The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-19
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY, JUNE -. 1863

qualities. 1t is now generally admitted,
by those competent to judge, that our only
hope of successful charge lay in throw
ing a tremendous force, say an entire d.
vision, or even more, upon the weakest
point, and pushing colui.:n after column
through bitches, over parapets, over every
obstacle and over hundreds of the fallen,
and thus a short and hard struggle light
have won Vicksburg Possibly this might
be attempted and accomplished now. But
while a bitter experience might teach us 4
wiser plan Of attack, we must remember
that even the splendid columns of the Ten
nessee would not repeat the assault with
the same confidence of success with which
they charged on the memorable Friday
Such disaster as that would of a neces-
sity, injurc the morale of any army.
On the whole, therefore, it is hardly
probable that another attempt will be
made. But the question is constantly
asked,
Is IT LIKELY THAT JOHNSON WILL. Re ABLE
TO FORCE GRANT TO RAISE TIE SIEGE?
answer no. johnson cannot have a
sufficient force, either in number or mo-
1u(e, to render such an attempt other
than the act OF madness, for some time to
come. Where is he to obtain the force?
Loring's division is broken, disorganized
into mob. and hopelessly scattered Bow
ems army, what is left of it, is even worse
off. They are the miserable tlnL,Is of sue
cessive defeat and rout No one can COM
prehend the fatal effect upon citizen SOL
diery of such reverses, without being an
actual observer. 1t is humiliating fact,
of which have been assured by officers
high in position, that our own army under
Sherman, after the repulse at Chickasaw
Bayou, could hardly have been brought
into action with hope of success, and
against Il force of equal size. Even the
brilliant campaign of the Post of Arkansas
hardly redeemed it, What, then, must
be the condition of these tattered trag-
ments OF the Confederate army of the Mis-
sissippi. which would be Johnson's main
reliance
How is he to obtain reint0rcements:
Certainly Bragg will need all the troops
now under him to save himself from the
tremendous army and cunning strategy
of his vigilent opponent. Possibly Gene
raj Beauregard may render him some as
sistance from Charleston. But suppose he
does. Observe the difficulties of approach
1t the enemy attempt to march by the
main road across the Big Black, they will
have Il very different foe to attack from
that which faced McClernand, and expe-
rience widely different result. The in
trenchments at that point are formidable
in the extreme, and a well disciplined
army would probably have rendered our
attack disaster, or at least victory
bought with fearful loss of life. The
outer works would sweep the circumjacent
ground as Jackson's cotton bale redoubts
swept the British at New Orleans. A
second line OF intrenchments immediately
on the river command the first, and the
steep bluffs across the stream command
the whole. Osterhaus is there with
strong force, and the mere mention OF his
name speaks volumes for the success of
the defence Between the river and
Nicksburg the approaches are crippled
and entangled with broken bridges, telled
trees and every description of Obstacles
Should johnson overcome them all, he
would still find the work OF succor hardly
begun. The position of our own army
around Nicksburg is hardly less impreg-
nable than that OF the enemys defences.
Like them, our troops are entrenched
along The crest Of hills. and can only be
dislodged by the most desperate end OBJ
stinate valor
-Mr. CrOunce writes to the Times full
particulars OF the cavalry battle in Virgil
mia. 1t appears that General Pleasanton's
cavalry rendezvOused during Saturday and
Sunday at Catlett's Station and Warrenton
Junction, getting supplies of forage and
food by the Orange and Alexandra rail
road. General Ames' infantry moved on
evening to the Spotted Tavern.
and on Sunday to near Bealetons Station.
General Russell's brigade moved on Sun
day to HARDWOOD Church, and on Monday
to Kelly's Ford. The plan was to rendez-
,ous the command at the two points on
the Rappahannock, Beverleys Ford ON
the right, and Kelley's Ford on the left,
5he two being six miles apart, and then |
move the column forward toward Culpep- |
per, on roads converging at Brandy Sta
ion, where junction of the forces was
TO be formed, or sooner, if necessary.
CROSSING THE RIVER
At dawn General ButOrd's command |
was in motion. Colonel Davis's brigade.
ed two squadrons of the Eighth New
\ ork and supported by the Eighth Illinois
and Third Indiana, had the advance The
morning was cool and pleasant, thick
mist hung over the river, and objects on
The other side were rather indistinct. Our
cavalry soon reached the river, dashed in,
dashed up the bank, and were we'll on the
opposite side before the rebels in their for
titications were aware of their presence.
The suddenness of the movement COM
pletely surprised them, and they at once !