The New York herald., 1863-05-17

for every dollars worth of the raw material the
government receives 90 4O,it does appear that
the Mint officials might put on more steam and
supply the country with small change, and the
government with revenue In the way Of coinage
profits. The government should certainly be
able, in this and all other matters to keep ahead
of the copperheads. ''
Grants Movement Against vieksburg.
Now that all is quiet again on the Kappa
hammock, and on the Richmond peninsula, and
on the Blsckwater, and in North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia, and In Tennessee,
Kentucky and Missouri, the advance Of General
Grants army through the interior Of Mississippi,
for. the rear of Vicksburg becomes the para
mount and absorbing topic Of the day.
Our latest authentic information from General
Grants army direct is his own despatch OF the
sth inst, to the effect that, since the battle of
Port Gibson, he had had no engagement with
the enemy; that he was satisfied with the sp-
pearance Of things in his vicinity, and that the
rebels had undoubtedly evacuated Port Hud-
son, excepting Q small garrison and their heavy
artillery. A despatch from Cairo, dated May
IA, says, further, that General Grant will en-
deavor to cut the railroad between vicksburg
and jackson, and that q battle was expected in
the vicinity of Black river bridge-a point
nearly midway between the two cities. 1t
further appears that our troops, all the way
from Memphis down to Youngs Point (near
vicksburg; were moving to reinforce General
Grant. rls.
From rebel sources we have information
from jackson down to May IL, from which it
appears that a thousand of Gen. Grants caval-
ry had entered and burned Crystal Springs, on
the New Orleans Railroad; that he was fortify-
ing at Rocky Spring and Western Spring; that
he was receiving reinforcements; that Gen.
Osterhaus, with strong detachment of infantry
and cavalry, was at Cayuga; that Gen. Grant
will probably advance eastward, and not direct
= YicksR21Gl that As9 - 4aet -n.ct i,
Mississippi Springs on Thursday last, after o
very severe fight; and that the Union feet
above the city was increasing. 4.
From all these facts we conclude that, strong
ly posting the main body of bis army, Gen.
Grant had paused in his advance, and while
awaiting his reinforcements was securing the
country around him; that the most of the rebel
forces of Port Hudson had moved, or were
moving, around by railroad to reinforce Gen.
Pemberton, and that the Union cavalry raid
upon the New Orleans road was movement
to cut them of, and all other renforcsments
Grant was probably aiming for Jackson, which
is the base Of supplies Of vicksburg and the
capital Of Mississippi; and that, from the con-
centration Of Admiral Porter's feet, meantime,
above Vicksburg, it was not intended that
Pc emberton should have tho privilege of leav-
ing that place without troops while attending
to our army in the interior. A trick Of this
sort, with Porters feet in his front, will hardly
be attempted, and thus q powerful co-opera-
tive movement on the water in front is secured
in connection with our land operations in the
rear of vicksburg. M
Thus at length the combinations Of Grant and
Porter against that rebel stronghold are as
suming very encouraging shape. We were
somewhat apprehensive that, without q sufficient
ly careful consideration of the probable strength
Of the enemy at vicksburg and Jackson, Gene
raj Grant would push forward and bring them
out, only to find that, hurrying up their armies
from Port Hudson and Mobile, the rebels could
confront him with force largely superior in
numbers to his own. These rebel telegraphic de-
spatches to Richmond, however, satisfy us that
General Grant, while gathering up his reserves,
is carefully feeling bis way, and seriously Grip
ping the enemy withal, in breaking their COM
munications. This plan Of operations looks
well. The rebel army at vicksburg, having
been completely cut of from its main sources
of supplies west Of the Mississippi, cannot pos
sibly remain behind Its intrenchments with its
eastern railway communications destroyed.
Colonel Grlersons cavalry raid had already
broken up very seriously those communications
with Northern Mississippi; and now, as It ap.
pears, General Grant has besn actively attend
ing 10 the great New Orleans road, which runs
TO the southern extremity Of the State from
jackson. While doing this he is also strength
ening his position against . possible sortie Of
the enemy, and Is Strengthening his army for an
advance BY reinforcements He ID thus evi-
IDENTIFY the master Of the situation.
We presume that II the rebel forces, except
the artillsrists Of Port Hudson, have lsft that
place, 10 will be taken care Of, without loss Of
time, by the forces Of General Banks at Baton