Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-06-04
pRospEcrs OF OUR ARMIES.

the Tennessee letters or dispatches) is but
waiting. for the order to move upon the en-
envy, and our chief army has been kept
on che alert for an offensive movement of
the main army of the rebels. The long
period of quiet and inaction which every
where existed from the opening Of the
year up to the close of last month, was
broken by Hooker's crossing the Kappa
hammock and Grants crossing the Missis-
sippl-which it may be noted, were done
simultaneously; and though some of the
greatest and severcst battles of the war
have been fought by two of our armies
during the month, it seems at its end as
though all of our armies might again at
any instant and at the same time close in
with the enemy.
Grants first battle on this side of the
Mississippi was fought on the lst ult.,
and on the same day Hooker's troops did
some brisk fighting on the other side of
the Rappahannock. Now at the close of
May-after as hard months fighting as
ever fell to the lot of an army of fifty
thousand men-Grant's army is in close
besiegement of vicksburgh; and every
day or two we have intelligence of some
new and fierce assault upon some of the
positions in its vicinity. 1t was stated in
our dispatches yesterday that the theory
current in military circles in Washing
was that, considering the position held by
Grants troops, he. would most likely at
tempt to reduce the place by siege. We
do not imagine that it could hold out very
long under siege, for it was certainly
unprcpared for it, as the rebels never be-
lieved in the possibility of Grants effect
ing an approach to their works in the rear.
But we suppose the mode of operation
will depend very much upon the move
ments of Gen. Johnston and the force he
can hastily concentrate at Jackson or Can
ton, as we'll as upon other circumstances.
The rebel talk about Johnston receiving
reinforcements of a hundred thousand
men to attack Grants rear, was of course
Intended only to act upon the spirits of
the invested garrison, and induce them to
make as determined and persistent de-
fence as possible. Johnston's reinforce
ments must all come from the country on
this side of the Mississippi, and he can
not possibly afford to detach more than a
few thousand from the army of Bragg /;
and even if he we're to denude all militia
ry points in the Gulf States, and in Geor-
gia and South Carolina of their garrisons
we do not believe he would have forty
thousand men, and it would take him at
least month to get them there. Even if
he had them. he would find it very diff
cult to attack Grant on the flank or rear /;
for Grant holds the bridge over the Big
Black River, and our gunboats command
the Yazoo.
We still hold to the opinion, after a
careful perusal of all dispatches, that
there has been no general engagement be-
tween Grants troops and the rebels with
in the last fortnight. or since the battle of
the 18th. Since investing Vicksburg on
the 18th, he has made number of at
tempts and assaults, some of which have
been failures and others successes. But
it is evident now, that there was no such
tremendous battle on Friday the 22d, as
has been reported. For we have Rich
mond papers of the 9th which make no
mention of it, and the government has
dispatches from Grant up to the 25th, at
which time he reported that all was going
on satisfactorily, that the place was still
closely invested, and that he was quite
able to take care of Johnston in his rear.
The seige may thus last for days or even
for weeks, or, on the other hand. any day
Gen. Grant may open the general assault.
Until that is done, and the case decided
the public pulse will, undoubtedly, be
feverish, but, we think, no doubt need be
entertained Of favorable issue.
If Johnston, in his extremity, should
take from Tennessee anything beyond a
very limited portion of Bragg's army,
then, Of course, will be Rosecrans' oppor-
tunity. Rosecrans we believe to be the