, 1862-07-03
SITUATION aT vIcKSBuRG.
REBEL FORCE TO DEFEND IT.
THE DIFFICULTY OF CAPTURING The
TOWN.

aa6 4EFEfNNkBl UT A&f VA4Ml i lf1E
TOWN.
The Revelations Of an Eye Witness.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribunal
LOUISVILLE, Ky, July !, 1862.
The late movements OF Commodore Farra-
gut from below and Commodore Davls from
shove Vicksburg, have drawn attention to that
point, and the interest Of the whole Vest is
fixed upon the last point on the Mississippi
in possession Of the confede1ates. am in
possession Of accurate information Of the posi-
ton Of troops and batteries at Vicksburg, to-
gether together with knowledge Of the topo-
graphy, which cannot but be interesting ut
this time. The former knowledge is obtained
from persons lately arrived here from Vicks-
burg, one Of whom has given me map Of the
situation. This has been transmitted by tile
authorities here to Washington, and will
doubtless be Of service in the anticipated re-
duction Of the place. I say anticipated,
though I imagine that the feet have attacked
the position, but doubt their ability to re-
duce it, and am satisfied that land forces
will be required to take it.
Vicksburg is situated on the eastern bank
Of the Mississippi, and on q high elevation,
which not being Of blutfy or abrupt ascent,
but gradual and sloping, leaves the city thus
elevated some distance from the river. This
slope has been graduated and macadamized
INTO fine Hharf Immediately in front OF the
city, but aboye and below the wharf the
ascent becomes rougher until the ridges, or
bluffs strike the river and rise abruptly from
the edge Of the water The bluffs, immedi-
ately above the city are called "Walnut
Hius," and those below the city and between
it and the Big Bayou are familiarly known as
"TerriUs Bluffs" About ten miles By river
south from Vicksburg is q little town called
Warrenton, lying also some distance, perhaps
4 mile, from the Mississippi. Big Bayou
is / stream Of considerable dimea-
sions, which enters the Mississippi
about three miles above Warrentou and
seven from VicIeburg The main stream of the
Big Bayou runs nearly due. west for Eeyen or
eight miles, but there is another branch Of it
which rises to the rear Of Vicksburg, and runs
five miles almost parallel with the Mississippi
| at about the distance Of three miles, until it
I uuhb 4lLJ aAE ui} Uu lHO IluES dQQ Il JILL
from the river. From Viekshurg to Warren-
! ton there is q road which follows the course
| Of the river and which is On the summit OF the
| bluffs which rises below the city. 1t crosses
Big Bayou near the mouth Of tile branch des-
| crlbea as rising near Vicksburg. TWo miles
| and q half below the city and between the
road and the river is the race course,
and three miles from there down the river,
is The residence Of z Mr.. Terrill, whose
| plantation Of immense proportions fronts on
"a riTGr f0r1 fn,3k
burg to Big Bay ou- These are the distinguish
| Ing POINTS OF the position. The summit of
t the bluffs below the city are level and thickly
| covered with forests and underground. The
country is exceedingly fertile aud productive.
The bluffs are in I'LL probability not less than
| 1c0 feet above the river. 's Walnut HiIIs,''
| above the city, are Of the same character as
| "Terrills Bluffs" and admirable for defense
against gunboat approach. lthas been proven,
and 1t is generally known that the gunboats
can seldom act effectively against batteries on
a bluff, as the former are, so built that the de-
| sired elevations is not to be obtained, while
the bluff batteries have an advantage In the
tact that weak parts Of the gunboats are ex-
posed. I presume it would not bs difficult to
Tun past the city, but the gunboats can
hardly reduce the works without the aid OF
! land forces.
In truth the information have confirms me
in the opion that Vicksburg will be held as q
last desperate resort Of the army Of the. West,
| oaAA tAAi tARiN Ab ANtAlbE to plCfEAt 0E0tlAl
Halleck from capturing large force there, IN.
less he is again deceived and out generated as
he was at Corinth. But at present I hear OF
no troops being sent against the land forces at
Vicksbnrg.
| Gen. Loyells army was several times re,
ported to be at Curin b. Gen. Halleck tele
grophed it one day, and the associated prest
agent the next, TINT Lowell bed arrived witt
bis twenty and thirty Thousand men. But thu
truth is that Loyell's army, since the eVacna
| tow, @f hryvr II h1- t,,11 A..
Biz Bayou, and is the s' North Branch, - in tht
rear OF Wick sourg, and to-day it is Love1l's ar
til1ery which is hidden on the bluffs near tht
race course and the city, and Lovell's arm,
mems these batteries The NORTH Branch
furnishes a aca1nping ground, with all th
Of q healthy situation and plenty Q
35Torn tie. ziytT, and unapproaedab 6ahi
by gun boats. 1t is easily supplied from tHt
or three direc:ioas. This division Of the arm,
was at last sccouuts under the com
naEd Of John G, Breckenridge, but q
the time Of the departure Of my in
formant Lowell still retained command
1t is now understood that the troop
which hare evacuated Jackson 1avv
the east, are the only points strongly held b
the contederates in the west. Brae g is report
cd as chief in command, and the Vicksbur
army is put at $1,000. I have no idea that i
Il uhtl so laIEsE. 1uaEeQ, L0FellS s army is III
; on1J force Of which there is any positive in
,, | formation.
The batteries on Te-rilrs Bluff: are three il
number and mount eleven guns, two bate
ries being each Of four guns and one Of thfee
These are situated near the race course au
some two to Two and half miles distant fIo1
Eicksburg. They are strong works and til
) guns are ofheavy ca1ibre. The works are sal
to be imperyious to shot from the snnboats
, al d that only tie most accurately throw
I shells from nlortars eau damage them. Thej
| position On the bluffs is, without doubt,
. against Davis approach are not SO grea
there being but two batteries of seye
guns on Walnut Hills. The river is wid
at this point and the channel on the OF
posite side Of the stream, and Davis may b
5 able to reach the city, without trouble. an
aid Fa1rsgut in reducing the Terril1 Bluff
/ batteries. We already have the gratifyin
. intelligence that communication has bee
) had between Davis aHd Fa1ragut. But Davi
) would net be able to pass the EVA
Am Rms, ana appsoaehiDg Vi5 Vicksburg fo dsma1
g its surrender, Davis would dndit deserted Vi
j. 1age, where 8 few oficials, in the absence
: the women M children, would request him I
fhel3 snd b .HsSksharg according
S tentiou Of surreudering. The city has bee
e deserted ever Since Farragut's first visit. IT
n stores have all been removed, and there
IS neither "hcauty or BOOTY for the wand
foEdes and Lincoln hirelings and all that SO
d OF thing, who come to deTastate and destro
II and all that sort Of stuff
- Mysterious NIeve1nents--Rebe1 Reg
! melss Firing on Each Other.
Correspondence n. T. Tlmes.1
e FAR OAKS, June q, 1862.
&c Last night the rebels were heard moVi1
[e artillery and heavy wagons. Drums we
beating an along our front. The suppos1it
le vas, they intended attacking us, probab
p in the night or early this morning. We b;
If full notice Of their changiug position from O
front little to the left, and orders were 8
II cordlugly issued to the division commando
8, to march to the support Of our front at 8 O. I
d | a little before that hour the firing col
J. menced, and 1t wes thought, from the prep
4, rations OF the rebels, that the battle Of Rtc
b mond Was near st hand Volley after "
c ley vas heard proceeding from thn wnt
II | 5fhere n11r :1,icEets .1cert.: sfatfnnad Car