The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-13
From vic,ksb~rx.

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From vicksburx. q
. STEAMER COURIER, NEAR CAIRO, June
OH, loo3.-We left Sherman's landing.
winch is just above and in plain sight Of
vlcksbiirg, on Tuesday night, at 10 O clock,
June "a, having been there and at Young's
Point from the Saturday night previous
Both OF these points are on the right bank
OF the Mississippi river, the former being at
the mouth of the canal, and the latter OPP
posite the mouth of the Yazoo river.
AT the time of our leaving, Vicksburg
had not fallen, although every indication
seemed favorable to that end. 1t is now
completely invested by Gen. Grant, his
line stretching around the city in length of
twelve miles, his left flank resting upon
the river below the city, and the right upon
the river above. He is safely entrenched,
and is daily strengthening his works until
they have assumed formidable proportions.
Hundreds of cannon are pointing upon the
rebel breastworks in the rear of Vicks-
burg, while the mortar and gunboats oc-
cupy positions little above and below the
left and right TANKS. The night-shelling
from these is brilliant and beautiful, al
though not very dangerous or destructive,
Judging from the number of the tall church
spires and white dwellings thickly dotted
all over the terraced hills. The deserters
ana captured prisoners represent that but
little property has been destroyed, and but
| few lives lost; still it would seem too much
like peace for all this war armament to re-
main silent. Desertions to our lines and
captures are of daily occurrence, and all
these men speak of the strength of the rebel
| works, and the impossibility of our taking
them by assault, but freely admit that it
may be done by seige. They rely, howev-
| er, on Johnston to extricate them, and
seem to think he will bring forward suf-
fieient force for this purpose.
1t has been reported that the supplies of
Vlckspurg are almost exhausted, but from
conversation with their own men, and the
length OF time they have had to prepare, I
am persuaded this is not so. At all events.
have no doubt that they have a thirty
days supply, and as they seem determined
| to hold out to the last, the surrender of
| Vicksburg may not be expected much
within that time, but it is apparently DOOM
war are unexpectedly turned against u.s.
However much we may desire the reverse,
it is by no means impossible for johnson
to give much trouble to our rear. General
| Grant is sanguine of beinga able to repel any
| force he may send, and entertains no fears
| as to the result.
A Geographic communication has been
established along the entire line to each
| corps, with signals to the fleet and to Gen'l
Sullivan, who commands at Young's Point.
Every order is given in this manner, and
our own boat, (sanitary,) was under way
in ten minutes from the time it was given
by Genl Grant, fifteen miles distant. In
fact, everything has the appearance of great
completeness.
1t has been reported that Gen'l Pember-
ton offered to surrender, few days since,
upon certain conditions named in this re-
port. This is not so, and it was gotten up
as a camp rumOr.
The rebel deserters and prisoners are
well clothed in gray and butternut colored
suits, and seem to have been well fed.
The canal here is work of the most stu
was constructed in defiance of all laws, and
upon the belief that an immense body of
water, sweeping rapidly around a curve
might be checked and turned at right an
giles.
Gen. Banks is reported to hold Port Hud-
son in the same manner that Gen. Grant
holds Vicksburg.
The sick are comfortably provided for in
hospital boats, and at Millikinsville and
Young Point, in hospitals. Ice, however.
is greatly needed for the sick, and it can
not be too earnestly hoped that a full sup
ply will be furnished early, as the weather
is becoming very hot, the water bad, and
the sick increasing.
Almost the entire distance from Mem
phis to Vicksburg-a distance of four
hundred miles is one track of desolation,
All the plantations and villages are desert
ed, and the fields are laid waste and un-
planted. Not human being, white or
black, is seen upon the banks of the river,
in all that distance. But such is war. Hid
den guerrillas are all along the Arkansas
shore below Helena, who fire upon the
passing boats, which renders navigation
hazardous. Two soldiers were killed YES
terday upon transport, and seven wound
ed in this manner. Our own boat was
fired into on its downward trip, without
injury to any one on board.
General Prentiss, of Illinois, commands
at Helena, and has force of five thousand
men, and seems well fortified against at
tack. Price and Marmaduke are said to
be in that vicinity, but no fears are enter
| tanned OF their approach. 1t seems to me,
however, that the importance of the place
demands an increased force, in order to
| render it entirely secure.
Several thousand troops have been sent
| days, from Tennessee, all of whom have
robust and healthy appearance, and are
anxious for front position.
The plantations near to the river have
! everywhere been deserted by the negroes,
who come within our lines by thousands.
Fifteen hundred, men, women and chill
| dren, came to Ioung's Point while we were
| euCAC. 1ACh LUCAS VI 1IctOOul Sccul W U6,
release from labor; but they will soon be
relieved from this delusion, and will pro-
badly forever be compelled to earn their
bread by the sweat of their faces, just as
the white man ever has. How far and how
well they will serve our Government in the
capacity of soldiers, is yet to be tested.
should not doubt their capacity for all du-
| ties, except the downright hard fighting,
| face to face and steel to steel, but for these
/ would have greater confidence in CaucaS-
sian blood. At Lake Providence, two ne
gro regiments have been mustered into
service under command of Col. Wood, Of
! Indiana, and present soldierly appear
ance. The rebels have given up all hopes
oftheir peculiar institution and are now
| fighting for their rights, which have not
yet heard defined. Webster's next edition
| may enlighten us upon this point.
Henceforth, from the fall of Vicksburg,
| the Mississippi will remain open to COM
| merce, and the Southern Confederacy will
have received the severest blow of the war.
1t is gradually going, going, and soon will
be GONE, affording another evidence of the
truth of Voltaires opinion, that mans nor
&c and I;,,lo