, 1863-01-05

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V1cKsBuRG AND VICINITY.
'lcksburg, the capital Of Warren Co., Miss,
Is situated on the Mississippi River 100 miles
above New Orleans, aud fifty: miles west of
jackson. 1t was in times Of peace great
cotton mart, exporting 100, 600 bales annually.
Its location with reference to the Yazoo River
have caused the approach from the banks Of
t that river to be selected by Gen. Sherman.
The Yazoo (not named in our map,) is the
river emptying into the Mississippi, II few.
miles above Vfcksburg, and Is one of the most
remarkable rivers Of its slze in the South,
being naEigab1o By steamers for 100 miles,
being deep, narrow, natural canal sluseish-
y flowing through vast cotton plantations,
Natshez is'121 miles below Vicksburg:
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tfibune.] Il
CAIRO, Jan. 3. 1861
Local news is unimportant. Lieut. Murray
Of Chicago, one Of Ellsworth's Zouaye Ca.
dets, Inns been assigned to service on. the slg-
nal corps Mt headquarters, at Memphis, aud
leaves with Capt. Ford and others, on the
first boat.
Boats pass freely up and down the Missis-
aippi now. None Of those arriving from be-
low to-day report themselves us having been
fired upon or otherwise intcrfercd with by
rebels.
By the steamer sunnyside, I hare the fol-
lowing from Memphis and Helena:
The Grenada Appeal, now issued at Jackson,
Miss, comes out ardently. 1or peace, and its
editor, Dill, is for that consummation on any
decent and honorable terms. His late scare
at Grenada has taught him salutary lesson
lie wishes to be madea Commissioner to the
North to urge the necessity Of cessation Of
hostilitics. He just now sees that necessity
In full force, not knowing where next to run
to. The price Of the Appeal is $50 per year,
in advance. !.
Brig. Gen. German is still in command at
Helena. His order No. 3s3, Just issued, re-
quires all cotton traders to have license at
Il cost Of $780, Those falling in this respect,
are to have their property condscated and be
imprisoned.
Boats are not allowed to 20 below Helena
without special permit under the same pen
atty.
A Agcntleman just arrived from the feet re-
ports that the Confederatcs have evacuated
Port Hudson, and that the lower fleet is near
Natchez e'. route for Vicksbnrg. The Con-
federates sent MI their steamers up the Red
River to prevent their capture.
Porter and Sherman's fleets were near their
destination on the cath ult.
A prisoner from jackson, Mississippi, 70.
ports that at Helena when he left, all the Con-
federate troops exccpta few had been sent
away. He did not know where, but supposed
to Vicksburg.
This place is full Of troops. Reports Of
great preparations in the way Of guns aud
fortifcations are corroboratcd.
There was skirmish back Of Ue1era on
Sunday night last in which our pickets and
100 rebels were engaged, an nineteen Of the
former were captured.
4 report from Holly Springs has 1t that
and moved to Vicksburg. Some say he has
gone to strengthen the force moving north
toward Columbus, Paducah, Fort Donelson
and Cairo.
Agentleman from Arkansas gives the fol-
lowing statement Of the troops in that State.
There arc 10000 at Little Rock, 10000 at .
post on the Arkansas River, 5000 ut Vlcks-
burg from Arkansas, 5000 at Austin, Arkan-
SOS, and 5000 acting as guerillas in the State
in all, about IS 200. They are we'll armed.
Their clothing comes from Texas. They have
brass field pieces and six twelye-pounder can
non-arms shipped to them across the Mis-
sissippi. :
Provisions bring fabulous prices. Flour
$1,000 per barrel; salt fifty cents per pound;
chickens $1.0o each; eggs $1.00 per dozen;
butter s1.25 per pound; salt pork thirty to
thirty-hve cents per pound.
One Of the exchanged prisoners of the
steamer Lake City disputes late accounts us
to the rebel fortifcations at and in the rear
Of Vicksburg. He says the Notifications ex-
tend back only three miles, instead Of eight,
and as late as Monday week no
guns were placed upon them, all
being used in front on the river. There
may be few at point si1 miles from the
town Of Vicksburg. The rebels seem to have
out before yicksburg is to be reached. They
think that city can be held against any force.
JEFF. Davis and Joe E. Johnston were ut
jackson last Monday week.
The prisoners captured ut Carson's Land
ing, of the steamer Lake City last month,
have all been exchanged.
Tour correspondent with the Mississippi ::
dotil1a sends the following:
u. s. STEAMER LEXINGTON, TWELVE M11Esl.
uP THE fAzoo RIVER, Dec e, 1853. i
On the 23d inst, nine steamers, Including
the Benton, Lexington aud Baron DeKalb,
all in charge Of Capt. Gwin Of the Benton,
came up the stream for the purpose Of de-
stroying the torpedoes. The reconnaissance,
was accompanied By two rams. At Cypress
Bayou, eleTen miles up, they were fired upon
from an opposite plantation, belonging to
Col. ". q. johnson Of the rebel army,
known rs Belle 1sle. Most Of the slaves are
MS Vicksburg. By this; firing, one man on
the boat was killed aud twelve wounded. The
Lexington and DeKnlb were ordered to de-
stroy the buildings, which WAS DONE A boat
was sent to the month Of the river with the
wounded. The remainder Of the boats stopped
two miles above Bolle Isle, shelllng the shore.
They were continually. fired upon on tho
morning Of the 24th.- r. =. i:
At abort II o'clock body Of rebel troops
arrived in the rear Of Johnson's place. They
weze shclled On the same day., j. ...: :.
: When at Haincs' Bluff more torpedoes were
discovered. Two thousand rebel infantry In
rfHo y,;tu 1.nx,+ 7rr, n fire rrn.. mr. bnefs Nnne