The Portland daily press., 1862-12-22
vicksburg. jackson. Meridian.

At Grand Junction this line is intersected
by the Mississippi Central railroad, along
which General Grant is now advancing. Sew
era days ago the Generals headquarters were
at Oxford about half way between Grand
Junction and Grenada, from which latter point
another line Of railway extends to Memphis.
1t is hundred miles from Grenada to Memphis
by this road, and ne,rly the same distance
from Grenada to Grand Junction. The rear
of General Grants army was moving up from
Holly Springs, something near twenty-five
miles from Oxford, while his advance guard,
very strong body of cavalry, had pushed for
ward within ten or fifteen miles of Grenada.
We may expect to hear any day of the occu-
patton of Grenada by our troops. There has
been no serious opposition to General Grants
movement thus far. 1t was anticipated. The
enemy have ceverly evacuated their recent
positions; their main body is leisurely falling
back along the line of the Mississippi Central
railway; all hostile demonstrationsilave been
merely intended to cover their retreat. The
passage of the Tallahatchie (which the rail-
road crosses twelve miles north of Oxford)
was contested with no more vigor than the
passage of the Rappahannock. Their rear
guard moved across to the Mobile and Ohio
connecting Corinth and Meridian and nearly
parallel to the Mississippi Central) railroad,
taking with them the greater part of their sup
plies and ammunition. Nothing of value was
left behind. There is river, the Yallabusha,
to be crossed near Grenada; but nothing more
than show of resistance is anticipated.
The line of defense TO which these move
ments Of the enemy unmistakably point, is the
line of the railroad connecting yicksburg and
Meridian. Vicksburg, almost their last hold
upon the Mississippi river, will be defended if
possible; Meridian ptotects Mobile from jack
son, the chief point of support, reinforcements
may be sent to the right or left, so long as
they hold the road. This line, it will be seen,
closely resembles that which our troops have
so long defended from Memphis TO Corinth.
There are no natural advantages for fortifca-
ton in the state. The low, undulating sand
hills furnish no such opportunity as Lee found
at Fredericksburg. From Vicksburg to Jack
son is forty-six miles, from Jackson to Merid-
six miles to be held by sheer strength.
General Grant has to overcome the naturaldic-
ficulties of a march of hundred and twenty
miles from Grenada to Jackson and besides,
the roads from Grenada to jackson and to
Memphis must be put in repair and furnished
with rolling stock. Supplies can then be sentfor-
ward by the river to Memphis, and thence by
rail to the front. 1t is impossible to tell at
what point the rebel line of defense will be at
tackled. There are simply these facts TO be
considered: 1. Vicksburg is the point at
which all this preparation is aimed q Jack
son is the key to the position. Unless Gener-
al Grant is strong enough to crush the enemy
at Jackson by the mere weight of his columns,
we may infer that an attempt will be made to
break their line between jackson and Vicks-
burg. This attempt, if made, will doubtless
be supported by simultaneous attack from the
river.
A year ago, the rebel General Zollicoffer is
sued proclamation assuring the people of
Kentucky that he had come to drive out the
Northern hordes, who were attempting their
subjugation. Zollicofier has been food for
worms for ten months; and we see the rebel
army driven back, step by step, to the last
available line of defense in Mississippi Be-
hind that line are the swamps of Louisiana
and the lower Mississippi. Louisiana is already
ours. Who dares say We have gained nothing?