, 1863-02-12
VIEW OF yICK9DUR9,

V1CKsauRa, Feb. /, 1868.
On Saturday, Jan. 81, We made o trip upon
the flag ship to the vicinity Of tho canal, went
ashore, examined the position and condition
Of q part of the army, visited the working
pnrty at the canal, took a near view Of Vicks-
burg and enyirons, and saw the headquarters
of McClernand, Sherman and Grant. The
day's experience fully convinced US that our
prior statements Of the character Of our sitf-
ation and the difficulties In the path Of our
army and navy to IN attack upon Vicksburg
were correct. 5.
TIE POSITION OF oSR TROOPS.
We found the troops encamped upon very
low, boggy land, both in front Of and behind
the leyee, their stores Which were ashore in
situations emfnently liable to rapid damaging, g,
and; both as much exposed as We have hereto
fore stated to being flooded out. We OBJ
served that the peninsula was protected upon
leyee, which had already been commenced,
could be constituted so as to ensure the safety
of whatever troops may be posted upon said
pcninsular. Our picket lines extend upon
the peninsula beyond the canal towards Vicks-
burg about two and half miles, and our
scouts make frequent reeonnoissances overlthe
other mile and half towards the point,
approaching readily to the shore within
eight hundred yards Of the city. From
that point, the barricaded streets Of
the city, the works of the batteries up to tho
summit Of the hills In the rear and the rife
pits between the batteries are distinctly visi-
BILE; SO also the water batteries and a single
steamer, called the Vicksburg. Sometimes,
our troops are there shelled and sometimes
they are ealutcd with derision, and impudent-
" invited to como over and take the city"
The Vicksburg is the only steamer the rebels
have in the vicinity Of the city, aud she bears
the mark Of one Of our cannon balls received
few days since while she Was endeavoring to
pass down the river. For several days and
nights our pickets have seen and heard tho
rebels working upon her.
on TIE OPPOSITE SIDE.
There arc ycry few guns visible, even at the
distance Of 500 yards, across the river, which
is our nearest point Of approach, but the
The firing upon our men thus far hns all been
from one point, where three lnrge guns arc to
be seen upon one Of the highest points, and
thus far there has been no effort to draw their
fire from other quarters Gen. Blair's brigade
still holds command ofthc river below the city.
THH CANAL.
The canal, now containing from five to seven
feet of water is in stat. quo at onrln Inst writing
The party digging to secure direction Of the
will accomplish nothing bnt to In
crease the eddy now existent there.
Nothing can be accomplished to secure pass
age through to the river upon the other side
Eave by much longer and more diagonal and
we'll curved "cut Off" It is extremely doubt
full whether this can be constructed before an
other season.
TILE QUARTERS or TIE GENERALS.
The quarters Of Gems. McC Clernand and sher.
residences by the proprietors Of the planta-
tions upon which ourarmy Is encompcd. The
heavy rnins Of the past two days have deyel-
oped the comfort1ess and most injurious
character Of the positions occupied by our.
troops, so that we readily perceive what suf-
feripgs the inevitable pains Of several weeks
to come must bring upon them, ii they are
not removed.
: GRANT IN COMMAND.
Gen. Grant, who is quartered upon the
Magnolia, assumed command Of the troops
here yesterday. He aud Admiral Porter arc
In frequent and harmonious consultation with
cacl other. We would that we could antici-
pate similar harmonious cooperation be-
tween the General and bis subordinntes The
immense Importance Of every possible effort
and sacrifice, to the end Of success at Vicks-
burg, wonld seem to be sufficient Incentive
for the ignoring Of every individual or politi-
cal prejudice.
RUNNING TIE BATTERIES.
The running of the water batteries at Vicks~
burg by somo Of the gunboats seems to US
more and moro imminent as the only means
Of ensurfng any attack upon the lower side Of
| the city. And when this Is done I've ati1l ad-
here to the opfnion) the attack upon the VIAL