New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-08
THE NEWS FROM yECEksBURG

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THE NEWS FROM yEChsBURG.
The intelligence bearing upon the conflict
in tho vicinity of Vicksburg between the Union
troops under Gen. Sherman and the Rebels,
published this morning, is not Of as cheering
character az We would wish it to be. The lat
est adyices convey the startling information
that our army had to encounter the whole Of
the Rebel forces in Mississippi, including Penn
berton's entire command, and after several
days of hard fighting, with varying success,
was obliged to fall back from the position to
which it had worked, within two miles of
Yioksburg, and net on the defensive. Fears
are likewise expressed as to the safety OF
column of l,50O of our troops sent upon
special expedition under Gen. Hovey, and the
report of the reinforcement of Gen. Sherman
by part of Gen. Grants army is contradicted
This news will be received with feelings OF
surprise, if nothing harsher, by every loyal
reader. We are not prone to indulge in hasty
criticism But, should Gen. Sherman's enter
prise fail for want of numbers, we are sure
the people will require to know why ne was
made to contend against the entire Rebel
strength in Mississippi without any direct OF
indirect support whatever from Union army,
equal if not superior to his own, numerically
and otherwise, in the northern part of the same
State. Shall we eyer learn to practice the
economy of numbers at the proper time as well
as the Rebels
Our correspondent in middle Tennessee
states in u delayed letter that Gen. Rosecrans
had positive information previous to the battles
in front of Murfreesboro', Of the sending of Of
10000 men of Braggs army under Kirby
Smith to the Mississippi, and that this weaken
ing of the Rebel forces was one Of bis reasons
for moving upon them. II this column united
with Pemberton's army and the garrison OF
Yicksburg before Gen. Sherman made his
attack, aud if the reported crossing Of the
Holmes be also true, doubts as TO the success
of our arms in that quarter may well be
entertained.
That the Rebel leaders had, as usual, ample
notice OF Gen. Sherman's intentions in time
tor full preparation by concentrating oil their
available troops is demonstrated conclnsyely
by the late presence of jefferson Davis ct
Vicksburg, and the following extract from n
leader in Tie Jackson MISC Afpeal, published
ten days before our feet appeared in the
Yaz9o River:
The Ian o. silssk BY the enemy ths Winter WIN. 10 AZ
probability rssu decisive Jackson oy tins
Ysroo River As the set in Il vii! bscosi-
utterly possible for large armies advance by land hr5sh
tie TIE rains hoverer will r.i.e the river
ha, enemy having control Of the wssrs avail BIN
of o. Lem Tor offensive ruIposss Grrnrs army will hardly
dare proceed much further south With tho gsesr'u, ns
Of ,lns,s rsosd Tor the conveyance ofsuprle IFS Pa
pose eyidcuiy IL occupy the se1on Of while
they preparing ,h, formidable land aud water exposition
hch ander McClernand and Porter. VII sweep down With
the GOOD get IN OF troops aad sik. " he
heart OF the State before they can be surce"'ny opposed
Descending tho Mississippi River thors is no Poio In vet
weather. between FArs Point and the fssoo Riysr where
hey lad and establish base Of operations Entering
the mouth Of thu Yszoo however ind th'' twelve miles
up the hn, nearly the len bank OF tie iysr and
here beyond question, their grand attempt will be made
They avoid ychbuIg BY stopping short OF it, and while The
iron clad, spEsss the bssre. Of that city their array viii
,:ternp. to establish EseL
Gen. Sherman's losses are estimated at 1000
or 5000 killed and wounded, including Gen. Geo.
W. Morgan (of Cumberland Gap famc, We
belieye), and Col. J. b. Coyman among the
former, aud Gen. H. l.. Smith among the latter
The brief official dispatch of Gen. Pemberton,
which comes To US by way Of Richmond and
Washington, gives the latest information ye.
received the Rebels having telegrapbc CON-
munication with Grenada at all times, while
our news comes via Cairo, to which point it
is brought by steamboat. If Gen. Pemberton's
statement is authentic, Gen. Sherman has found
himself compelled to give over bis attempt and has
reembarked his army. This seems to have been
done without additional loss, Pemberton saying
nothing of prisoners or other trophies than n
few ntrenching tools. Gen. Sherman has
probably done tho best in his power, find
ing himself outnumbered and without present
hope of accomplishing his object. We have yot
to hear what fortune met Banks and Farragut
of Port Hudson.
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