Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-30
FiRbtIue nj VieksburF.

correspondent ofthe Cincinnati Times,
writing from the rear Of Vieksburg on the
21st, says:
awe have within sight Of me some six
thousand dust-col0red individuals as pris-
oners. They seem Indifferent to their fate,
and accuse Pemberton Of treaehery.
Yesterday I stood nearly opposite the
city, noting the struggle Of Sherman for
the water battery. Hour after hour the
decks Of three gunbosts were crowded with
officers and men to witness the struggle.
Why they did not assist him 1 know not.
The Choctaw lay languidly at anchor just
out Of range. Hour after hour the hot sun
poured down on the half famished, weary
veterans-hour after hour, and still the
battery remained u~nvsnquished. But
Sherman is mad" not without method,
and took it without help. Imagine q battle
raging at the lower part Of CoVington, and
three gunboats at the Newport ferry, at
anchor, and you have it, hills, river and
all.
As Colonels Smith and Morton, two Of
the most efficient officers in this corps, and
Major Tyford, Captain Nerly, and two 9TH
ers, were about two miles in advance of
their troops, on the 17th, they came upon
Captain Raisler, Of Athens, Alabama, and
181 others. They ordered the rebels to
surrender, threatening them with the fire
Of their whole command who we're sap
posed to be in the bushes in the rear Of
where the cool and brave officers stood.
The rebels surrendered and were much
mortified when their arms were stacked,
and they ordered to SOait.
II A.. --n1As.- -Ls,I .L.,1l 49,
render, Morton said he preferred that it
should be the rebels-so it was.
"0ur men are in excellent spirits; have
been short Of provisions, but shared with
the citizens. We are now loading two
hundred wagons with coffee and hard
bread. These will reach the patriots in
an hour. Tomorrow (21st) we will land
just above the city, in ChickssaW Bayou.
The army has now been hard at work for
three weeks, fighting nearly all the time.
Perhaps Grant is, as his enemies love I'd
tell of him, msdl Grant an inebriste
his army g rabble, an armed mobl How
/ glorious is madnessl o, winel thou art
the precursor Of victory thy sparkle is
but the CLEAN Of glory.
81 must not commandments boats sre
ct work above the citY=shalLAftaEIshan
usEm Emfd It's glare. Tomorrow the
place will, in all probability, boast the
Star-spangIed Banner-light amid dark
ness-glory amid shame honor over in
famy-lsw in de~solation.
"FOr four days the city has been invest
ed-to-day (2lst) the large guns are
brought into service. Sherman and Nc
Pherson are anxious to storm the place.
Sharpshootors pick of the c~annoniers from
rebel bresstworks. One large PARROT
prattles no more, nor the foe replace it.
"For some days there has been some
apprehension Of Joe Johnston coming in
our rear. All fear is dispelled. Sherman
can invest the city alone, and take it too.
From their position, Mcpherson and Nc
Clernand, can repel any force that he can
bring. All is now safe, and fate has de-
termined, Vicksburg is ours.
"MAT 22d.-To-day a charge was made
by Saermsn. The men scaled the steep
parspets like sheep over a fence. All their
outer works are ours. The firing is slow.
To-day they tried to cut their way out, but
we're driven back. The city is at our
mercy"