Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-23
Qorcester 4ailg SPY
THE DAILY SPY.
The Siege of ViclSsburg.


Trash soldier who took three DrisunerS Inv sur
rounding them. | started from a point on the
extreme right Of our line, which rests on the
Mlsslsslppl river, above Vicksburg and trav-
eled around In the rear of the town to our ex.
treme lett at WarrentOn, examinp the natural
and artificial works of both Union and rebel
armies, SO far as was practicable and wit
messed u my hearts content the onerations of
the siege now progressing. | crossed the
river at Warrenton, and rode up to Young's
folht' on the Louisiana shore, and ihencc
went to Cmckasaw Bayou by boat and finally
reached the place Of starting
The country occupied by both armies is in
itself study and marvel. | doubt if any
similar typographical features can be found on
any equal area on the globe. The earth here
Is corrugated; 1t is as broken and rough as
any mountainous region, and yet, except at n
lew points, you can discover no traces of
rock; and the timber is such as is more fire..
quently found in level and swampy sections.
willow, cypress, cane, white oak, magnolia.
beech, sweet gum, ash, and Il dense under
growth OF vines, and many other kinds of
small umDers, give the country the character
OF forest. Here and there, however, are
small anu large tracts OF land cleared for Gull
ovation. The ruins OF cotton gins OCCASION
ally found, show us that the endless succes
sion OF steep hills and deep gullies which meet
the eye everywhere, have been devoted to the
production OF the regal fibre in times past.
a road to and from any point over a mile
an distance will necessarily turn in the drec-
non OF all points OF the compass and the tray
eler will get turned around in spite of him
sef. The sun appears to me to rise in the
west, north, and south, as well as east, and in
wandering about our lines hunting sights. the
blue uniforms OF our men are the only land
marks can use TO keep myself from blunder-
ing int0 the camps of the enemy. Such is the
country occupied by our forces here. 70 ma
neuver an army over it with CELEBRITY and
precision seems 10 me to be impossible. That
Gen. Grant has driven an enemy 0ccupyng il
to his last ditch is wonderful, and can only be
understood fully by those who have taken part
III the movements which have so resulted
The list ot our casualties since the first
grand assault upon the enemys works has
been comparatively small, and the sanitary
condition of the army is vastly better than
any well informed person expected it to be.
Still, few are wounded and killed every day,
and where good water is unattainable,
sickness among both officers and men is una
voldable. There are on the YaZoo and at
10ungs Point number of hospital boats,
while out on the lines tents, sheds, and houses
used for hospitals, are found scattered about
everywhere. The most, if not all of these
hospitals, are pretty well supplied with every
appliance needed except ice. In this warm
climate ice is OF more value~aS remedial
agent than all the drugs in the shop, and as it
is perfectly feasible to have it here in any de-
sired quantities, at small cost, | wonder that it
is not more pentifully supplied.
1t is perhaps improper to speak of what is
being done to cOunteract any attempt that
may be made to raise the siege of VickSburg
by an attack upon our rear. On this head,
therefore, will only say, no apprehensions
are entertained by the well Informed that the
business Of Cen Grants army here can be
seriously interfered with. JOnnstons force
evidently grows in runor much faster than in
reality. 1t is now estimated at from 10000
to 50, 900; but upon what basis the estimates
rest am unadyiSed.
The three great drawbacks on camp life,
which our soldiers here have to encounter, are
dust and heat and bad water. Every thing
else can be endured patiently, and these things
nre endured impatently. The roads from
Chickasaw bayou, by which supplies OF every
kind are hauled to our army, are the most
tearfuily dusty highways in all Secessia, and
the evil is constantly increasing. What is to
be done about it, except to eXpend upon the
subject all our choicest strong explosives,
can not say. If any one thinks, however, our
teamsters in this army have pleasant time of
1t, re may De cureu OF MS ueluSlOl by the eX-
pertinent of sticking his head in an ash pile,
and keeping it there for twenty-four hours.
The heat throughout the day is very Cypress
i've OF course it never rains here any more,
the theory about burned powder producing
rain to the contrary Notwithstanding. don't
know how the thermometer ranges, not hav-
ing access to any such instrument; but l do
know nothing but excitement, patriotism, and
a soldier-like sense of duty, could keep men
stirring around here as they do. As to the
water, in many places it is execrable to the
last degree. On the YaZoo, and about the
outer camps, they use water which is not
preferable as a beverage to a solution OF Ep-
som salts Along the lines the water from
the springs at first struck me as being good;
but [ have discovered my mistake by painful
expcriences 1t is sweetish and muddy, and
will make man sick where blue mass would
not in the slightest degree affect him. Under
these circumstances l am, as before, for ice
more ice
JUNE l0.-We did not get mail off yester-
day, and this morning am able to add some
details aud particulars of the bloody engage
ments at Milliken's Bend, on the 9th and
7th instants. As this has been perhaps the
most important affair of the kind during the
war, in which colored troops have been en-
gagged, the details here given will be read with
interest,
Gen. Dennis within few days past was d.
rected to relieve Gen. Sullivan, in command
at Young's Point and Millikens Bend He
proceeded directly after receiving the order
and Immediately afterwards ordered a recon-
noissance by two companies of the 10th IL
unos cavalry, supported by detachment
one hundred and fifty strong, of the 9th Lou
isiana (colorcd infantry under Colonel Lieb.
On the 9th, this recOnnoitering party dis
covered a portion of the enemy. The cav
airy, after exchanging few shots, fell back
in It's support The enemy followed, and
were well received by Col. Lieb's colored
troops, who delivered murderous volley,
and then charged driving everything before
them until the rebels were so strongly re-
intorced as to induce Col. Leb to withdraw
from further pursuit. Our forces tell back
to their intrenched positions in the Bend.
Gen. Dennis had in the meantime ordered
to the support of the garrison at the Bend
the Esd Iowa regiment and the gunboat
Choctaw. Colonel Glasgow, OF the 23d, be-
ing the senior officer at the post, assumed the
command, and made his dispositions to re-
ceive the attack.
The attack was made next morning about
five o'clock, and lasted until some time in
the afternoon, ending in the repulse OF the
enemy. Our men were posted IN the IN
trenchments i'll the following order: On the
right. extending from the old levee to the
new levee. was line of breastworks made
with cotton bales. Behind this defence and