The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-02-27
THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The most important item of war news, this
week, is the reported active hos tilities COM
menced against Vicksburg. On the 18th
inst. the mortar-boats were tow ed into posi-
ton and opened the ball by firing briskly.-
The firing was responded to by the Confed-
crate batteries, when our position was found
to be too much exposed for effective opera
tons, and was changed. The bombardment
was then renewed. 1t is doubtful, however
that the regular siege of Vicksburg has COM
menced. Advices from Memphis state that
the cutoff canal near Vicksburg was certain
Of success, and that by the LIST Of March
gunboats and transports would pas, through
it. In case this should be done the rebel
forces will be fairly surrounded and their es-
cape rendered almost impossible. While
Gen Grant is reducing Vic1sburg, Gen Ros-
ecrans will not be idle IN Tennessee. He
has bee; prepared to strike for some time
and will probably move as soon as Gen
This simultaneous action on the part of Gems
Grant aid Rosecrans will force the rebels to
split their strength, or give up one or the
other position.
Another of the new iron clads has run the
blockade of the rebel batteries a. Vicksburg,
and is now between that place and Port Hud.
son. She had provisions and coal to last her
three months. Our possession of the river,
AID lis tributaries between the two place will
badly cripple the enemy in their supplies
wh}ch mostly come from this quarter, and
will materially assist in the operations against
these rebel strongholds. The Queen of the
West, which ran the blockade, two weeks
ago, injured the rebel steamer Vicksburg so
badly that her machinery has been taken out
and she has probably been destroyed.
Gen Rosecrans has issued an order direct
ing that the name of Stones River shall be
inscribed on the national coors Of each regi-
ment that was engaged in the recent battles
before Murfreesboro.
According to the Washington Republican
Gen Butler has been definitely assigned to
command and says that there is no more i'm
portant field of operation than the one which
will be embraced within the new department
about to be given him.
G.N. Sanders, the notorious traitor, sailed
in the last steamer from Halifax for Europe.
He bears dispatches to the rebel emissaries
abroad.
The pirate Alabama has been doing a
smashing business since she left Kingston.
On the 9th of Jan. she captured and burn
ed the Chastelain of Boston. and landed the
crew at S. Domingo City, after robbinS them
of everything they possessed. On the 26th
she captured and burned the Golden Rule, oil
New York. Jan 3lst the schooner Hanover
from Boston, was captured by pirate
Her cargo was valued at $4,000 and the YES
Sc! at $500. 1t is humiliating to see two
or three rebel steamers freely ranging the
seas, destroying our commerce, and to think
that We have no vessel fast enough to rul
them down, perhaps not one strong enough
to take the Alabama even if she ware over.
taken. How pleasant Ito a secesh) is the
thought that the Sagamon chased the Florid;
thirty-six hours, and then failed to catch her
because her engine broke three times-tha
the Alabama completed her repairs at leisure
it Kingston. and then sailed away, although
SIX OF our best steamers were sent there t
catch her ana prevent her escape. Accord
ing to thu report of commission appointed
by government, 20 enquire into the matter,
the fault is in the machinery and not in tn.
boats. Scientific engineers say that oul
new steam vessels cannot be mace to affair
great speed with the engines they now have
The boats are right for speed, but the attemp
to increase the speed is sure to break thu
machinery. If this b- true, let their ma
chinery be torn out and thrown away ant
better substituted We are glad to see thai
the Senate has passed bill authorizing tht
President to issue letters of marque, for We
have no doubt that vessels will be built b,
private enterprise which will be able to de.
s'roy these scourges upon our commerce.
Inc reports in circulation few DAYS ago
OF rebel raid into Kentucky tnrn out 10
to have arisen from the fact that about 500
rebel cavalry, under command of Col Clarke
entered Richmond on Sunday. They stayed
about two hours and then cleared out for MI
Sterling.
Late accounts from the army of the Poto.
mac indicate a greatly improved displine
and give promise Of state of efficiency new
err before known there. Expeditions are
making successful forays against the enemy
capturing supplies and gaining valuable in.
formation The business of smuggling
goods into the rebel lines is nearly termi-
mated. Desertion is becoming serious en-
terprise and is rapidly diminishing, and the
frequent captures of mails going to Rich
mond bids fair to destroy that heretofore
horuishing branch of treason.