New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-16

,,orsd i;r.clv mn IN N;,liken's BEND, twelve miles
ahove the mouth OF the Y3zoo, and mcored on }ne
Louisiana bank. The naval squadron ancnored ~
the mouth of the Yazoo and are sIi lying mere as,
NsPorRos rk., Jsn- o. tio3
In former letter | said that the siege oil 'lckh-
burg WAS by no means abandoned because oil Sher-
mans withdrawal from the iazoo hVer. was
correct in the statement az the time was hhue, OUT
Subsequent events have changed the pocy 70 De Pur
sued and now the great Armada, that, TWO hbUft
weeks ago. 90 proudly steamed INTO the iazoo RIVER
has turned from the Rebel stronghold and Is return
ing Northward
The assault upon Vicksburg was TO have been
made on Christmas day, by the Combined armies OF
Grant, Bauks. aud sherman, ana Tue na'h squau,,
rons Of Farragut and Porter. Gen. Sherman and
Admiral Porter having 10 obstacles within the con-
troll of the enemy TO retard their movements, were
on hand ut the appointed time.
Gen, Banks in his sail from Fortress Monroe 10
the mouth Of the Mississippi, encountered storms Of
such violence that his transports were scattered and
some OF them foundered, while others were beached
and lost. He reached New-Oreans finally. but
whether he considered it too late 10 do any good at
Vicks6urg, or because his remaining force was not
in suitable condition TO move or becauee the quar-
tiers he found 10 the metropolitan city Of the South
were too comfortable to be suddenly deserted, or
from whatever as yet unexplained cause. be pro-
cecded no further. Admiral farragut had started
bis fleet up the river meanwhile and already It WAS
knocking VI the batteries OF Port Hudson for por'
mission 10 pass, anu WIFI tlo drssthhce VI oanN'
army would have passed thst point ifely and been
promptly at Vicksbdrg; but became Of Bankss isil-
ure It failed and was obliged to return to New'Of-
leans Gen. Grant moved forward promptly ana
brisky TO perform his allotted part ia the WORK,
when suddenly he discovered IRE IN BIS rear -
his channels of supplies and communication all cut
of In the enenys possession--and he Was forced
TO beat hasty retreat toward Memphis, to save AIS
army from starvation.
! The withdrawal from the river have detailed III
q former letter. On Sunday last, Admiral Porter
went up 10 Milliken's Bend 20 call upon ten. Nc
Clernand then chief in commsnd. Advantage was
taken OF his absence to call III Gen. Sherman aud The
division commanders for general consultation ~
which conference it determined that, as there
was immediate probability Of receiving tho CO.
operation of the other armies intended to ACT In tine
campaign, and as this force was impOtent against
the daily increasing force of the Rebels, nothing
! could be gained by remaining where they wsre.
| The question then arose what should he DONE
which was determined after some conslderailon, Dy
the adoption Of plans for an entirely new campaign
against snOther point quite distant from Vicksbg,
and on Monday the whole expedition got under
way and steamed up the river.
| The gunbOas had completely exhausted theii sap
plies Of coal, and beiog unable 70 burn wood, had
the promise OF no htlle difficulty in getting up the
river but the transports ordered to take them
ia tow and by dint of cutting wood along the banks
from time to time required, the entire heet mas
arrived of this point. Several hgbidrait gun
boats have been sent up TO Helena with orders TO
bring down a feet OF coal barges reported TO be
lying there to ths point. This fact may be signll-
cant OF the present destination Of the expedition.