Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-06-05
Wick s b urg.

OF America, and the bone oil contention
between the armies of the north and the
south. Towards that city is set the full
tide of public feeling and interest. AT
mention of the word the heart beats high
with hope or sinks pulseless with anxious
fear. Around it are the beleaguring
hosts of two hostile armies, while thou
sands are pressing forward to reinforce
them. The city still holds out, notwith-
standing the telegraph has more than
once announced that il was taken. II
still haunts the rebel flag, though more
than once we have been made glad to
learn that the stars and stripes waved
over all its Notifications. 1t still stands
to bid defiance to our armies that have
encircled it upon every side its batteries
still hurl their deadly missiles upon our
fleet that increasingly repays them in
kind.
And why do the eyes Of continent so
turn to Vicksburg? Because here is TO
be fought the great battle, or series of
battles, of the war Here we are to
achieve our greatest success or suffer the
sorest defeat. The rebels to make the
place impregnable have exhausted all the
skill and ingenuity they are master of;
it is point they must hold or give up
the entire south west to federal authority.
1t is a place of incalculable importance
to them. Strong by nature, they have
rendered it ten fold more so by art they
have invested it on every side, at every
avenue of approach, with a complete net
work of defenses, and they will contest
the ground inch by inch, yielding only
when the last fertilization is carried and
the last hope fails them. With Vicks-
burg lost the whole Mississippi river and
its tributaries are gone, never more to be
regained. With the loss of this great
thoroughfare they lose all means OF tran
sporting supplies from the west---the
stomach of the nation. Vicksburg taken
and the south is half conquered they
lose the position which is everything, and
few thousand men, cannon, &c, which
is something. And if they repulse US,
then the disaster falls upon another head,
which is not SO pleasant to contemplate,
though that head is better able to stand
the blow. We can better afford a re-
pulse than they can a capture, for we can
retire and try it again, while it will ruin
them in that quarter.
We hear little said now about the ar
my of the Potomac, that has filed 80
wide a space in the public eye since the
war begun. We hear nothing of tho con
to Richmond" that used to be the one
voice of the nation; nor of taking and
sacking Charleston nor of the advance
of the invincible Rosecrans. Its Vicks-
burg-Vicksburg. Both sides are on the
alert. Each government compre bends
the importance Of the stake, and the ma
ture of the contest, and are hurryng ev-
cry spare man to the scene of strife. AT
least the rebels are nassing their armies
there, and we suppose our government is ,
endeavoring to foil them by sendinn
Gen. Grant what troops he needs. A =
few thousand have been drawn from i
Beauregard at Charleston, 10 reinforce u
The rebels division or more have been :
drawn from Bragg in Tennessee, and we L
earn that for several days past Lees
army on the Rappahannock has exhibited y
extraordinary activity, which rebel pa
oers have broadly limited as preparing to
invade the north. All these straws must
mean something. We say they mean :
he rescue of Vicksburg at all hazards. a
Sen. Grant has lately captured bearer s.
# dispatches from JEFF. Davis TO Gen u
'emberton cooped up in the city, stating ~
hat it he would hold out two weeks 81
onger he would send him a hundred
thousand men. This tells in what esteem O
hey bold the city. AT last accounts -
rem Johnston was at jackson gathering >;
u the reiniorcements be could rom va
lous points, and was preparing to attack
rem. Irant in tho rear. We hope our
overnment will send Grant reinforce. =
tents in season to meet and repel the y
tack OF Johnston. If it should fail TO
o so, in view of the momentous issue
e should consider it as grossly and Grim.
Tally culpable. 1t must be that we have
len enough else we should have heard n
III Tor more troops long ere this. And
g do not lack, it seems to US, the means
quick transportation, which is denied
US ia many parts of the south. We
I'VE The clear run of the Mssissippi
IN above and below the city, and can
nd troops and supplies by it as we'll as
the fazoo, of which we now have the
ntr0l' We hope in all mercy that if
e are rePulsed at vicksburg it will not