Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-07-13
The News Of the Week.

First, We received adyiceS that a large caval-
ry force, supported by artillery, had made a
raid upon the Wilmington and Weldon Rail-
road, and after tearing up a considerable space
of the Road, and doing other damage, for
full particulars see accounts in another COL
umn) were said to be marching upon Ra-
leigh. After being. satisfied that the raiders
had turned back to Newbern, and had done
much less damage than was reported, the
good news of Gen. Dick Taylor capturing
immense amounts Of quarter-masters, COM
missary, ordnance and medical stores, at
Brashear city, in Louisiana. We are glad
TO say there has been full confirmation of this
= good news.
On Tuesday, the telegraph announced that
Gen. Lees army had fought a decisive bat
tie with the entire force of Hooker's grand
army of the Potomac, at Gettysburg, Penn
s~ylvania, and had gained a great victory,
slaughtering them by thousands and captur-
ing forty thousand prisoners, and that the
enemy had refused to be paroled, and were
being sent to Richmond, it requiring all of
Picketts Division to guard them. Such glo-
rious news flied every true mans heart with
joy and eSultation, mingled, however, with
the sad intelligence, that the victory had
cost us the loss of some of our best officers
and hosts of the brave and true of our noble
soldlery. Such particulars as have CONE to
hand about this greatest battle of the war"
will be found in other columns of this paper.
frFe above was written just arer the teiegraphic
news had been received announcing that Gen. Iee's
army had captured 10000 prisoners, and that the enc
myhad sustained a loss of so, 600 in killed, wounded
and missing. Since then, reliable information has
been received, that though Gen. Lees forces achiev-
ed signal victory and succeeded in capturing the
enemy's Notifications, yet, being unable to hold them,
he was compelled to fall back to Hagerstowu, in Ma
ryland, where itwas reported the battle had been re-
newed. The latest intelligence will be found under
our I" Latest News Head
But q damper to the jubilation over the
good news from Pennsylvania, was felt, on
the receipt of the intelligence that V~icEs6urq
had surrendered and was in the hands of the
enemy. Up to the present writing we are
in possession of no information except the
simple announcement by Gen. Johnston to
the War department, which will be found in
another column. From it we simple learn
that Gen. Pemberton capitualated, that our
officers and soldiers were parolcd and were
to be returned to our lines, the officers being
allowed to retain their side arms and person.
al baggage.
This Intelligence will be received with
gloom and sadness all over the Contederacv.
Vicksburg had stood so long and faithfully
against all assaults, that almost every body
regarded the place as ~impregnable, and full
ly expected that the gallant little force there
would be able to hold out to the last. Pub.
lie expectation was confident that Gen. 10
Johnston woul fall in upon Grants rear,
and force him to retire from the siege or cut
HIM IN pieces. But it does not appear thai
he has ever struck a blow at the besiegine
army around Vicksburg-and Vicksburg bas
been surrendered, under the pressure of dire
necessity. We know nothing of the reason,
that kept Gen. Johnston from going to tn,
rescue of Pemberton. Doubtless thew wer,
insurmountable, and will so be shown: bu
we grleve that any necessity should hay
forced the noble. garrison at Vicksburg +
capitulate, after holding out against all at
tacks by land and water. The public wi
await with painful anxiety fuller accounts {
the situation Of affairs around and in Vicks
burg, both before and since the surrender.
[Since the above was III type, the surrender of Wick
burg is fully confirmed. The capitulation was force
upon Gen. Perberton and his brave command /
starvation staring them in the face and the number
effective men being reduced to about seven thousan
on account of sickness, want of food and exhausti,
from the long p~rotracted seige of the garrison by 4
enemy. Gen. Johnston, it seems, did all he eould {
the. relief of our gallant troops, shut up in yicl
burg, but it is said that he could render no succ,
owing TO the immense army under Grant betwe
him and Pemberton. All the particulars recei,
will be found under our --latest News" Head.]