New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-06-05


The Grent Assault OF the 22d Of Nay
iption OF the Works Assailed-The
Bravery OF Our Troops-The Murder
Fire pcctcd strength
Of the Rebel Torti6caiions-vaIor and
Determination OF no Anvil.
From Our Special Correspondent
LOWER MISSISSIPPI, Nay Is 1863
The 22d Of May, 1863, will be always memorable
AZ day of heroic daring and Forlorn Hopes.
On the one aide WAS Gordon Of battlemens and
rfe-pits stretching natural chain Of most formids-
bic earthworks for six miles or more, aud defended
by the remnant Of the great Army Of the Mississippi,
amounting to ID 600 or 20, 600 men. On the other
was vast army, the conquerors of five batte-feds,
and wrought MP TO the highest pitch Of morale.
The history Of the DIST is that Of herculesp attempt
by splendid army TO storm Of the fnest-if not
the fues-held fortifcktioDs in the world. The
chivalric and romantic bravery Of that action was
worthy Of the best days Of the Crusades or the
cod Guard
Mech censure will doubtless lie attached TO our
commanding officer for making the attack as he did.
II will be argued against him, fret, that Vicksburg
was fairly invested by orr army, and it, capture
only question Of time; second tina, those forhca
tons, garrisoned they were, could not be taken
by assault But in point Of fact neither Of these as
sertons was absolutely true. Who would venture
to say bow coon Johnston might not appear in our
rear with Lorng's Division and the remnant Of
Bowen's, beside the army which retreated behind
Jackson What re-enforcements might come, and
bow soon, was question which no man could an-
swer II was certain on tho other hand, that the
army Of Vicksburg was terribly demoralized; that
our own troops bad already stormed and carried
fed-works Of the mos, formidable description.
The attack may be looked upon heavy re-
counoissance TO ascertain the strength Of the enc
my's position. The structure Of the forts could not
be satisfactorily sseer.ned by any system Of secret
service Il turned out that the interior Of al es,,
one Of the bAsions conld be commanded after II
was taken by rife pits in the rear, that 1t could only
be taken pece-Inea az partitions divided lie inte-
rior. take it for granted that obstacles OF tbs
nature were not known until the time Of the attack
II was entirely uncertain a. 10 how long the enemy
would be able 10 hold out From ell sources OF IN
formation at my command it appears that there are
6uyied und,y Y.cksJurg provisions for nearly two
months. Under these circumstances, who viii az
sumo that the course adopted wHs not wise one.
Til hffNOA'bIS ~ lhL Ni'''
About . o'clock on the 18th, shormsn's corps WAS
within five miles Of the city on the Vicksburg and
Bridgeport road. Mcpherson was coming up on the
Ridge road, leading rom Black River bridge while
McClernsnd had dverged 10 the left, the Ham
let Of ST. Adams for distance Of three miles, and
was advancing 10 position Oh the extreme left. IL
had been detained at the Big Black till o'clock
q. M, awaiting the completion Of pontoon, under
the supervision OF Gen. Leigh. Although the work
WAS pushed forward with the greatest industry dur
ing the night il was not in readiness for the troops
until that hour. Anticipating that shermans col
umn might be before us, and perhaps enter Vcks-
burg without opposition, hurried on with the adj
vance guard Of cavalry, under Col. Mudd.
! During the progress We brought up at a cottage
near ST. Adams, where we met an unsophiscated
htleMss OF I8, who would not he persuaded that we
were Yankees, 30 close IN the rear Of the maiden
city, but olung with a per,inacity amounting TO
infa,uation 10 the belief that we were Southeroer
in disguise. Not even tho sight Of Lincoln green
backs could undeceve her, and left her still adj
herring 20 this most singular delusioD. AT this point
we parted company with the cavalry, and rode for
ward like G.. p X. Jamess solitary horseman, with
keen consciousness of the role were playing AZ
the roadside abounded with Confederate strsgglers
Under any other circumstances tho ride would have
been delightful. The road. as its name indicates,
follows the windings Of ridge which overookS the
lsnd,cape far around. Wooded fluctuations, billowy
M tho waves Of the sea, Gil the prospect on every
side.
long cloud of dust in the distance, at first snip
posed TO be that Of Rebel cavalry, proved to be
sbermaI's advance. The remainder OF the day
was occupied in finding camp ground for the soldiers
and accommodating. On the morning OF the l9th,
Woods brigade Of Steele's division was advanced
to the high tableand overlooking the river, about
two miles 10 the north Of the city. One high forlih
cation near by identified the position OF one OF
the most efficient Of the batteries that stormed at
transports as they attempted to pass tho block
ade. With feeling Of exutatiou, a'cended that
position overlooking the tents Of Mlkens Bend
and Younqs Point on the hand, and the theater'
gloomy with forest and swamp, Of the 18th OF De-
cember. All the earthworks, ffowning over gorges
and abattis which our enemies had constructed with
70 much skil and care, had already fallen into our
bands.
TIE PASSAGE OF THE FLYING DUTCHMAN.
One of the most dashing exploits Of the siege thus
far was the passage Of Lan1grnvers battery, headed
by that gallant officer across an open space OF ball
mile, commanded by six Rebel guns from which be
could silence some guns which were annoying the
brigades of Manter and Wood. To obtain that po-
stioD Lsndgrayer was compelled to run this gaunt-