Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-02-26
THE SIEGE OF vICKSBURG.

A special despatch to the Cincinnati Commercial from
Cairo, 10th instant, says:
Later intelligence from the feet indicates much nick
ness but it is believed that there has been general i'm
the mouth of the canal The battery opposite has fred at
her several times but without effect.
The work OF cutting an entrance for boats into Lake
Providence from the river proceeding with spirit and
ready expected to the Black Ouachta and Red
rivers Gen German is pursuing with energy the wo,k Of
clearing out the old passage so as to make it navgabe
the Blackwater There Is depth Of water enough but
stunps trees, and vegetation choke up the passage II
the pass is cleared it gives admission the Blackwaer
hence to Taahacbe whence boats reach the rear of
vickso1rg via iazoo river Gen. German has strong
picket force hall mile ahead Of the working party which
has had several skmishes with the enemy aod some men
were killed on both sides The enemy planting cannon
at the important spot where the pas enters the Black
water ard accumuatng force there They are engaged
in filling the channels with trees to delay the work Of the
Federals.
On Wednesday the clearing had advanced to within
Two miles OF The points OF Junction with Blackwater"
letter dated at Memphis on the l4th instant speaks a.
follows Of what is expected to be accomplished BY the ca.
mailing operations iu progress:
Steamboat have long been accustomed to no down
what is called the Yazoo Pass which has one mouth sx
miles below Helena. and another at Friars Point feen
miles below, on the east bank This pass ia a stream
which empties into the Mississippi ut low water and az
high water the Mississippi partially emptes into IT, whence
it into of the upper branches of the Sunhower
thence into the Yazoo aud again into the Mssisspp Ra
veral very large steamers we're up from New Orleans
at its capture and taken into the suuowera total of Ave
or SIX millions OF property Col Eet in his pioneer de-,
scent OF the Mississippi after it's closure discovered the
smoke OF some OF these vessels quite the Mssspp
making their way down the pass 1t proposed to
reopen this line of communication that feet Of laht
draught gnnbOats descend the Sunower and captre
the boats besides establishing blockade over the Bate
res at Hanes Buf aud by this cooperation assist in tho
taking Of Vicksbug For this purpose one of Gen. rana
staf officers, with Gen. Gorman and guard, went down
in small boat the other day and surveyed the psssaee
Their report has not been made public but from the tes
mony OF old steamboat men who have made the passsso
aoretme am told there is great difficulty beyond care
fu steering The river high enough and thoueh
reported falling above. will still keep high enough for six
weeks for the purpose. Of this sort would fur.
ther cripple Vlcksburg and materially assist it's reduc-
ton BY cutting the levees opposite Helena the whole OF
Eastern Mississippi could be overAowed.
But by far the most important project is that conte
plated and believe decided upon leave the Mississpp
at Lake Providence, ousana seventy-ve miles above
Vcksburg, the west bank. It Is proposed To cut
short channel through the bank at Lake Provdenoe into
the lake. thence little stream called Bayou Jacques con-
meets with the Bayou Tensas and little further TO the
west with Bayou Macon, These two streams like those
aforementioned fed largely by the Mississpp in hsh
water The distance from the parent stream s not outa
five miles at the lake The Tensas and Macon keen :
s0uthery fifty miles west of the Mssissinn
and uniting from the Tensas river hundred mile. fr
ther and the Iensas and Ouchta in junction form tho
Black river which emptes INTO the Red forty miles
above it's mouth.
1--WE have already Indicated that the passage of yerv
few boats OF light draft through this channel would enabe
US to reduce Fort Hudson with the aid Of Banks That
done the united armies could lay siege Vicksburs from
above, below, aud in front The surrender of the place
while is remote thus placed within the range OF pro-
bablity The elements are at work for COL Hissen
aud the engineers are takng advantage Of it, GEN. No
Arthur Is already at Lake Providence The control of
the Mississippi is almost within our grasp Even II Ne
nave 10 desolae West Louisiana may the naou