The Portland daily press., 1863-05-28
Thursday M orning, May %, 1863.
The Operations against vicksb urg.

From the Boston Journal May 26.
All eyes are turned toward Vicksb urg A
BRIEF review OF the late operations of Ge neral
Grant, which promise to open the Mississi ppi
and infiict deadly blow on the rebellion in the
Southwest, may not be uninteresting at this
moment
About the middle Of April General Grant
gave up canal digging. The gunboats of Com
modore Porter ran past the Vicksburg bat
teries, and cut of rebel communication with
the country west of the Mississippi To obtain
clear idea Of what has been done since let
us first look at the locality of Vicksburg. 1t is
high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi
Ten miles above is the Yazoo, a deep, black,
stygian river, coming down with sluggish
current from the northeast, having its rise at
the northeast corner of the State, near Corinth.
Stretching up from Vicksburg, along the east
bank fthe Yazoo, are Haines' Bluffs, strongly
fortified, which weIe unsuccessfully attacked
by Sherman some months ago.
Going down the Mississippi from Vicksburg
about fifteen miles we come to the Big Black,
which also flows from the northeast-a stream
not navigable except at high water. Like the
Yazoo, its current is sluggish and has niarshy
banks. Five miles further down is another
smaller stream. At the mouth of the Big Black
the rebels had strong batteries by the town of
Grand Gulf. On the smaller stream ten miles
inland is Port Gibson. Following up now the
Big Black twenty-&ve miles you come to a
long railroad bridge which has extensive tres
tie work. The bridge is fifteen miles directly
east of Vicksburg. If you keep on up the
Black five or six miles further you find YOUR
self northeast of Vicksburg, east of Haines'
Bluffs, and not more than ten or twelve miles
from the Yazoo.
The rebel army occupied Haines' Bluffs,
Vicksburg, Grand Gulf and the little town of
Port Gibson. Gen. Grant had tried the Yazoo
and failed. His bitches were of no account.
His army was on the west bank of the Missis-
sippi, ten miles above Vicksburg. He resolved
to move it down the west bank Of the Missis-
sippi. He sent transports past the batteries in
the night. Some got through safely; others
were lost
His army the last week in April was below
Grand Gulf, and opposite the little stream be-
fore mentioned. On the Both of April he
crossed the Mississippi, moving rapidly north
east toward Port Gibson. The rebels were
taekn by surprise. They concentrated force
on Thompson's Hill, under Gen. Bowen, who
was defeated with loss of 1900 men and five
pieces of artillery. The next day Admiral
Porter bombarded Grand Gulf, which was
evacuated by the rebels, having been flanked
by Grant.
Instead of pushing up the river, directly
upon Vicksburg, he moved rapidly northeast,
along the south bank of the small stream,
made swift march of fifty miles and came
upon Jackson, the capital Of the State, fifty
four miles east of Vicksburg. The splendid
cavalry movement ofCol Grierson, an through
the center OF the State, burning bridges and
throwing the enemy into confusion, materially
aided him.
On his march to Jackson he encountered
the rebels at the town of Raymond, twenty
miles from the capital Raymond has branch
railroad connecting it with the Vicksburr and
jackson road. The rebel commander having
discovered what Gen. Grant was up to = not
making movement upon Vicksburg but upon
Jackson-threw a force into Raymond. 1t
was not large enough to seriously impede
Grant, and was defeated with loss of eight
hundred.
Two days later, ten miles nearer to Jackson
Gen. Joseph f. Johnston made another attempt
at Mississippi Springs to stop his advance, but
this General twho commanded with Beaure-
gard at Bull Run, and outwitted Patterson at
Harper's Ferry was defeated. leaving seven
teen pieces of artillery, an immense amount
of stores and four hundred men.
At jackson the rebels made another stand,
but were again defeated. retreatipg across
Pearl river. and the capital of the State fell
into Gen. Grants hands.
Pearl river empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
and is navigable to Jackson. A force was sent
across the river, which pushed east ten miles
to Brandon, burning bridges. Returning. il
burned the bridge across Pearl river.
Thus far Gen. Grant has been marching
northeast. Now he turned square to the west
Burning all bridges behind him. he effectually
protected his rear from any force which John
ston might gather up. Pemberton had thrown
his forces east Of the Big Black, and taken
position on the railroad at Bakers creek, near
Edwards station. A decisive battle was fought
there on the 10th, in which, according to the
report, the rebels lost four thousand men and
twenty-Dine pieces ofartillery. They acknowl-
edge a loss OF 5000 men.
Pemberton's shattered columns retreated
across the Big Black. A desperate stand was
made by him to hold the bridge, in which he
again lost heavily-2300 men and II pieces of
artillery.
Gen. Grant burned the bridge. That was
not the place for him to cross He had been
marching and fighting with his face to the
west but now he turned north, moved up the
eastern bank of the Big Black, built floating
bridges near the little village of Bridgeport'
crossed his army and stood northeast of Vicks,
burg. He pushed one corps straight into the
West to the Yazoo, thus gaining the rear of
Haines' Bluffs, which being of no further use to
Pemberton, were evacuated. Having reached
the Yazoo he was able to reopen his commun-
ication with the Mississippi and get his sup
plies.
Ills whole movement may be understood by
taking pair of dividers, setting one leg on
'lcksburg, and the other on Youngs Point
winch, as has been stated, is his starting point
then sweeping round to Port Gibson, and fl
naHy up to Haines' Bluffs. He has almost
completed the circle.
II IL.