Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-05-22
AFFAIRS At HICKSBURG.


Tho spscial Vicbahrrg correspondent OF
tho Msmphia appeal" in letter dated May
10th, gives tho following account Of tho
preparations and expectations il that quar-.
ter:
The movements of the wiley Fedaral chist
sru still snyaloped in doubt snd unnes tk'ntJ,
and should mol be surprised if he would Yet
turn away from bis threatening position and
take another route towards Vioksburg. The
desire to accomplish the reduction OF this
point without tho necessity Of an immediate
attack upon her defsnoss in front ID 80 atrong-
" ssated in tho mind of General Grant that
he will sndsayor TO avoid m assault hare If
sny possible opening offers elsewhere, and
fsar that he will make liz trouble 81 some
unexpected point before the thing ia over.
The general conviction among the leading
hesa 0i the military department. ssema IL
point To All ssuault all along onT font, aud
for .hia purpose svsry weak point Ii bsihg
STRENGTHENED, ant e.e:y available place Sup
pllei with the necessary materials " herewith
to make q successfui resistance. SO strong
sud 81 extensive ia our whole line Of defenccs,
that universal desire rxists for the Zoe to
mako his appearance here. But have my
own approximations thai General Grant does
nat intend to commit any such folly as to
nal ca his army into the jaws of death BY
attacking our d1fences.
II wa shout. hen- that he has fallen back
aid IA MOVING to the interior southwark Of
P.g Black, it might surprise soms Of tie
nilitsty wisdom, but 1t would he NO more
than w0A', 10 MY judgmsn'' might be sI;
psctsd.
The last heard Of tho enemy was thst he
sill occupies his position beyond Big Black.
o: course we have to await his advance, and
ali that can bo done to make our lines itu-
pregnsble ia now being effected. Some of tina
citizens of Vicksburg who took the precau-
ton Of removing their goods and valusbles
frcm the city Of the flis. approach Of ths
enemy, now find themselves surrounded by
the very dsngera which they left their homes
to avoid All the residents near the Yankee
lines are ordered to remove ell vslusbles, ne
groes, stocks provisions, and everything that
might be of value to thu enemy. Every pre-
caution is taken to mako the occupation of
the country ba.r,n to the invaders.
Gen. PsDberton is up to the emergency,
aud lo2ss &c limo 10 perfect tbs organization
aad dsfcnoes DE- IL h.rdworking ana inds-
f.tissbis a9li:st, ami unless hi' judgment
shonld fail h:in, ! have every Confidence IN
h;s sbiiisy ta dstcnt and repulsa the invader.
Tho principal idea is 10 aw the sneEy FIJI
wssi 70 our intRsnohIeut5, and If lie Is Blind
enough to undertake the work uf reducing
ou- batteries, " . count with csIta!aty up:n
| great Confederate victory,
Tho Mobile "Advsrtissr's' correspondent
places much confidence IN Generals StsIvs-
ton, Disease and Dospordeucy cooperating
with our soldisry to destroy Grants AMY ::
HIS very numbers snbarsss him. Wnoro
is he to Obtain his eurpliss Not by tho te
dious overland route from Young's point! Not
from Louisiana ria Rad IiVef, for Banks
barely Fl ads subsistence for hs own troops in
| that Uncs fruitful region, now DEVASTATED by
sword aid food Not from New Orleans, for
| P0it Hlisnn intcrp'ses bIrIior OF fire and
| aniiDiiatioD, which oven the iron soul Of Far
ragui d=eo nc. attempt to pass. Mampais il
| really Lila erlute. his rr.carious bass OF sup
| pills lila Transports must steal Down The
Mississippi like rd dhisht tbisvsa, psEt tbs
grim and ever wa.chful batiariea Of VIcks
burg
Respecting the spill. Of our troops At
Vmbshueg thu same writer asys:
Although tho appearance Of things abcnt
V,.kshrrg Essrs "A threatening aspect at PIE
Sent, IL Is gratifying 10 hehOld The c"hfideh1n
with which eve'F one regards ia Htu.t:on
Ths prosasols lid very fair for a continued
1i,ge, perhaps iu;srmixeI With Repeated and
sparata lighting. 1t ls evident that our
dap Attmsnt commsnd.nt ID preparing for a
resnsr old fashioned siege, with q de,sru,ina
| ten t, hold lhis point Ii oil the balance Of
the U.:n'ehc:acY should fail. Whom such
determination is msnifrsled, VIC arc not sur
ptia.d 10 Sec . willingness III tEe en'i:o Amy
Expressed Ia stsnd b. their beloved General.
TIE SEASON Of ths year 1hen tho Con.alier
stp army always mssIs With aurcsss is now
sppros ching, srpi orT troops hsing scciimitsd
| and possessing 81; tine strength and snsTey oi
the native sieE!,sat ;,f ,ka hrl. will h5 smEhIod
t. Isi; nrah The Northern dogs ssth 81 ,hsir
pai;ve vigu: lhs rssult, Of cairss, csnn"t hG
ti.utl'al
The i;rcs &c hici Gen. G-snt is now lTing
.ng against ihla lace tx estimated At one
hundred aai twenty-five thaussnt. Taking
;n g:35r tbs vast e1tsnt OF our lima CT de-.
:-rcs>. std tho probability that Al assault
viii hu inzie along ita whole iangth AZ the
s,Ine tiiur. We can easily comprehend shat Do
@ill Hsad sSs:y msn Of t5sm