The New York herald., 1863-07-08

su tra n,ssasinc, ,,ver IRON the time the gunboas
seets began "a anv progress southwark FROM Cairo
the rebels gradually but securely proceeded 70 iorhy
this position until has become series Of forss q
were, within large fortress, many miles IN extent
rHE OPERATIONS IN nss WEST wa@A~
An the operations the wsst 10 the end OF May 1862
we're for the simple purpose Of clearing the hisssspp
river Of the blockade, thus opening IL 70 tho Gu and
also with the intent 70 put down all the rebels In arms In
the bordering that river s main tributaries
The strategcai directed 10 any one
particular spot 70 the whole country general About
juno 1862 however the operations had more definite
direction-namely, the reduction Of vcksbrg and its
Deighbong batteries and from this point VIC VIII com
nenco to review the whole Of the campaign.
vIcEsBUR0 4 Ponr ArTAcK-KnITARY AND NAVAL MOVE
On the LIST Of June, 1862 Commodore Farragut's fleet
after having taken and passed New Orleans, arrived of
Grand Gulf, where IL attacked q rebel battery
Of rined guns and ultimately passed IT, but did not
then really succeed in the object intended at least
a. far the reduction Of the place con-
cerned Memphis had not yet been taken, therefore
no cooperation could be expected from the feet ON that
point Of tho river On the 7h OF juno Farraguts Get
arrived of vcksburg, and next day portion OF tne
squadron returned Grand Gu and sienced the rebel
battery at that point Memphis had surrendered on the
etn June and the upper river feet had reach
Cd the fortified spot but afterwards returned 70 Mem
phis, thence operate up the rivers Of Arkansas, dc
In consequence Of the movements arising from Hal
locks advance by land, Holly Springs and the senc-
ing Of Grand Gulf by tho deet the rebels OF Mississippi
removed the State archives from Jackson Juno 10.
The negroes tho state commenced rising, and had
70 be put down great force and examples On
the 25th OF June General Grant assumed supreme com
mand Of the troops operate throughout the state Of
Mississippi and the 21tn the mortar fleet commenced
sheng the rebel position at vcksburg from tho river
This bombardnent contnued at intervals to tho end Of
July, when 1t discovered that the river falling
sorapdly that the large would have unable
TO reach the Gulf they had stad longer before yicks
burg. On the 18th Of July the Arkansas by Tho
nee and lay up before the city of vicksborg where she
ultimately destroyed by the gunboa. Essex, Of Ad
nral Porters feet.
FIRST, WILLIAMS CANAL.
During part Of this time the troops under Con Will
ams, of Gen. Buffers Department, engaged upon
the cuton to attempt the turning Of the course the
Mississippi river from before vcksburg aad thus force
the city inland at least the main stream
ccrned On tho 22d July the canal completed but the
river would not ow through 1t, owing II then sup
posed 10 Its low stage Of water The siege prac
sicay abandoned for the tne and far the Union
'orces were concerned, nothing done until the
ensuing winter at which time might consider the pro
minary movement OF the present attack
gun will thus only troops acting a, this
time In direct conjunction with the feet small div
sion, under General Williams insufficient for the occupa
tion Of vicksburg, II IL had been taken by tho
neet.
OPERATIONS cHANGRD.
IL now became evident that attack from New Or.
Seans would DO unavailng, unless sufficient force Of
troops participated therein enough TO hold the country
after should been captured by the experience
at the battle Of Baton Rouge, August 1852 was also
evident that tho troops could not DO brought from New
Orleans Tho garrison at Baton Rouge had been with
drawn, aud became necessary organize suffcient
sorcs north Of the rebel position vcksburs The
Of the Northwest had asserted through their mouthpece
the present General John A. Ingan-that they would
hew their way 70 the Gur the opportunity given
them and therefore decided that force under
General Grant should be Rreay increased from tina. por
zion Of the country Therefore, tho 22d Of Qecembor
1882 we fnd his grand army Organized into four army
corpsviz the Thirteenth, under General j. A. Mccler
nand; the Fifteenth, under General w. r. Sher-
man, the xteecnth, under General g. A. Harlbut and
the Seventeenth, under General j. b. MCPHERSON. fre
vious this date force consisted Of only c,rps
composed Of several divisions, and considerably
tered.
WHAT Had RKHxIs HnEx Doxa xsASwHuK,
not 70 be supposed that the rebels could be no
rant that such plan operations being carried oi
they likely blinded by false reports or
the weakness OF Grants forces. This the
fest by the strengthening OF tho vicksbrg
the land sde so 70 prevent them being turued BY
military force acting from the North II determined
by them to upset Grants plans possible, and compel
him TO withdraw from his chosen position along the
line Of the Memphis and Chlrleton Railroad The oaiy
way to accomplish this to oatlank him. and there
fore they made grand offensive movement towards
ntx. rlfn
movement conducted by Bragg, with tho object o.
crushing Buell. hsreby rendering Grants positisn unite
nabe. Tho plan was, In military sense, good one,
and would have been successful had not Buell., by rapid
marching gained tho Ohio before the enemy and oppos
Cd Bragg in tho vicinity OF tha triangle formed by Louis
vile, Lexington and Cincinnati As 1t was, Tennessee,
Northern Alabama and part of Northeastern Mississippi
tempor ry lost and but for tho victories Of Luka
and Cornth Grant must also have fallen back Braggs
advance was however, stopped DO II was late
and he fell back, pursued by the Army OF the Cambor
land which has since held him in check.
On tho 25th Of November the rebels commenced fort
fyng Fort hudson, to prevent Farragul AGAIN
ccnding the river to vcksburg
II became necessary FOR the Of Grants forces 10
be cleared OF bands lest they should interfere
with his communications by ~ay o. the Mississippi river
from downward The forces along the edges Of
sivcr that point vcksburg therefore placed
under his command, making Cairo tseI distaut base
Of operations On the 25th Of september the village of
Prentiss, opposite Napoleon, burned because the
rebels made tho houses shelter behind which % nre
upon the boats carrying suppies,' &C 70 the troops
statioDsd below. General sherman aud Admiral Porter
tho 4th sf November arranged that armed vessels
shouid accompany all transports and othe plying
between Memphis and Cairo. These operations and
Others Of minor import occupied the army until Decem
Der. 1862
active orRAnoSs azumD-rHK roznoS oy srYnRs.
AZ tho beginning OF December 1892 Cen Grants forces
began moving along the line OF the railroad from cornih
and rand Junction. and December Gen. Hovey took
possession Of Grenada Mes The apparent Intention
% advance Jacson by this route and progress
had bcen male BY the unin troops when Gen.
Grant found hts and depots interferel
withSy dash Of she rebels, December 10 upon Holly