Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-10


The bearer Of dispatches from Pember-
ton to Johnston, who delivered them up 10
Grant, as reported by telegraph the other
day, was a Union man who had served un-
der cOmpulsion in the rebel army. A cor
respondent of the Chicago Tribune thus
notices him and his information:
General Pemberlon was shut up in
Vicksburg and desired to communicate
with Johnston. He looked around for
confidential agent and could find none
whose fidelity was less likely to be called
into question than young Douglass. Doug
lass was willing, and the precious docu-
ment was committed to his hands. This
was last Wednesday night. Dressed in
the gsrb of a citizen, he loft Vicksburg at
nightfall, and reached the rebel pickets st
9P. N. Here he remained till daylight,
when he was passed out the lines, and sent
on his perilous mission Douglass had
long entertained the hope that he might
one day free himself from the rebel service
and join his friends in Illinois. Here was
his golden opportunity, and he did not
hesitate to embrace it. With great eau
tion, 80 as TO deceive his comrades within
the fort, he plunged into dense thioket,
and sought deep rsVine; and when well
out Of range Of the rebel pickets, he called
to our skirmishers and gave himself up
prisoner. Colonel -, Of the Sd Iowa
infantry, turned him over to General Lsu-
man, who alter little questioning, hand
ed him over to General Grant, and TO him
he revealed his mission, and gave the pre-
cious dispatch. The substance of the let
Ter was An urgent demand for help
Number Of reinforcements required, thir-
ty thoussnd-adVising retreat if he could
not bring that number upon Grants rear
within ten dsys-number Of troops in
Vioksburg, eighteen -thouaand=on hand
thirty days' rations for the garrison one
meal dsy-ammunition scarce, parhcu-
larIy gun caps. Douglass was further in
struetod TO ascertain the exact number of
Johnston's army, and report as speedily
as possible.
He desired to return home, and Grant
sent him up the river on the steamer Sui
tans. He says there are $1,000 fighting
men in Yicksburg, commanded by Gener-
ais Pemberton, Stevenson, Reynolds, Bow
en-, Forney, Morris, Lee and NJ L. Smith.
Pemberton is chief in command, and ex-
ceedingly unpopular. It is surmised that
he thinks Of surrender. Referring to this,
Bowen said in his (Bouglass') hearing,
" that if Pemberton made the first move
ment towards giving up the city, he
would hang him ss high as Haman.' y
The evident policy of Pemberton will be,
when he is satisfied that all hopes Of sue
cor from Johnston are gone, to break out
through our lines on the left and endeavor
to cut his way through to Big Black.
The damage TO Yicksburg occasioned by
the fire Of our guns and mortars is i'm
mense. He estimates that at least one
fifth Of the city ia destroyed. Up to
Wednesday at II O'Clock, the names of 100
women and children were reported at the
Provost Marshsls Office, who were killed
by the explosion Of our missiles in differ
ent parts of the city. Among these is
said to have been the wife of Pemterton
himself.
The depot and court house are but very
slightly injuredj the Jail is nearly de-
stroyed. The largest magazine, contain
ing three-quarters of the shot and shell in
Vicksburg, is blown up; horses, cattle
and mules are killed and large number
Of houses burned.
"On the day Of the assault, 1000 we're
killed and wounded, including eighteen
Colonels and Lieutenant Oolonels. The
day after Saturday. Colonel T. N. Wall,
Colonel Lee Willis, Colonel Regley, Major
Cameron, Adjutant Williams, Adjutant
Parker, Captain Hoge and Captain Stahl
all officers of the Texas Legion--were
seated chatting pleasantly in the shade at
the angle Of the fort opposite Iogan's
heavy battery, when shell from it explo-
ded IN their midst and killed them all
Wall and Willis were literally blown in
fragments.
RThere are seven forts from the railroad
to Warrenton, of which Douglass could
remember the names of but three Fort
Pemberton, mounting guns; Fort Nc
Cullough, guns and Fort Pulaski, 4
guns. Fort Beauregard is on the right
four right) of the railroad, and contains
but single gun not disabled The can
nonsde of the 23d disabled thirteen guns,
and killed and wounded many rebel sol
diers."