The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-29

fend the Mississippi Valley. The latest
dispatches from Jackson represent the sit
uation there in no enviable light. We have
seen the forces Of the enemy threatening
Vicksburg at every point, the army of
Grant alone numbering one hundred and
twenty thousand men, as we learn from
Northern sources. But we can now breathe
freer, for we are assured that the govern
ment at Richmond has made such dispo-
sition Of its forces as will not only secure
the safety of Vicksburg and our other de-
fences. but insure the utter rout of the
enemy, and render probable the capture of
large portion of his forces. We feel al
most positive that the troops near Edwards
Depot, now threatening the rear of Vicks-
burg, will soon be completely bagged.
Of the Importance Of holding the posi-
tions We now occupy on the Mississippi
River, the Jackson Appeal truthfully re-
marks:
The enemy that now is making such
herculean efforts to wrest the river from
us are fully aware of the great advantage
to them and the detriment to us that such
result would work out. Besides, they
also know what depressing results would
follow failure on their part to accom-
plish this cherished scheme, and hence,
they are bending all their energies to its
accomplishment. Their efforts should be
thwarted. If necessary, Gen. Pemberton
should be furnished with one hundred
thousand men to beat them back. Such
force would be required only for about
the space Of two months, after which time
the heats of summer and low water will do
our fighting for us.
Our hold upon the Mississippi once
wrested from US, it is gone forever, or at
least SO long as the war shall continue,
which would isolate the govercment from
the West, cut off all intercourse, and place
US at disadvantage, when We shall enter
upon the adjustment of terms Of peace. A
great deal has been said about guarantee
ing the free navigation of the river to the
Northwest, but with what plausibility
could oar government come forwar.l with
such proposition when the entire river,
with all its Notifications, erected by the
confederacy, is already in their possession?
OF course they would laugh at such pro-
position coming from us under such cir
cumstances, and hence it is of the first i'm
portance that our present positions on the
river be permanently held. Better far
would it be to sacrifice Richmond, Charles
ton, Savannah or Mobile than to yield the
river, by which the confederacy will be
rent in twain, the West hopelessly ly cut off
from the East, and vast section of the
best producing portion of the country sub
ject to the depredations and spoliations of
the enemy. The very though of such
result is excrlciating. FL
THE LATEST FROM MISSISSIPPI
From the Mobile Register of May7
1t is a mistake that Gen Bowen occu-
pies the south bank Of Bayon Pierre, with
Port Gibson between him and the enemy,
and it was another mistake that he had
retired from Grand Gulf. It should have
been Port Gibson Grindstone Ford is
about eight miles in the rear OF Grand
Gulf. Our informant was unable to ascer-
tain by repeated Inquiries, whether Grand
Gulf has been evacuated or not. 1t is
supposed, however, that the Thirty-first
Louisiana was left at Grand Gulf and that
that place has fallen. Surgeons estimate
the number of our wounded at five hun
cred some reports give the number of
killed and wounded at d ght hundred, and
it is supposed that the enemy took one
thousand prisoners. General Bowen has
been strongly reinforced; Lee, and prob
ably Stevenson, being now with him.
Hankinson's (not Ankerson'D Ferry, at
which the enemy are reported to have
been repulsed, is the lowest of three fer
ries over Big Black, below the railroad
Halls and Baldwin's being the others.
This is on the new military road from
Vicksburg to Grand Gulf, and is crossed
by pontoon bridge.
We learn some particulars concerning
GriersOn's raid. Grierson himself is re-
cognized by many persons in Kinds coun-
ty as Kentucky horse drover, and is well
acquainted with the country. 1t is also
said that parties in East Mississippi recog-
nize him as having gone through the
country last summer in the uniform of a
Confederate officer, bargaining for cattle,
which he said another officer coming after
him would collect and pay for.
A correspondent of the Mobile Register,
writing from Jackson May Sd, says: The
statement of a naval officer in Cincinnati,
mentioned by the Appeal, is doubtless cor
rect, that Vicksburg will not be attacked
in front. Having the mouth of Red River
in their occupation, and formidable fleet
securing the Mississippi from Vicksburg to
Port Hudson, it is their aim to land
powerful army on this bank Of the river,
between the two strongholds, penetrate
leisurely into the interior of this State, and
wait for the expected reinforcements from
Corinth. They would thus both occupy
the country and completely isolate Vicks-
burg from supplies or subsistence, leaving
it only to time for the garrison to starve
and to capitulate. The forces to counter
act such designs are inadequate in point of
numbers but we have Generals possessing