The New York herald., 1863-07-08

L
sna point thereby securing tho par. Of rennes-
see and the region between Nashville tho Mississippi
river. few rowing bands still infested the REGION ous
whole the specified space Was cleared Of the rebel
forces. And thus opened the year 1868 In the west
General AcClernand, wishing secure his rear from
aack and knowing that rebel force existed Al Fort
hindman, on the Arkansas river, planned an expedition
winch secured the whole afar-works and men, horse,
loot and artillery This battle and victory which took
place on the 10th and Ilih Of January, ts6a was com
pete success and many disaster that doubt
less would have subsequently, occurred bu, for this move
ment
CONSOLIDATION
Abe road beng clear, matters began 70 assume
definite shape and General Grants forces nsoi
dated with the McCernand expedonary troops General
McCernand assuming command Of the Thirteenth corps,
while the other corps commanded In the order be-
lore stated The Sixteenth TO DO employed In
securing the communications with the North, and having
the headquarters stationary Memphis The Thirteenth
Fifteenth and Seventeenth corps placed moro imme
distely under General Grants orders each corps having
its headquarters in tho field.
All this time the forces under General Grover had
been idle, but securing bank the oppo
site to Baton Rouge.
THE AGAIN.
II was deemed advisable try and reopen the 70
nous "cut or originated and begun by General Williams
tally filed up by rebels after the withdrawal OF the
Union forces in July. Therefore two brgades were
engaged upon this work. while transports and
gunooats were employed carrying other troops 70
chosen spot on the river bank above the canal, !,
70 as to be ready TO operate at the time and place.
On the 18th Of January the grand armada sail from
Napoleon and Memphis for Youngs Point and Miken's
Bend two locations the west side Of the river little
above vcxsburg The troops landed, Mcclernands
gessed steadily towards completion, all eyes Union
and rebel, turned upon this work
QUEEN or THE wet
On the I'd OF February the Queen OF the West the
vicksburg batteries and caused serious damage to
the rebels along the shore and adoat the Mississippi
but what was Of more consequence the sequel sho
caused diversion turned tho attention Of tho euemy
for time from Grants operations about Youngs Point
and Miken's Bend The Indanola shortly after accom-
pehed the feat II liz by these dashes we
lost the vessels but they had, during the interval
pshed deal delaying the transmission stores
from the Red river, SO. Coal boats had also run by
the batteries supply them with fuel during their
operations
The BoMBARDxESr RBoFESRp.
On the 18th Of February the boats having
up their chosen POSITIONS opened fire upon tho devoted
city The fire replied by tho batteries and the
boats had to withdraw Shortly they took up less
exposed position and removed the bombardment.
THE LAKE PROVIDENCE CANAL
While these operations were going attempt was
made to get into the rvcrs Of Louisiana running parallel
with the Mississippi by means OF Lake Providence. and
to gain this lake fiat bot:omed gunboat carried
overland from the river BY OF this vssee tho
rowing rebel bands in this vicinity cleared away
and the military allowed TO operate canal 70 be cut
from the Mississippi TO the lake. This canal
pieed aud the water lot into tho 10th Of March Tho
only advantage OF the scheme 10 flood an immense
tract Of country, including the village OF Providence al
though the theory Of the scheme promised srander re
suits
TIE yAxo0 PAS.
another scheme vas next tried 70 get behind tho rebel
works u vicksburg by Of tho bayous and inland
streams, but Tho dinculty how 20 reach them. An
old closed up stream known tho Yazoo Pass and for
many years unnavigable, stagnant drearv, wild and
almost forgotten water course brought before
the notice Of the Union military authorities reopened
On the oath Of February the feet commenced entering
the pass by tearing down the levee before entrance
and the 2sth the vessels the Codwater river
The work OF opening the dangerous and almost
herculean, yet it accomplished and the vessels
in deep water with clear sailing. But the rebels
nterposed another serious obstacle this mode
vance. tho bend junction Of the Talla
hatchie and Yslabusha rivers, carthvork was
erected by the rebels to command the former
above and the Yazoo (Which IA formed by the union of
both streams) below All attempts TO reduce this work
proved afalure therefore, after all trouble
pensc, ths scheme Abandoned.
srsrLowER ExrEDnoS.
middle Of another route to the rear Of
ycksiorg above Haines Fluff disc ,versd. THIS was
by way Of lie Cypress bayou and lake and number Of
other almost Insignificant nearly unknown
streams into the Big sanlower. THIS route was
yprv NV han
ful Of men, and as the plan Uncovered BY
tho rebels before II had been fuzzy put
working order they nearly succeeded catching tho
gunboats in neat trae aud nothing but the bravery Of
the men and tho arrival Of reinicrcsmenr ssvcd tho
whole forco from capture. ~ tho end o. March this
scheme abandoned
rHE yIcxsurxo crr.or AGAIN
During all this time troops before ylo.sburg wore
engaged the "cut o." The water, from cause
could be induced flow through canal therefore
dredging machaes brough into play about the isi
Of March aud every apparent atemp, made widen and
deepen the channel This scheme however, was
Ike the rest at last decided be failure and giyoo
ADMIRAL yARRsGuI sArrRsIss FORT guIsos
Another important operation place The IAN of
March, and has had much TO do with tho success os
General Grants movements Admiral Farragut with his
aest attacked Port Hudson and tho flagship succeeded
running rast the batteries arriving before Warren
ton. when he communicated with tne fcct shortly
after this Admiral Porter succeeded running OF
his nect down 10 the assistance Of Farragut tho
united fleets began operating upon the between
vicksburg and Port Hudson, cutting or the
tions OF the rebels with the Louisiana shore and making
important UDon military movements On the Jousiana
shore.
GRANTS ynIrAry sppunos-.
u may now be necessary notice General Grants
forcsp have been dong all this time IL would appaar
that all the before named The occupation
Of Younss Point &C, had been performed BY tho
ses, or that the ew troops engaged we're Of 70 imma
'crial character n TO call forih especial mention
But Judging from the sequel, may be led believe
that mosi Of The expeditions merely blinds draw
on the aemys attention from main point of cpcfa
tons The troope with tho expeditions vee urinclnay