The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-06-30
THE SITUATION IN THE WEST.

We have direct and positive intelligence from
beyond the Mississippi, which clears up all the
| doubts, myths and rumors which have been vexiRs
US for some weeks past.
! We gather our information from intelligent
gentleman, just from the headquarters OF Genera
Kirby Smith, who crossed the Mississippi river al
Natchez- The first important fact we learn is that
Gen. Smith is fully posted as to the situation al
Vicksbure and Port Ii udson, and is directing the
forces of his department with view to second
/ Gen Johnston on this side the river in the work
of raising the siege Of those two cities. Gen
Smiths headquarters were at Shreveport, from
! which point .he has easy water communication
! with the Mississippi, to point near iicksburg
! bv the Red, Black and Tensas river. His trocbs
are already at the posts selected for them in carry
] ing out Gen. Smiths great plan, which is to cut
off Gen. Grants supplies To this end part OF
! his force is in possession OF MIlllkens Bend
which is above both Vicksburg and the mouth of
the Yazoo river and which efectually cuts of
Grants supplies from up the river
Three thousand men, under ErgGen. Green,
were on the peninsula opposite to Port Hudson,
and in position, with the aid OF Gen. Gardner's
batteries, to completely close the river to the
eneny's boats
| Marmaduke, of Gen Prices army, was near
| Helena and Gen. Price, with 1000 men was on
the march for that point, his object being the same,
| to command the river and cut off Grants supplies.
, The great fall in the Mississippi, % feet below
high water mark, afforded great facilities tor these
operations. The narrowness OF the stream forces
nassng vessels to come ~ithin easy range Of the
Shore batteries, while the river has sunk so low
that the attacking parties could not be reached BY
the enemy's gunboats.
The garrison Of Port Hudson and Vieksburg
are both we'll provided and in good spirits, each
uneasy about the fate of the other, but entirely
confident ir their own situation. They have abun-
dant supplies.
News has been received from Ticksburg up to
Saturday night. Grants army is undoubtedly
suffering from want of water, and suffering still
more from being obliged to drink the waters Of the
Big Black, which is very unwhoesome.
AS our informant says, Johnston is in no hurry
to move, for this, among other reasons: that he
does not like to interfere with the action OF the
waters He is in regular communication with the
west Of the Mississippi, and all are working to
common end-the starvation Of the enemy, the
raising Of the siege, and the capture OF as many as
possible when he begins to move off.
Louisiana has been abandoned by the enemy,
and there are no Yankee troops except about Don
Franklin, St. Mary's parish. In their retreat the
Yankees carried off mules and destroyed many wa
CONS But most of the negroes have been recap
turcd and sent back, to their owners
Red river is free of Yankee vessels Commu-
nication between the east and west banks of the
Mississippi at Natchez and many other places was
constant and uninterrupted. The enemys gun
boats are powerless to prevent it. Ten thousand
head Of cattle were on their way to this side, aud
have probably passed by this time.
The Crescent regiment and the 18th La, both
Of which were formerly stationed near Mobile are
at Bayou Lamoure IS miles below Alexandria.
Gen Magrudcr has his eyes fixed upon Vicks-
burg and is cooperating with his fellow soldiers
nearer the scene Of action.
The foregoing facts may be relied on for their
general accuracy; and they put neH' face on the
great camppign in the valley.
pemberton and Gardner shut up in their strong
holds, with plenty to eat and drink, and ample
powder and ball for the entertainment Of the enc
my-defy and laugh at the hosts who are scowling
and digging outside of their works. While Grant
sits down quety-that is, as quietly as Big Black
water and the sun and musqutoes will permit
to starve out Pclnberton, Kirby Smith, Price and
Taylor arranging little details to starve him out
and compel him to abandon his unhealthy locality.
Once again, our climate comes to our aid The
rivers have fallen with unwonted Tapdity, and the
enemy's vessels stranded on sand banks, are beau
ty spots on the picturesque scenes Of the great
river. If Grant is forced to retire, many Of the
vessels Of the Yankee feet between Eicksburg
and Port Hudson must be lost. When scarcity,
bad water .malara and Generalization have done
their work upon Grants hosts, Johnstons oppor
tunity will have arrived, and have strong hopes
that combined attack between him and Pember-
ton will result in realizing Of those Fepulyeriz
ing military operations Of which We read so much
in Northern papers.
We think the "stuaion" greatly relieved, and
we certainly ''brcahe frecr." We can now afford
to await events with becoming patience.-IVoJilc
Register.
PRIVATE PROPERTY REspEcrED.-The, an
pouncement made by the Yankee Journals, that
the Confederate forces in Pennsylvania had re-
spectcd private property and paid for what they
wanted, according to one journal, in 'grcenbacks,"
and to another, in Confederate notes, has created
great surprise and no little dissatisfaction.
The feeling OF revenge, and the belief that if
the enemy be made to feel the horrors of war
which they have remorseessly inflicted upon
our people, that desire for peace will be stirred
up in the breast of the people of Pennsylvania that
will greatly accelerate the desired object had in
duccd the hope that devastation would be visited
throughout the country CT Pennsylvania as great
and wholesome measure Of necessary retaliation.
That it has not been done by the advance by no |
means argues that it will not be fully. and effecu
alIv accomnIiShad when the main bOdv of ON. or