Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-29
The Downfall of Vicksburo.

Gen. Grants army tell US that the stars
and stripes float over Vicksburg. that
rebel stronghold on which we have made
two previous and unsuccessful attacks
There is no reason 10 doubt the report
1t came neither from nor through Pbila.
delphia, like the news of the capture ne
Richmond; and the official and undoubt.
ed dispatches we have in relation to the
position Of affairs up to Wednesday.
would throw discredt on any other re-
port than the capture of this city and oil
the rebel garrison and supplies. The
dispatch which announces the occups.
tiono the city is not official, it is true.
but it appears reliable, and the state.
ment that the wires are down is sufficient
reason why we have no confrmatory dc.
tails.
The record of Gen. Grants army for
the last week and half, is one of the
most exciting interest. We have had
hints of what was going on from rebel
scources, but they have fallen far short
of depicting the fulIness and complete.
ness of our success. Since the capture
Raymond on the 18th, battle has fol.
lowed battle, and victory has followed
victory with quick succession, and i'm.
perishable laurels have been won by the
army of the West and their gallant
commander. jackson, the capital Of
Mississippi, was taken on the 14b,
quickly following the capture of Ray
mond. But the place was not deemed
of sufficient importance to hold, and our
forces evacuatng, marched towards
Vicksburg. Gen. Pemberton compre.
bending the difficulties of bis position,
came out to Bakers Creek to offer bat,
tie. The engagement took place on
Saturday the 18th, and our forces we're
successful, driving the enemy with great
loss. The rebels, however, made a stand
at the bridge over the Black river, u
miles from Vicksburg, where a still more
desperate battle was fought on Sunday
the l7th. The enemy were Aanked and
defeated, losing 260O men and II pieces
Of artillery and burning the railroad
bridge across The Black river as they re-
treated on their last stronghold, Vicks-
burg itself Our forces followed and next
day closely invested the city. Haines'
Bluff, to The North OF Vicksburg was
evacuated by the enemy, and Gen.
Grants army extended to the Mississip.
pi between the city and the batteries at
this point. All the southern approach.
es to the city were also in our possession
on the 20tb, the date of the latest official
dispatches, and the fleet was in front CO.
operating. The summing up of our cap.
lures in the battles previous to the fall 1f
Vicksburg, gives US about 10000 pris-
oners, and over so pieces of artillery in
addition to the rebel killed aud wound.
ed; and in the city at the final invest.
ment there were probably $4,000 to
10000 rebels who could not escape, and
have no doubt surrendered.
Every movement made by Gen. Grant
since he opened the active campaign by
the capture of Port Gibson, on the LIST
inst, shows the hand of a master; and
his course since that has been one
of uninterrupted success. He has mad
against him generals of acknowledged
ability, Joe Johnston, Pemberton and
Loring, and the situation was one full of
difficulties. But he has surmounted
them all, attacked and defeated the enc.
my in detail, and, by the celerity.of bis
movements, prevented any combination
which might have overwhelmed him.
We are confident dispatches which must
be received Immediately will fully con.
firm the completeness and greatness of
our victory. For while the surrender
and occupation of Vicksburg is not
official, and therefore may be premature,
we can hardly conceive of a combination
1f circumstances, as affairs were situated
IN Wednesday, which would place our
Peedy success in jeopardy. Up to that
late both federal and rebel dispatches
ell the same story and we are conf
lent the news we shall soon have will
ealize our full expectations of the en-
ire downfall of the city, This will
Substantially free the Mississippi again.
Port Hudson cannot hope to stand with
in our possession, and its
peedy evacuation or capture is certain.
The rebellion has received no heavier
low since the war commenced; and the
age and grief at the South will only be
qualed by the joy and congratulations
t the North over this great victory
springfield Republican.
EFFECTS OF BAD CoMPANY.-Miss.
Torv Con;cba n vo,nr, IoJ,- -, Goured