The New York herald., 1863-03-04
THE SITUATION.


THE SITUATION.
Reports of battle at vicksburg have been in
circulation in this city since Saturday last and the
Statement from the Petersburg (va.) Express Of
Ehe 2sth ult. wo uld appear to confirm them But
rs neither Admiral Porter's despatch of the 2sth,
announcing the loss of the Indianola, nor the
Richmond Enquirer Of the same date make any
allusion to an engagement, it is reasonable to
conclude that no battle of the character men,
toned in the Petersburg Express has taken place,
although intelligence of an attack by Gene
raj Grants forces upon the rebel works
certain that the government has not
received any account of great battle in that vi
cinty. The Memphis Bulletin of Saturday, the
2sth ult, says that it was confidently believed in
leading circles in that city that the rebels were
then evacnating vicksburg. Letters received in
Washington yesterday state that the expedition
under General washburne to open the Yazoo Pass
has been entirely successful, and promises to fur
nish the key to that stronghold and dispatches
from Cairo of the same date say that the gmboat
Carondelet and five others have reached the Tai
lahatchie river by way of the Yazoo. vicksburg
would thus appear to be closely envroned by our
forces, and therefore the reported evacuation
wears q strong color of probability.
GENERAL Rosecrans is pushing his forces forward
with success On the I'd instant he had advanced
a. far as marlborough, half way between Muir.
freesboro and Shelbyville, and o despatch from
the former place. dated the same day, says that an
expedition of one thousand cavalry and one thou
sand six hundred infantry, left Murfreesboro the
following morning, and encountered the enemy at
Bradyville. After severe fighting the enemy were
driven from the town, with the loss of eight killed
and twenty wounded, and eighty privatss and nine
officers captured. There were also captured three
hundred new saddles and accoutrements and a
1rge collection Of official orders and papers and
the private baggage Of the enemy, who were
portion of John Morgans and Whartons divisions.
General Rosecrans, in his official despatch to
ensmy made stand at Bradyville. Colonels Para.
mcur and Long went in with sabres and whipped
them in about three minutes, Stakes cavalry ad.
vancing bravely with carbines. He reports that
we took seventy prisoners, including eight officers.
their camp equipage, tents, saddles, some seventy
horses and Basil Dukes regimental papers. He
mentions that Major Murphy did good service, and
reports our loss at one man killed and one captain
and seven men wounded.
Our sdvices from New Orleans, by the steamers
Chs-Kiang and Bio Bio are full of interest. The
leading feature In the intelligence by these arr
gals is the complete metamorphosis effected by
fhe Southern rebellion in the system Of negro la
bor. The planters Of Louisiana, in their present
helpless condition, have gratefully scceded to the
reasonable propositions Of the Commanding Gene.
rai Of the Gulf Department, and henceforth
their plantations will be regularly cultivated
speech of General Banks TO the meeting Of planters
si the Sc. Charles Hotel, ss well as all the facts
chat transpired on that occasion together with his
important order for regulating NEGRO labor, win
be found fully detailed in this days paper. Some
exciting scenes were witnessed In New Orleans on
arccent trsnsmigration Of secession sympathisers
10 points In possession Of the rebels. The scenes
enacted were SO disorderly and improper that Gen.
sanks sent down regiment to disperse the rab-
Bile. Over q thousand contraband letters and
other articles were captured. The steam.
or Essex has been again successful in
her new crusade against the torpedoes
buried in the river with the intention Of destroy.
Ing Union vessels. Through information supplied
~ loyal negro four more Of these dangerous
machines were discovered near Port Hudson. and
Ssmoved. The Harriet Lane is laid up in one Of
Che rivers near Galveston, and il il said that she
bc!a2 sssyssty4 into an loa-clad, II has been