Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-05
SPECIAL DISPATCHES
FROM VlCKSBURG,
News to the 30th--Oity to be Ia
ken by Siege--Grant is fully
Prepared Re-
garding Johnston,
ITO the Cincinnati Commercial
NEAR VICKsBURG, May go. |
via CAIRO. June g.

NNNN-1@N%-AT
cannonading has been kept up for five or
ten minutes, at points where real or fan
cied movements of the enemy's forces were
being made; then all would subside again.
Even the sharpshooters would lie idle
Spades are once more trumps. We are
erecting earth-wOrks to protect our men.
and mining to blow the face out of one or
two prominent forts that are nearly unap-
proachable otherwise. The idea of carry
ing the place by STERN seems to be aban-
doned, and the safer and surer plan of
starving General Pemberton into submis-
sion now finds favor everywhere.
A deserter came into camp this morning.
He represents that he was sent out by
General Pemberton to communicate YER
bally with General Johnson and General
LOring. The former he supposed to be
between Big Black River and Jackson,
and the latter near Port Gibson. He rep
resents affairs in the city as growing des-
perate. About $4,000 effective men are
there. Two thirds are kept in the fortif-
cations night and day, and not allowed to
leave an instant on any pretext. A de-
tail each evening cooks rations, consisting
Of three quarters of q pound of meat and
the same of corn meal per day. The re-
naming One-third is held as a reserve to
strengthen any threated point at a mo-
menrs notice.
Generals Pemberton, Lee, Reynolds,
Stevenson and others in the city. Most of
the sick have left the city before its IN
vestment. Those who remain have evac-
uated caves, and live in them night and
day. Valuable merchandise of the city is
also thus stored, from fear of confagra
ton. The poor are generally in their
houses. Over one hundred women and
children have been killed by our bomtard-
ment. GunbOats infict no injury on the
city.
General Pemberton believed his rations
would hold out thirty days, but urged
General Johnston to come to his relief
within ten days at furthest. Cavalry
horses have been turned loose, and driven
toward our lines, owing to the lack of for
age. This has since been confirmed. These
were scarce. All confidently expected su-
perhuman efforts to be made by those out
side to raise the siege. They consider
Vicksburg the strongest place in the Con-
federacy. If we take it, they will aban-
don all hope of successfully defending any
Southern city, Sc.
General Blair has met no enemy in
force, and reports of General Johnston
being near are disbelieved. At all events,
we are prepared for him.
A cavalry reconnaissance, three days
ago, discovered small force, and had one
man killed and four wounded.
General Banks reinforcements are re-
ported near here, but like many camp ru-
mors, may have little foundation in fact.
Subsistence for the army comes to Lakes
Landing, on the Yazoo River, about ten
miles from the Mississippi, by transports,
and thence by teams to the different army
corps.
We can afford to await weeks or months
for the bloodless victory certainly within
our grasp. Thirty days will probable
suffice. However, if General Grant were
to march his army to the YazoO and EN-.
bark tomorrow, enough has been done
within the past four weeks to characterize
it as the most successful and brilliant
campaign of this war East or West. Its
conception was daring and grand, and its
execution masterly in every particular.
This morning the heaviest cannOnadin(
of the siege was kept up without intermis
sion nearly three hours. Now batteries
have been lately put in position, and 15l
guns were playing on the city at daylight
The firing was rapid beyond belief, anC
reports along the whole line averaged on'
per second for minutes together. The rOal
of heavy siege guns was awful, and tn
earth was shaken by the conoussiOn. A
present 8 AN, there is lull.
Reports have been circulated that men
bers Of General Grants staff have re
signed, as rats desert sinking ship.
wish to correct them. In pursuance Of {
long entertained intention, Colonel Hill
lier resigned eight weeks ago, to take efec
on the 18th of May, suppOsing that wOul'
cover the Vicksburg campaign. He i
here yet, and will remain till the city
ours. No other member of the Staff ha
resigned, or wishes to resign. All hav
implicit confidence in the General, an
their personal feeling toward him is akit
to alteration. Colonel Ihre was trans
ferred to General Wool; Colonel Prid
was never staff-oficer IN a strict SENSE
and returned when there was no furthe
need Of his services as Railroad Engines
Only this, and nothing more.
The weather continues hot. The road
and camps are uncOmmOnly dusty.
The wounded are being removed to hos
pital boats in large numbers, and trant
ported to Memphis. All goes well, col
sidering the magnitude of the operation.
LAKES LANDING, On the YazoO River, |
May 2S, ria Cairo, Sd. !
Scouts report that General Johnston
advancing. One Army Corps drew seve
days ratiOns, and marched to meet him a
daylight yesterday. His approach is state
to be between the Yazoo and Big Blacl
River, with the intention Of retakinj
Hsines' Bluff, and breaking up our com