New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-22
vICKsBUBG.
of July ne

mia whole iron-clad fleet, has passed the 'icks-
burO batteries without loss, and is now
between that famous stronghold and Port
Hudson. able to cooperate with Admiral Far
ragut if necessary, aud either with him or
alone to attempt the ascent Of the Big Black
River. The map which we publish TINS morn
inc will show the significance of this move
ment. The situation is briefly this
Opposite vicksburg have been erected heavy
batteries. which our correspondence says will
be able to render the place unteDable. A part
of Gen. Grants army remains near his old
hase ne operations to sustain these batteries
and take advantage of whatever impression
tbsy NAV make on the enemys works Another
and probably very considerable portion returned
some time ago to Memphis and thence has
been pushing down toward Granada in Central
Mississippi, meaning doubtless to advance from
that point to Jackson, which is on the North
ern Railroad, aud forty miles east of Vicks-
barg with which it connects by branch road.
/ 10 is of course directly i'll rear OF Vicasburg and
on the only line of railway communication. A
third division of the army under Osterhaus moved
some time since down the western bank Of the
Mississippi to New-Carthage, about half way
I between Yicksburg and Grand Gulf and from
| that point under cover of the fleet will cross
to the right bank near the mouth of the Big
| Black River.
That stream is now full and easily nayigable
/ by Admiral Porter's fleet 1t is said to be,
aud no doubt lie, strongly defended, and what
ever is gained BY the ascending fleet must be
won by hard lightiog But it conducts them
to the rear of Vicksburg, there to meet the
descending forces of Grant from Granada, ana
enables the divisions under OsterhauS to reach
the same point, preserving their communca-
ton intact aud insurlng their complete CO.
operation.
These movements, if successful, or if either OF
them is successful, must bring the Flcksourg
problem to a speedy solution. The Rebel army
is maniiestly in danger of being cut OIL not
merely from its base, and from its commUnca-
tion with the great army now confronting
Rosacrans in Southern Tennessee, but from all
means of retreat in case of disaster. Suppos-
ing. what is very improbable that an amount
Of ,upples is stored in Yicksburg sufficient to
support the Rebel army for few weeks, they
must in the end either fight or surrender, and
if they fight, must come out OF Their intrench-
ments to attack. They cannot retreat North,
for that il TO march into the enemy's country;
cannot move South for the Big Black will be
sfau pf
not cross the Mississippi to the West, aud IN
attempting to recover th0ir communications with
the East must engage the entire force of the
two divisions of Grants army that will have
effected junction at Jackson, or at some
pont between there and Viek.burg.
If Gen. Johnston attempts to move against
! Grant from Tullahoma, be has RoSecrans on
hi, trail. If he does not he viii have him in
/ hi. rear when the yicksburg business is dis
posed of. In either event it does seem as if
Gen. Grant had put his army at last where it
properly belongs, and that the perpetual opera
t,ou ON exterior lines has been finally aban-
dUned.
Remembering the fate which befel the YazOo
Pass and Sunlower Expeditions we do not
anticipate success in this case too confidently.
There is also more important reason for dis
trust than the prestige OF previous failures, aud
that is that the present plan requires the CO.
operation and, indeed, the combination of
forces moving on lines widely apart, and de-
pepds for complete success in the union OF
two armies advancing from opposite quarters
in the face of the enemy. The history
Of war and principles Of military Science
do not cOuntenance such efforts in ordinary
cases but then this is q case in which several
ordinary and at least as many extraordinary
strategic experiments have been tried and have
come to naught. The latest at least offers a
better chance Of success than any previous at
tempt. A sufficient answer TO the objection
suggested is perhaps that the two armies, al
though meaning TO cooperate, are nevertheless
each sef-sustaining and independent of the
other SO far as concerns their own operations
aud means of communication aud retreat.
Either may accomplish much separately, nor is
the safety of either necessarily compromised by
disaster to the other.
no ShSN'oo VI -NNAhiA IA 'AbVi
probably puts final end to the receipt OF sup
plies by the Rebels from Texas, which are
literally of vital consequence to them, and
have been counted on as q refuge from ap-
preaching starvation. With the Mississippi in
his control between Yicksburg and Port Hud-
son, and the Red River equally secure in
Farragut's hands, both the means of trans.