 4 agst Black Friar, 3to 1 each agst Lady
Nichol and Lady Warwick, and 4 to 1 agst Woodcraft.
Lady Nichol jumped away with a slight lead, which she
held into the straight, where the favourite came out and won
in a canter by ten lengths; the others beaten away.

The Hurst Plate of 40 soya, added to a sweepstakes of 5
soya each, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. Weight for age.
Winners extra, with selling allowances. Three-quarters

of a mile. 10 subs.
Mr. Greville's Ossian, 3 yrs, 7st llb (Z4O) (Drew) 1
Mr. Burbridge's Baliverne, 4 yrs, Bst 21b (L4O) (Reeves) 2
Mr. Ellison's Bennett, 3 yrs, 7st llb (X 40).... (Cannon) 3

. . .
The following also ran :—Atlas, Bedford, Sanita, Sevin.
tcn, and The Idea.

The betting opened at 7 to 4 agst Ossian, and closed at
6 to 4 agst Kennett, 100 to 30 agst Ossian, and 6 to 1 agst
Baliverne.

After one failure they left the post in company, but after

. ,
running a few strides Baliverne obtained possession of a
decided lead, followed by Kennett, Sanita, Ossian, and The
Idea into the straight, when Sanita dropped back, and
Ossian, in the centre of the course, joined Baliverne. At
the distance Mr. Greville's colt got his head in front, and
won, after a very fine race home, by a neck, three lengths
separating the second and third. The Idea was fourth, and
Sevinton next. Atlas, Bedford, and Sanita were the last
three, who pulled up nearly abreast.
The winner was sold to,Capt. Handley for 115 guineas.

NEWTON MEETING}--WEDNESDAY.

The Trial Handicap of 6 sow] each, with 30 added. Win-
ners extra. One mile and a quarter.
Mr. E. Buckley's Wynnstay, 5 yrs, Bst (H. Grimshaw) 1
Mr. Osborne's Flytrap, 4 yrs, 7st 71b (Whiteley) 2
Betting-5 to 4on Wynnstay, who won by a length.

The Makerfield Handicap of 60 sovs ; winners extra.
Straight half a mile.
Mr. Scott nd. Mountain Buck, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b .. (Noble) 1
Cap t. Christie's Miss Julia, aged, 9st 121 b (H. Grimshaw) 2
Mr. J. Osborne's Paddy 'Rourke, 3 yrs, 7st (Whiteley) 3
Th e following also ran :—Curagoa, Crisis, Blame colt,
and I .nheritor.

Be tting-2 to 1 each agst Paddy O'Rourke and Miss
Julia., 6 to 1 agst Mountain Buck, 6 to 1 agst Curagoa, 10
to 1 'agst any other.
Won by a length ; a neck between the second and third.
Curagoa was fourth.

The Great Newton Handicap of 200 sow added to a
SWCepstakes of 5 sovs each ; winners extra' • second to
rem 'ye 20 sovs. To start at the Golborne Course' and go
once round. 16 subs.
I‘'ihre. Low,
Gol o udes's Ratcatcher, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Richards) w.o.
T
me Park Stakes of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 50
added, oz two-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ;fillies and geld-

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alone be done justice to by the pen which stereo-
typed the " stampede" of Bull Run, and drew
down upon its wielder a venomous wrath from
which the recurrence of many similar stampedes
will possibly shelter his humbler successors. It is
singular how badly, on the whole, the Federal Ger-
mans have fought. Finer material, so far as the eye
can judge, than many of these German regiments
cannot be conceived. The chief distinction which
they have gained in this war has been as proficients
in the art of Blenkerism. Their flight was indig-
nantly witnessed by Capt. Scheibert, the:r country-
man, who joined the Confederate army about two
months ago as Commissioner, sent by the Prussian
Government to report upon that army's organisa-
tion and efficiency, and who is attached to the staff
of Gen. Stuart. An incident which befell this officer
after the battle of Sunday has afforded general
amusement. Anxious to procure forage for his sorry
steed after the great battle at Chancellorsville, he
undertook an expedition in search of a house, and,
after wandering some distance, came upon a shanty,
in the door of which stood a negro woman. He
was proceeding to importune her in the best English
which he could command for corn, when from be-
hind her issued no less than six Yankees, musket on
shoulder. Capt. Scheibert was dressed in Confede-
rate uniform, and although there is good reason to
think that the Yankees desired much more to be
taken than to take prisoners, his fate appeared in-
evitable. But taking heart of grace, he drew and
flourished a tremendous German sabre, exclaiming,
" Surrendair ! behind me finds itself all the caval-
lery." The Yankees made no remonstance, and he
marched them, musket still on shoulder, for a mile
and a half until he rejoined General Stuart.
Just before they reached the General, one of the
prisoners, thinking that some protest was needed
under the circumstance, exclaimed, "Captain,
had we known that your cavalry was such a long
way off, we'd have taken you prisoner instead."
As Captain Scheibert was standing near General
Lee during the battle a spent bullet rolled nearly
up to the feet of the latter. Picking it up the
General politely handed it to the captain as a me-
mento, destined, doubtless, to make its way to
Prussia and adorn many a tale hereafter. Captain
Scheibert expresses his entehusiastic admiration of
the elan and spirit with which the Confederates
skirmish and fight,

While, in my anxiety to avoid that partiality
which it is impossible for any Englishman who
thoroughly knows both sides in this quarrel to
feel, I estimated the Southern loss at 10,000 men in
killed, wounded, and missing, it is now apparent
from the official returns that my estimate was ex-
cessive. Here is the statement just made public on
high authority :

Total 7,500
On the other hand here the official return of the
Yankee prisoners sent down to Richmond from the
Rappahannock between the Ist and 12th of May:—
First batch
Second batch
Third batch

In addition, there are now lying in the field hos-
pitals of the Confederates no less than 1,700
wounded Federals. My estimate, therefore, which
rated the Federal prisoners at between 8,000 and
9,000, was again slightly in excess, as their actual
number was 7,650—an aggregate exceeding the total
amount of the Confederate killed, wounded, and
prisoners by 150. Of the killed and wounded in the
Federal army, your readers can form some estimate
from the admitted fact that Sedgwick's corps, of
which the fighting was child's play as compared with
the bloody work at Chancellorsville, lost 5,000 in
killed and wounded. Unquestionably, Chancel-
lorsville and its concomitant struggles were among
the costliest, if not actually the costliest, defeats
which the Federals have ever sustained. It is not
likely that your readers will for a moment have been
taken in by the swaggering announcement that this
shattered army is again acting on the offensive, or
ever likely again to cross to the Golgotha which
awaits it on the southern bank of the Rappahan-
nock. Other destinies are in store for it, and so its
leaders, however little they may like the prospect,
very well know. In the meantime the condition of
the long tongue of land between the Rappahannock
and Potomac Rivers, which is called the Northern
Neck, baffles belief. Over this whole district deser-
ters swarm in incredible numbers. What little food
was left to the miserable inhabitants of this devas-
tated region is torn from them by swarms of famish-
ing deserters, who have no plan but to get down in
any way to the Potomac, and set themselves adrift
upon logs, or knock together rafts upon which to
cross the stream. A portion of General Stoneman's
cavalry is finding ample occupation in picking up
these miserable waifs and strays, and forcing them
back into the ranks. Out of such elements is the
" finest army on the planet" now composed.
Few, if any, of the Confederate officers de-
serve more commendation for the ability and
energy with which effect was given to the orders
of General Lee, after Generals Jackson and A.
P Hill were wounded, than General J. E. B.
Stuart. Appointed at a moment's notice, at 10
o'clock at night, to the command of a large corps
belonging to an arm of the service with which he
had no previous familiarity, unacquainted with most
of the brigadier-generals and nearly all the colonels
acting under his orders, General Stuart displayed
qualities which augur well for his character as a
soldier. It was not to be expected that either he or
any ene else could in an instant take the place of
such a leader as " Stonewall" Jackson, but although
it is every day more and more apparent that Jack-
son's wound rescued the shattered Federal army
from a fate for which parallels could alone be found
at the Caudine Forks or at Ulm, there were not
wanting voices which, in allusion to Stuart's con-
duct in the battle of May the 3d, proclaimed that
other men, not unworthy to wear the mantle even
of "Stonewall" Jackson, would, if he fell, spring
from the ground. General Stuart's transference
from a cavalry to an infantry command was under-
stood to be only temporary. It is probable, though.
as yet not positively settled, that General A. . P.
Hill, one of the best fighters in this
.arm.,y, will be
the successor of Jackson, although it lb believed
that Jackson had, at an earlier stage of the war,
expressed a wish that if any mischance befell him
his place should be taken by General Ewell. It is
feared twat the serious wound which Gee. Ewell re-
ceived at the second battle of Manassas, and which
led to the amputation of his leg above the knee,
will militate against the possibility of his taking
the field. It is understood that General Stuart has
already resumed command of his favourite cavalry,
and that his force, which before the battle of Chan-
cellorsville had dwindled to insignificance, will by
the addition of fresh brigades, which have, by rea.
son of the greater abundance of forage and milder

~~ ~~0~~

PRICE.— —..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

climate of such States as South Carolina and
Georgia, wintered there, be converted into the best
cavalry corps which this continent has ever seen.
Great and important service may be shortly ex-
pected from tha command of General Stuart. A
feeling of bitter irritation in consequence of the
unmolested raids which recently agitated the city
of Richmond, but which were singularly unpro-
ductive of other results, has taken possession
of the public mind; and it is safe to predict that
some offset to the achievements of Stoneman
will before long be put on the file. If ever the fine
and enthusiastic army of Gen. Lee, reinforced since

the battles of Char ceilcrsville by the large corps of
Gen. Longstreet, and strengthened by the addition
to the command of Gen. Stuart of at least 10,000
sabres, might be contemplated with confidence, that
confidence is assuredly not out of place at the pre-
sent moment. I am assured that the muskets picked
up on the battlefield amount to not less than 50,000.
MAY 19.

The almost unbroken success which has cheered
Secessia since first I took up my abode within its

limits can scarcely be expected to be wholly unat-
tended with disaster. A casualty which at first ap-
peared likely to be disastrous in its consequences
aroused Richmond from its slumbers at two in the
morning of the 15th inst., and fora time imperilled
the very existence of the Tredegar Works, the
largest and most successful ironfoundry in the Con-
federacy, at which most of the heavy guns, and
notably the Brooke guns, have for the last two years
been cast. It is true that if the Confederacy were
prevented from producing any more guns, the incon-
venience would scarcely be great, in consequence of
the immense amount of superfluous artillery which
they have already taken from the enemy. But there
is demandfor more of the famous Brooke guns, to be
employed in a service which will hereafter become,
apparent, and the destruction of the TredegarWorks
would in this respect have been a serious calamity.
I am happy to say that the fire which burst out in an
immense woollen factory, and afterwards extended
to the Tredegar Works, did serious damage to the
latter, but not such as, in the opinion of Captain
Brooke, to interfere with the progress of the
numerous guns of which he is superintending
the manufacture, and which are now approaching
completion. The feeling that with the sweet must
also come the bitter has latterly induced a deal of
anxiety in regard to the operations of Gen. Grant's
army along the Big Black River, which is traversed
by the railroad which connects Vicksburg with
Jackson, and runs out into the Mississippi about 30
miles south of the former town. It may be remem-
bered that in a former letter, while deprecating the
censure of your readers for not giving them more
searching revelations in regard to this country, I
intimated the probability of an incautious word
furnishing a hint to the Federals about Vicksburg
which might be pregnant with mischief to that gal-
lant little city. There is' now no harm in saying

that it was impossible to inspect the defences of
Vicksburg without coming to the conclusion that
its only vulnerable point was by an approach along
the Big Black River. It is true that even by this
approach, infinitely more promising though it be than
any attack from the direction of the Yazoo River,
the difficulties are stupendous, and at the end there
is, in Vicksburg itself, a nut so hard to crack that
in my opinion no Federal molars will be strong
enough for the job. The reader may remember my
description of the network of lunettes, redans, re-
doubts, and other works which surrounds Vicks-
burg and protects ills rear, and whichlis by far the
finest system of works which I have hitherto seen
in the Confederacy. Add to this the difficulty of
moving such an army as Gen. Grant's through a
country as tangled and infinitely more hilly than

the wilderness which witnessed the recent battles in
Virginia, and some conception of the arduous nature
of the task which he has on hand, and which he
seems to have hitherto discharged with activity and
ability, may be formed by the English reader. He
is assisted by a fleet scarcely less powerful than that
which was recently foiled before Charleston, and
commanded by two of the ablest officers in the Fede-
ral navy, Farragut and Porter.
The great and absorbing interest of the recent
operations near Fredericksburg fixed the eyes of
both sections mainly upon that neighbourhood, and
it was not until the smoke which overhung the val-

ley of the Rappahannock had cleared away that the
attention of the Confederate public was attracted to
the fact that, contrary to my own and the general
anticipations, another formidable attack, conducted
along the approach which has long been felt to offer
most promise to the assailants, was threatening the
little hill city of Vicksburg. For a considerable
time past it has been found that it was almost im-
possible to check the passage of Federal transports
and barges under cover of night down the Missis-
sippi, and accordingly a large number of vessels
have successfully run the gauntlet of the Vicksburg
batteries, subject only to the loss of a heavy percen-
tage of their numbers. As there has throughout
this war been a reckless disregard of property on
the Federal aide—a disregard which at the present
moment may be nothing but wise economy—Admi-
ral Farragut did not scruple to sacrifice many of his
vessels in order to get a larger number than
-he

sacrificed below the obstruction he offered at nicks•

burg. His troops were marched over the tongue o:
land across which the attempted canal has been car.

ried, and were embarked upon the surviving trans

ports beyond the range of the Vicksburg batteries.
It appears that the defences thrown up by the Con-
federates at Grand Gulf, which is situated at the
mouth of the Big Black River, 30 miles below
Vicksburg, were only seriously taken in hand after
a large number of Federal vessels had succeeded in
getting past the batteries at Port Hudson and
Vicksburg. These defences were designed to ob-
struct the passage of vessels up the Big Black,
which is navigable, though not without damage to
large vessels, for a considerable distance from its
mouth. A heavy bombardment of the few and
light guns planted by the Confederates at Grand
Gulf necessitated the abandonment of that post, and
a subsequent battle at Port Gibson, which was again
abandoned by the Confederates, left their enemy in,
and opened a door along the Big Black to the rear
of Vicksburg. The evacuation of Port Gibson was
followed by that of Bayou Pierre, and General
Bower fell back with his small Confederate force
towards Vicksburg, but not until his gallant little
band had done some excellent fighting.
It was at this stage of the proceedings h
Joseph E. Johnstone appeared on scene. His
Gen.
His
first arrival was not in tiamnekteoessaw erG
save the
Johnston,
helecditywoitfhJack-
son, against which the y
prising activity by not come up, was obliged
to retreat hastily from
wased e
roccupied,
d
whose reinforcements had Grant.
Gee.
though not for many hours,
nb, which
ythe
F
nm
subsequently fell back towards a little place called
Raymond, though whether with a design of attack-
jog Vicksburg in the rear, or of retreating towards
the base of their operations, their vessels on the
Mississippi does not yet appear. It is obvious that
consista 4woa,oy 0
from
or o m 50,000
their
there must be great difficulty in supplying such an
'scountry,said to
50
miles
of
men
y—ain Grant's—said
base. There is also a report that his trains have
been cut and interfered with
Loring, an active and t • •
en erprising officer. Be this
as it may, it is manifest that Gen. Grant has not a
moment to lose, and that his
Vicksburg will be by a coup de mats, betoie John-
stone is strong enough to fall upon his rear.
"Within the lines of Vicksburg is Gen. Pemberton,
in command of a very strong force, amply provi-
sioned for some weeks to come. In the neighbour-
hood of Jackson is Gen. Johnstone, with an army
already numbering 11,000 men, which is being ra-
pidly increased by reinforcements flowing through
Meridian. It is difficult to form accurate opinions
in regard to these Western operations, concerning
which our information has always been vague; but
President Davis expresses himself as thoroughly