The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-12
THU SITUATION.


THU STU ALTON.
Our latest advices from vicksburg are to the
9th inst. They come from General Grant himself
to Official persons in Washington. Up to that date
the siege was progressing satisfactorily. On the
9Th inst. General Grant and General Banks were
in communication, Port Hudson at that time,
which is the latest date we have being closely in.
vested, General Grant expresses no fear either Of
the army in his front or rear, and regards the cap.
to have made an attack on the 9Th inst. at
Millikin's Bend and Youngs Point, and were re-
pulsed.
The despatch which was sent to General John
ston by General Pemberton from yicksburg,
asking for reinforcemcnts, was dated on the 2sth
of May. That despatch, it will be remembered,
was intrusted to Green S. Douglas, and by him
taken TO General Grant. The letter stated, in
effect that If Johnston could not send thirty thou
sand men to the relief of the garrison at vicksburg
within ten days the game would be up. and John.
As our dates from vicksburg direct are to the 9Th
inst, the ten days had then nearly expired.
The success Of General Kimball's expedition up
the Yazoo is now confirmed. He went up as far as
Sataria with force Of 5000 men, thirty miles be-
low Yssoo City, and arrived there the 4th inst.
He learned that rebel force under General Writ
Adams, 1000 strong, was not far of, and he fmme.
diately marched to meet him. At ten A. NJ. on
Thursday, the 4th inst, he came up with the pick
sts Of the enemy, when brisk fight ensued. last.
ing thirty minutes. The enemy gave way and
seventeen wounded. Their loss in killed and
wounded was considerable. We captured hun.
dred prisoners.
We give to-day most interesting description
Of Port Hudson and the state of things there, de-
rived from a Confederate prisoner. II will be
seen by this account and the very accurate map
which accompanies it, that the defences Of the
place are immensely strong, consisting not only of
Notifications and heavy artillery around the town.
but of outer works composed Of intrenched abatis,
stretching out for nearly ten miles. in semicircle,
bristling with cannon of heavy calibre
The water defences consist of ten batteries,
numbering between thirty and forty guns, some of
them being eleven inches and others thirteen
inches bore. One of these batteries is stationed
on bluff eighty feet high. The strength Of the
garrison Is between four and five thousand, but
their provisions and ammunition are said to be
giving out. The post is commanded by General
Franklin Gardner, a graduate Of West Point, and
formerly an officer in the United States Army.
Affairs in the Army of the Potomac remain I'M.
changed. The enemy's cavalry about $50 strong,
crossed the Potomac near Poolesville yester.
day morning at daybreak, and drove the patrols
Of the Sixth Michigan cavalry back to within three
miles Of that town. The enemy then retreated to
Seneca. burned the camp Of the Michigan com.
pauy, returned down the towpath and recrossed
the river. We lost four men killed and one badly
wounded. The enemy left on the field one lieu.
tenant and one private killed.
General Lee is in the vicinity Of Culpepper with
large body of infantry and heavy force re.
mains near Fredericksburg. Troops from the
Blaokwatcr, North and South Carolina and else.
where have been hurried up to the army Of North.
era Virginia, and there can be no doubt that Lee
eontsmplates grand and desperate effort for the
annihiston Of Hookers army.
Another privatser, the brig Coquette, has been
doing some mischief on the ocean. On the 9Th
inst. she came across the bark whstling Wind,
bound for New Orleans with valuable cargo Of
coal from Philadelphia, and burned her. The
crew were put on board Bremen brig bound "a
Antwerp and were subsequently transferred ia
che bark Almcna, coming to New York, and
arrived 10 this city yesterday.
MIsCELLANE0Us NEWS.
Our European files and correspondence, brough,
by the Africa, Glasgow and Louisiana, are dated
in London and Paris on the 30th Of May, and con.
tain very interesting details Of our telegraphic
summary Of the news from Halifax, published in
Che HssALp on Wednesday morning. The Mason.
0idell negotiations with Napoleon In Paris are
sxplalned. The English journals contain some