New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-18
eansed breaks on the levee on the Mississippi side,
e,d made AN oyerfow irr the midst Of some Of our

cansed breaks on the levee on the MIssssiPpi biue
and made Nm overflow irr the midst Of some Of our
cncampmenis, enReudering colds. ague. and pneu'
monia among the soldiers. The defects in the levee
are being repaired, however. and the Ill eliec's
thereof will be but temporary.
The 2, kness in the army continues, thougb the
cases reported ere fewer thsn they were two weeks
ago. Proper remedies have been applied for the
darrhea and that prosac cisease is on the decrease
The weather has been very wet, and the atmosphere
very damp in the neighborhoOd Of Vicksbnrg ever
since our forces vert down there, and these causes
with the irregular and reckless lives OF 'he men,
have been attended by serious consequences. A..
Bad az the sau itsry condition OF the army nns
BEEN il has been greatly exaggerated by sons
sons Indeed have seen il published th@t no. "
,and men ere diving a day down there, when Is 30
grossly false that is would be unnecessary w 'vn
DICT the statement, for any one having ~ ~. r..
tunity 10 make himself aoquainte" VIZ ' IT.,
Heaven knows tie truth IS oad ononfn "" ,'"u,
making the dark picture biscAer' VI "ou''s f"'S
Cen Giant s,ill rem aims near Vicksburg: lie Is
dopr all that lies in bis power nnderstaho 10 eo'
thing, into proper shape ana carry out we ues'ro
~ eServ LOYAL heart by placing the Rebel strong
Io,d in our: possession. He will probably return
Iors ~ n few days, and then 50 below to remain
nmn,ber O, deserters from the Confederate
O, nv hive recently arrived in the city, and pre-.
Tend 10 krow all about tue iDsurgent leaders and
their strength et prominent points South. They are
Germans from Texas, and were cOnscrbed ELK
monthe ago. They give the force Of Sterling Price
at Grenada at ltss than 10000, aud say there il a
good deal of suffering among the enemy in Mlsfis.
slppi on account Of a lack OF supplies. The Rebel
troops are ueualy pretty well clothed and armed,
but they are greatly in need Of shoes Medicines
ind proper remedies sadly deficient In the
South; aud the deserters say tho mortality among
the troops especially the new levies has been very
great--inucl more so than would be believed. Men
sent TO the enemy's hospitals are shamefully neg
leced and die by dozens from want OF the most or.
binary care.
At Niottburg, the Germans say Gen. Joseph f..
Johnston had at the time Of the recent fighting, AT
least 100 900 men, and that he now has al TINT point
over 50 600 which be can increase TO ,0 IN care
Of an emergency. The deser'ers know nothing OF
Tho removal of Van Dorm and Pember,On from their
commands and think the two leaders hold the next
positions to Johnston, being at the head OF the rgnt
aud left wings.
Some of the Germans were at Vicksburg during
the late battle and the opinion among the Southern
officers there 40 far rs could be ascertaned that
tie " Yankees" fought berocally, but under every
disadvantage. We bad no prospect OF success, and
the road, along which We advanced, In the rear oil
the city, was-tekiIg Southern auihority-the best
defended Of any leading 10 the town, and the very
one the foe would have had choose had his wisbe
teen consulted. The Rebels believe Vieksburg i'm.
pregp&be by any ordinary means OF assault but fear
they may be seriously injured by the proper cutting
Of canal or by res ular siege, which may cut them
of from supplies.
Por, Hu1son ia nearly ~ strong in front, the de-
serters suy as Vicsburg aud is garreoned by IL QUO
or 10 COO men. But they thuk "A vigorous attack by
lard with q Union force Of 10000 would reduce the
place Tie enemy has little hope VI holding Hud'
soa for any length Of time, and supposed tarrsgus
and Banks would have taken II some tine ago.
Every added day that it remains in tTatorous hands
renders il srongefor the Rebels fully alive Il
its importance, and extremely DESTROYS Of increasing
its torn liable character. They are working hard
a, their Notifications and throwing up breastworks
and digging rfe-pits ~ rapidly as they can.
Thrc months since, lludron Was very weak, and
could have been captured by II gunboat and two
regiments. Now, thousands may lose their lives III
the effort TO possess II.
o. the danger and fatality Of our perpetual delays
The Germans tell the story We 30 often heard in
Mississippi from Confederate prisoners, Of the
means resoIted TO by the Rebel leaders TO make theiI
men fl. h. The soldiers under complete subj ec-
ton and ruled by the most absolute tyranny. They
have no will of their own. They are degraded into
mere machines. Their suierings their feelings
their in.iincis, are never consldered. They ARE
treated like mere brutes rendered desperate IN hose
AZ they have long been in circumstance and fortane
The reason OF the Rebels lighting 10 reckessly II
explained Ly tie fact that they have no alternative.
II they fall back, give way, or refuse TO advance
thew are shot by their oiicers and are invariably
told before they 90 into sc,ion what will be tbeiF
doom If they falter.
Under suCh clTCunbhntts no Woh"cf tpo PooT iei
lows fight To retreat ia certain death: 10 advance
is 10 have chance Of life. They ire goaded 70 Il
pitch OF frenzy. They have no will, no power, nc
election. They do what they must turn away
from the Past aud shut their eyes TO the Future
And If death finds them, Is 1t not mercy Does II
not free them from cruel masters from wasting
war, hopeless struggle, AL existence Of OPPRESSION
FRENZY and pain , ,
Gen Sherman, 1t seems, 10 revenging himself upon
the representatives OF the preSs Tor their adverse
criticisms upon his management Of the attack on
yickshury and has caused the arrest Of one OF the
eorresp onoenis Of NewYoTk journal on the ground
of his giving information TO the enemy, being a
Spy, &c.
Such course is only silly on the part OF Sherman
who seems determined 10 make the public beiieve
that be is a. defective in sense and reason 10 many
have declare him. The Bohemian ia limbo 10 full
as loyal as Sherman or any officer IN the Northern
ARMY and has been made tho target OF The Gene
rails Ill temper and mental naITowDess feel a.
sured, without any adequate cause. However, II
Sherman Is DESTROYS 10 convince the people OF his IN
sanity by endesvoring TO prove loyal journalist q
spy suppose be ought 10 be allowed the privilege
ESPECIALLY 90 be can in that manner ipjure no one
but himself. Juhius'
RnnM yARRAIK