The New York herald., 1863-04-22

The Opening or the 0rs.d Osnpaign-
Cheering News fsem the East shd shs
West.
The grand campaign. upon which the rebel
lion has staked its strength, its resources, its
fortunes and Its destiny, opens oheeringly for
the Union cause, East and West
The co operative movements of General
Grant and Admiral Porter, General Banks and
Admiral Fawagut, in Louisiana, lead US to an
ticipate very soon the tidngs, not Of one, but Of
series Of great successes In that quarter. A
powerful feet of Porter's gunboats had run
the gauntlet Of the Vioksburg batteries in
safety. The rebels were caught mapping,
doubtless under the impression that our gun
boats had gone up the Mississippi on some dis
tant expedition. The reader will readily COM
prehend the Importance of this movement, in
connection with the special news from New
Orleans which we publish this morning and
the accompanying illustrative map.
Some seventy-fve miles west of New Orleans,
among the lakes and bayous which, through
the Atchafalaya river, are connected with the
Gulf of Mexico, the rebels had strongly forti-
fed position at place called Centroville. This
| position they were evacuating on the approach
Of the Union forces, but would probably be
captured in tho lump, as they were enclosed
between General Growers column on the ono
side and those of Generals Emory and Wsitzel
on the other. That the rebels were intent only
upon escaping is evident from the fact that
they were leaving their guns and ammunition
behind them. The gunboat Diana, it was also
expected, would be speedily recaptured, al
though. as last resort, she may be destroyed
by the enemy. The ram Queen Of the West
had already been recovered, and her rebel
captain and crew were prisoners Of war at
Berwick Bay.
! This item Of news is exceedingly important,
considering the locality in which the Queen of
the West was recaptured; for it suggests variety
of the most desirable military combinations
against Port Hudson and vicksburg, in addi-
ton to the complete clearing out of all the
country between the Mississippi river and
Texas Doubtless Porter's gunboats, with .
strong cooperating land force, will speedily
proceed up the Red river to look after the
enemys defences and depots of provisions along
that stream, and intended for the subsistence Of
Pembertons army at Vicksburg Already
those indispensable supplies from Western
Louisiana and Texas are completely cut off
from vicksburg, and thus the enormous bat
teries there and at Port Hudson, erected ex-
pressly to cover and protect their Red river
communications with Texas, have ceased to be
of any practical use to the enemy.
Now, therefore, the idea may be entertained
that the next move of the rebels will be
to abandon Vicksburg and Port Hudson-as
| they have been turned-and to hurry mp
their forces from those two points to q
junction with Bragg for crushing attack
upon General Rosecrans In Tennessee. We
would accordingly yet once more call the
attention of the government to the saving pre-
caution Of holding the army Of Gen. Grant
within supporting distance Of Gen. Rosecrans;
for at this time he holds the position of the
greatest importance of ell our principal gene
rails, because It is the position Of the greatest
danger, the most tempting TO the enemy, and
the particular point at which they calculate
upon turning the tide Of the war against US.
We have now the opportunity speedily to finish
up the war in the Southwest; but our complete
l
securing success to Gen. Rosecrsns.
Our news from North Carolina and Virginia
is equally encouraging. The campaign of Gen.
| d. H. Hill against Little Washington and New
bern has ended in failure. He has abandon
ed his siege Of Washington and his bate
! ries on Tar river. Failure has also attended
the campaign Of Longstreet against Suffolk and
Norfolk. Completely foiled in all his move
ments, he has retired with considerable losses
in men and artillery. We conjecture that Hill
and Longstreet will return with the bulk of
their forces to the army Of General Lee. En-
route they may, perhaps, make q formidable di-
version against Fort Magruder, at Williams
burg; but in this event we dare say that the
| garrison will be prepared for their reception.
| Meantime, as the season has arrived when
single day Of sun and wind does wonders In
drying up the roads of Virginia, we IN ay at any
moment expect to hear Of general advance of
the Army Of the Potomac, that splendid army
upon which we mainly rely TO give the death
blow to the rebellion.
We are inclined to believe, from the inter-
cepted rebel letters on the subject which we
published the other day, that Lee has been pre-
pairing for some time to fall back, and that Gen.
Hooker may not be able to overtake him this
side Of the Richmond peninsula. Within very
few days the question will, in all probability,
be settled; and, whether battle or retreat on
the part Of the enemy, we are confident that
the advance Of the Union army will not be ar
rested. The spring campaign opens promising
ly; the advantages Of the general situation Of
things are all with us, and we expect soon To
be the herald Of great and glorious events.
East and West
Reaction In Eng1and In Favor OF the
North-Ths Tide Turning.
BY the arrival of the Kangaroo, Hammonia,