Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-11-04
FROM THE WEST.
CAMP 9TH ILLINOIS CAVALRY, !
lack River Miss. Oct. 18th. '63.

Mr. EDITOR After long silence |
write you again from the scene of action.
in the vicinity of Vicksburg. The enemy
have been lowering around our out-posts
in considerable force for some time
think their prime object has been to cover
the movements of their scattered forces,
which they have been concentrating
against Rosecrans, in the vicinity of Chat
tanooga. East Tennessee has been one of
the most important points for the rebels
to hold in the southern confederacy their
salt petre, most of it. was obtained there,
the coal mines, and other minerals in that
section of country is indispensable to them.
Charleston aid Richmond are of little
Importance in comparison to East Tenn
essee. They concentrated the flower of
their army against Rosecrans, in the re-
cent battle and thought to drive the fed
eral army from the sacred soil of East
Tennessee. But Rosecrans like old Zach.
is never wtipped. 1t was hard fought
and bloody battle, and fearful loss of
life, which has cast gloom over the whole
country, and thousands of once happy
homes are now draped in mourning. in
consequence of the soldiers that have fall
en- on that battle field. Those that have
fallen, have sacrificed their lives for the
salvation and perpetuity of our Govern
ment.
Gen. Bragg cannot hold his present po-
sition in front of Rosecrans without leav-
ing some of his other points exposed, and
would be menaced by the federal army.
Major General Mcpherson is now in
command of all the forces in this depart
ment, and is very able and efficient Off
Ger, and is putting forth all his energies
to cooperate with important military
movements which are going on. The
weather is fine; roads good; and troops
are moving 1t would not be military
nor prudent fer me to state what the move
meuts are-Suffice to say, Bragg must
fight or rum and perhaps both. Military
movements are managed with much more
caution now than they have been on some
previous occasions. Our military COM
manders have learned by experience that
it is matter of necessity as we'll as STRAIT,
egg to keep all military movements as Sc
cret as they can, as many important move
ments have been check mated in conse-
quence of the enemy getting information
of the contemplated movement.
The city of Vicksburgis being fortified
by government, as strong as the skill of
men and materials at hand can make it.
1t is by nature strong military place.
The formation of the country is such
deep ravines, and high ridges successive
| ly) that Notifications can easily be con-
structed, so that no army in the world
could enter the city if there was prop
er garrison, and any defence made Forts
are being constructed on the different
ridges around the city-riAe pits are be-
ing dug in their appropriate places and
if the whole Southern army should men
ace the place they could not take it The
Mississippi River and its attributaries are
in the possession of the federal army.
The Mississippi is open to navigation its
entire length; and all transports that
were not destroyed by the rebels are in
our possession.
Government furnishes rations to all the
citizens in this section of country. The
poor wrctches do not make any effort to
make living in any other way. They
60 as regularly to the commissary for their
rations, as the soldiers do. have NO
doubt the rebel soldiers help eat those same
rations. Of all the people that | ever
saw, think the Southern people are the
most treacherous. They boast of their
high toned character. God deliver
me from such depraved creatures.
notice by the election returns, that
Vermont has carried the Union ticket by
very large majority; the example is q
good one for other states to follow. Was
there n concert of action with all the peo