Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-06-05
IRON VYCKSBUBG.


" Paroled prisoners who loft sherman's
Landing ON the 23d, say that just before
leaving. they cunversed with the bearer Of
dispatches from pemberton to Johnston who
had been captured. The bearer says that the
number of rebels at Nicksburg is between
25 600 aud 80 000 Friday morning Gen
Pemoertou sent lag Of truce to Gen Grant
Offering 90 surrender Nicksburg, f allowed
to lay down their arms and march out. The
offer was refused
On Thursday the rebel batteries on the
hill north of the town were taken and turned
on the enemy On The eve of the same day
the water batteries at the loot of the hill
were captured. The same evening the water
batteries below Vicksburg were taken by
Porter's mortar boats.
Un Friday ofer the refusal to accept Penn
bcrtons terms Gen. Grant moved on his
works and the rebels were driven 90 the inner
Qualifications. Gen. Giaut feels certain that
he Will be able 10 take care OF Johnston.
The latter has only about 10000 men exclu-
sive of what he may have by reinforcements
Gen. Grants army is larger than has been
generally supposed. 1t stretches completely
around the doomed city each wing resting on
the river. Nicksburgh is full of women aud
children, not only the original inhabitants but
many who came in from the surrounding
country for safety.
The Times has special dispatch dated in
the field near Nicksburg, May %, ?. NJ
This dispatch says, " there has been no fight
ing to-day. The troops are resting from yes
tetday assault. Our repulse was complete
in all parts oi the line. No encouragement
need be entertained OF our hnal success We
are entrenching ourselves and building rifle
pits. Cavalry have been sent out towards
Canton to ascertain the whereabouts of Gen
Johnston's forces. Our loss yesterday was
not lar from 900.
lnREE Mills EAST OF VIcKsBURG,
May "a
Our wounded at Champion hill number
1900. be enemy loss Is acknowledged to
be over one-hali that We had about %, 900
troops engaged, and the rebels about O,OOO
We took 900 prisoners and about 5000 at
the battle of the bridge. All points are so
guarded that all possibility of escape is cut
off. Every man, woman and child must fall
into our hands. All the forenoon yesterday
different brgades we're taking position, form
ing lines OF battle, &c. AT the battle began
IN earnest, there had been skirmishing all
the forenoon. Gen. Steele drove the enemy
from several forts and took one complete line
Of fOrtidcations. The extreme right rested
on the river bank under the Bluffs at sun
down His division fought gallantly all day
though hungry, dirty and foot sore.
This morning Gen. McClernand's is not
progressing so fast as Sherman and McPher-
SON but is doing we'll We lost about 1900
killed and wounded yesterday.
A special dispatch from Cairo, says Cen
Lee OF Kansas confirms the report that two
-. tt.4 f,I-r I,s
day attack on the iorufcauons. The battle
was sanguinary aud the federal loss severe
The rebels fought with GOODNESS and desper-
alton, reservng ;heir fire till our forces came
within murdetous range. They were driven
back however by main force into the last line
Of entertainments. This was the situation
on Friday evening.
jackson. Miss, having been destroyed the
federal army that occupied that place is now
acting as reintoroements for Grant.
The steamer Imperial arrived at Memphis,
Monday morning From Capt. Stevens a
passenger we learn the following:
The fighting on Friday was desperate
Gen Grant charged the tortihcations and took
some Ct them, but the rebels rallied and re-
took them. There was much hand to-haud
lighting. Capt Stevens says our loss that
day in killed, wounded and missing was about
5000. The rebels used hand grenades when
our forces attempted TO storm the works
The Herald's Washington dispatch says
the latest Intelligence from Vlcksburg is con-
tanned in an unofficial dispatch from Memphis,
dated May 9th, who says that two boats
from Vicksburg had just arrived at Memphis.
This would make the latest dates from Vicks-
burg TO the 25th
" Gen Grant has step by step, driven the
rebels into their interior entertainments, turn
ing their batteries against them. They how
ever have troops to relieve each other as often
as may be desired, in defending that line of
their works, but he continues without Sc
rious ii any molestation from Johnston, so
far to assail successfully, but gradually. in
order to take as much care be should take
to save the lives of his troops engaged in the
desperate fighting of such sege'
Ii he be not able to take Vicksburg by
storm, he has acquired by most perlous
movement footing in the rear Of the city,
which cuts off the entire Yazoo region, and
will enable him to push back the rebels base
to the great river of Alabama, and thereby
insure the early fall of Vicksburg and Port
Hudson.
Murireesboro' dispatch of the 2SIh says
Grant at last accounts was still 10 position
before Nlcksburg. | seems certain that once
since Saturday Grant made general assault
aud failed to carry the works Johnston has
not yet attacked Grant but was gathering his
forces not far away.
REBEL ACCOUNTS.
The following extracts are from the Rich
mond Wing of the 27th
Jachson, May 25.-An officer who left
Vcksburg Tuesday morning, says the enemy
attacked our LETT and centre four times. They
were repulsed each time, Our loss so
men When the column of asault was bro't
up on Wednesday, the officers leading the
troops broke, and the column disappeared
On Thursday the enemy we're engaged in
shellnR our enirenchments. Our works to-
wards Wauenton had not been mensced.
The federal line OF investments Is imperfect.
For two oth els recently murdered officially
in Ohio, two officers in our lrebel) hands are
to suffer through operations IN terta'onis.-
This intelligence has been conveyed to Col.
Ludlow, with the assurance thut hereafter for
all Confederate soldiers or citizens improperly
executed, the law Of retaliation will be rigidly
I enf1rced