Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-06-01
The News OF the Week.

q ClIF.d hA nav - bIkSo
heavy loss. Our loss was only so men, while the
enemy's is put down at ten thousand. The disparity
is accounted for by the fact that our troops Are fight
ing behind stlpendous Notifications which the enc
my is Attempting TO capture. Gen. 10. Johnston is
near to hand with a largely accumnlating army. and
is expected to fall upon Grants rear, cut off his COM
ntunicalions, and between him and Pemberton, WILL
bag or slaughter the 100, coo yankees beseiging Vicks-
burg. The condition about Vicksburg is most hope
ful. It has moi fallen, and we have no idea it will
fall. Another week must decide the destiay of the
great valley of the Mississippi.
The situation is thus stated by some Of our ex-
fchanges:
Gen. Pemberton has retired behind the outer for
| tifcations of Vicksburg. and Grant, with his swarm
Of invaders, fronts the frowning batteries of the
b~eleagured. host.
Within the "hilled city" are twenty thousand men
the flower of Southern manhood. Every consid-
GRAFTON that can nerve the arm and fire the heart of !.
man-that can make heroes and martyrs of even the
common herd-appealst to them. In their leader we
i have every confidence. We are sorry TO see that in
solie quarters suspicious of Gen. Pemberton's fidelity
have been INDUCED. Ia our opinion great injustice
has been done TO q faithful and valiant soldier. OF
his ability as a field General we cannot speak, because !.
; we know nothing, but he is as brave a man AS ever
drew a sword, as true to the cause for which be
/ fights as any man in the Confederate army. The re-
suit will justify our faith. In the matter of position,
il cannot be questioned that We have an advantage
e an immense advantages. 1t is quite difficult for one,
: acquainted with the topography of icksburg. to .un-
q detstand how it can be taken, if defended with skill
: and valor. It's offences are ready made. God heav-
Ii ed it's solid-battleneuts against the heavens, and, to
defy earthly foes, man had but to crown them with
cannon.
n At the base of this diadem Of hills, and protected
by their guns, a lins Of rife pits girdles the town.
; In these positions, 90, 900 men ought to drive back
and defeat five times their number. But it should be
n remembered that these formidable works are not all
against which the enemy will have to contend. On
J. his right flank or in his rear, Gen. Johnston with
= 10000 men is ready, when the assault begins, to give
I IN ": I'll a.o.A. - -. IkJA
least so, 900 of Grants force, and the balance will
10 make but a scanty meal for the Wick sburg garrison.
ar Let US wait and be of good cheer. Aspeedy and
re terrible punishment viii overtake our foe.
ct An unfortunate If not disgraceful surprise and rout
Il of two North Carolina regiments occurred below Kin
lie ston on the 22d. 1t seems that fee or Fix yankee
: swamn- and nearly ssrronads5 49, or a. 60 Gsse
a Ransom's Brigade after a short contest orr ioro~s
nd were compelled to break and run for safety. General
he Ransom making a narrow escape. Gen. Hill at once
ret ordered down a sufficient force TO attack them and.h
re- drove them back to Newbern. We had several woun.
VS. ded and from 81 to 100 taken prisoners. The com.
IN handing officer ofthe yankee forces is reported killed
and some 40 or 30 ofhis troops killed and wounded.
h;s The yankees, ALSO on the 22d, made a c,fhboat
raid up to Murfreesboro,' in this State. They took
e about 5000 pounds of Government bacon, but did
the little other damage The whole party left their boats At
of the wharf on Friday night and went into the village
ia and got drunk and the presence of a small force
could have burnt the boats and captured the Gro Nd.
TO- Unfortunately we had no force there. They left on
Saturday.
1t will be seen by a letter in another column that
a portion of Capt. Whitford's battalion captured q
- steamer below Newborn a few days since, took all on
board prisoners and destroyed the boat.
VS.: The Natchez Courier has cheering news from Mis-.
ave souri,. 1t says:
to- In addition to the taking of McNeill, by Quantrell.
ers. the Confederate partisan, we also learn that PHO
De Knob has been taken by the Missouri Confederates
of and that our troops are having affairs pretty much
M their own wy in that State. The State is now il
me the hands Of the Confedorates, with the exception Q
ing points garrisoned by Lincoln soldiers, and st. Louis
re- Helena, Arkansas, is also reported to be taken b
ow. Gen. Price. This is a highly valuable point regaineG
ovo if true.
The situation in Virginia is UNCHANGED on III
rps line Of the Rapahannock and in the neighborhOod
heir Suffolk Hooker's army, shattered and demoraliz
the cd, IS unable to advance but it is highly probab
dix that Gen. Lee will shortly assume the oHensiy
sed. With an army OF veterans, flushed viii victory. an
our materially strengthened sice the battle at Chance
l0rsVlile, we have little to dread and every thing
hts. hope from another collision with s the finest armV
planet" The Richmond Examiner foreshadoys
lita- aggressive movement by the army of the Rappana
Saw mock, as follows:
ny's Within the next fortnight, the campaign of eip
gun, teen hundred and sixty-three will be pretty well q
of cided. The most importans movements of the "
the viii probably be made in that time. If the COME
lima, crate standard is again victorious, as NAV he hon
also with much and solid reason, although mere victC
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