New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-05

possibly desire.
II. w. HALLECK, Msjor-General Commanding.
The siege and Occupation Of Corinth.
from Our Special Core spondent.
CoRISTu Friday Evening, May 30, 1862.
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS.
], was in the last days of last month-that is,
three weeks after the battle-that the army had
sacieutly recovered from the fearful shock of the
memorable 9th and 9TH of April, and repaired its
great numerical losses by battle and disease with re
endorsements from the North, to make the first for
wsrd from The scene of action in the direction
Of Corintb. Its lines at that time extended from in
front OF Hamburg Landing in a north-westery d.
rection TO Shiloh Chapela distanc. of four miles
and some two miles beyond. Gen. Pope army Of
The Mississippi then formed the left, Gen. Buelis
army of tie Ohio the center, and Gen. Grants army
Of the Tennessee the right.
Before commencing the advance upon Co NTH q
reorganization Of the army took place. by which
ten Grant was made second in commands the First
division Of the army Of the Ohio transferred to
tie army Of the Tennessee, and its commander, Ma
lf-(reneTal Thomas, placed in command Of the
whole right, and two divisions Of the army Of the
ssni.essee respectively commanded by Major. Gen.
sal Wallace and Brigsder General Judah consti-
rled into reserve under MaloT-General McCier-
ssrd Each of the two wings, well as the center,
$50 sd special reserve consisting OF one division
Thos organized for aggressive movements, the grad
ssl approaches 10 the enemys position began.
NATURE OF THE COUNTRY.
The character Of the country between the field Of
sI0h and the vicinity OF Cornth Is unGulatinl
troughout. lie elevations are neither Of consider
Ole altitude nor very abrupt, although the roadi
make some steep aseente Here and there some
gosa ridges and depressOns extend, afordng room
Il. farms the Door improvements Of which, how
ever, indicate but scanty rewards OF the husband
mans labors upon the thin soil Fine forests d
tiil-erown timber, free from uGderbrusb, upon Tho
hills cover the whole ground and make up sonE
What for the absence of other attractions. But few
srla streams are found the principal OF which eit
Lick and Chambers Creeks-the former follow Ing
mort esfterly course between Prttsburg Landing
lBd Monterey and the latter an easterly between
Monterey and Corinih. Extensive bottoms border
each. In the dry season, hardly any water re
nains in either Of them. The population Is sparse
aid mostly in q pitiful state Of poverty and IL
boIaDce.
HOW OUR ARMY ADVANCED.
Since tue fret advance until the occupation of tb,
I've of encampments held by the army yesterday
tts several divisions have each struck and pitched
their tents seven times. The distance from Shiloh
ard Hamburg-the respective starting points
being about eighteen miles, the successive moves
averaged bat u miles with intervening halts OF from
one 10 four DAYS. Over four weeks having been
thus consumed, CELEBRITY OF movement could not well
be claimed for tie great Union army Of the West.
II Is trne, in the early part OF this month an expe'
ditious advance was difficult. owing to the bad con.
diion Of the roads, and the necessity oil much pre-
paratory labor upon them-especially IN the Lack
and Chambers Greeks bottoms, which bad been re-
duced 10 extensive swamps by the continued rains
Of April.
But the sunshine of the last three weeks had re-
moved the natural distractions, and since the
eddie of the month better progress might have
teen made, and the problem that has 90 long per-
peyed tie army no less than the whole North, viz
whether the enemy would venture q battle at
Coriptn--solyed many days before this This is no
eaptious criticism, but the opinion Of many Of the
Generals commanding under Gen. Halleck. The
only plausible explanation Of this trying dilatori-
ne,s i, furnished by the supposition that the Com
nanderin Chief deemed the greatest caution neces-
ssry in view Of the entire want of Trustworthy
Information TO the numerical strength 0pd
defensive preparations Of the enemy
II IL certain beyond doubt that up to the 9Th inst.
even the question: whether the enemy was at all in
force at Corirth. was not afrmatively answered in
The minds Of generals. Up to that time, the be-
hei that the Rebels would not await our appearance
10 HCnt OF Corinth was almost universal series
Of eoinsions between outposts and reconnoiter-
He parties ano more or less strong bodies OF the
enemy together with the statements Of deserters,
e1ehangei Irisoners, and Otler direct and Indirect
evidence soon after, however, left no doubt that the
whole Of the hostile army wa. stiD rnassed at the
point ngglnst which tie Union operations were d.
tee'ed Yet IL was apparent, from the fact that 10
tIemPt was made 10 oppose our advance across
ise ssanps along Lick and Chambers Creeks that,
u serious opposition lay within the plans of Gen
btsnregard 1t would he recoDnoilered only In close
proximity TO C0linth.
FIELD WORKS CONSTRUCTED.
Ascor lines were pushed forward they became By
SIsgfees contracted 80 that when, the 18Th the
ZEN fe.ed at Pennington the front was but about
'oor miles ong. AZ first they formed sort of semi
uee 'he night AID left out-Feaehing the center, but
~ the stated day the front presented n nearly
Sieent Inc. Cornth icing then approached within
tsStf numbers end simultaneously at more points
nm heretofore, the presumption Of bis continued
sdSe IN inil strengih natural, and hence our
sSs;,., tscane afforded with better guarantees
Ia sudden attacks IN the shape of field works.
,,,a," iines OF eiaborat.> breastworks were con-
one I, 10 'front.' Of the rigM and lett and single
VIC 70 That Of the center and the several haiti. rcs of