The New York herald., 1863-07-08

dark stormy one ana tno foosivn
that the trying sst some here along
the line II such their intention IL Il ist aed
rowkRFuL BATTERY IN oouKss EssTIc'
Colonel Charles r. Wood, Of the Seventy-sxsh Ohio,
commanding the Second brigade Of che First division on
the Fifteenth army corps, is erecting battery on the
shore above ycksburg that will knock the whole ciy
into pip the rebels do not succeed IN siencing H.
The fort win moan, two eoyen inca columbads, taf-
nshsd from the navy by Acting Rear Admiral ~ u
Porter, and manned By gunboat men. As -ae men cal
only work on 81 night may not be ready Tor seyera'
days yet. We promise ourselves the pleasure O. seeing
the arst shot Eed from a. and your scaders shall have
the benefit OF the observations.
our coRT~-coIoNEI sfoNE, OF IOWA
Having visited every rife pt along me se OF
the Onion works. and been up every sap as ar snoy
ran into the enemys line (scmotimo by night and some
times by day., feel like setsiins down WIZ the
Fifteenth army corps and informing the hall n.Iion
readers Of the HERALD going around the rebel
sronghodor particularly in front OF the Fifteenth
army corps swbose line extends two miles and half.
On the extreme right Of line iocated the twenty
nth Iowa. Colonel George A. Stone. This gentlemaa has
been in since the broko ont encng
private in the First Iowa. Under his superintendent
miles Of rife pits have dug running fron tho
steep hill overlooking the oiiy which hill
is planted Captain Landgraverr Missouri horse artillery
battery The captain called the sFyng Dutchman" He
severely wounded Sunday mornisg while tryins to
ASCERTAIN with his glass; the position Of rebel generals
headquarters. Exposing himself for moment, vOley
fired at him from tho rebel rifle pits, and he CELL shot
through lett shoulder the ball coming out under his
shoulder blade He viii roccver but the oss of his ser
vices at this time IS almost rreparabe
AN INCIDENT
The other evening" while Col George A. Stone, Of the
rwentyhtn Iowa, posting his pickes in tho ravGe
between the rebel works and ours, he hailed by
rebel sergeant, with
swhat regiment you belong tog Whats your rankfn
The Colonel wishing TO LOT them know what regi
ment was near them, answered. 44 @A@
''Lieutenant in an Illinois regiment"
f'What are you doing thercg'
'tPosting picket to keep you rebels in"
60 You needn't do that, for General Pemb.rion has
posted he Of big picket here Keep from getting
out.' .t
shortly afterwards !" reb" sung out
when is tho Cincinnati going to Gre up and come
down againfn
"when the jackson Railroad s openedo was the witty
answer
PICKET CONVERSATION SUSPENDED. -.-.
Since then picket conversation has been strictly for
bidden by special order from General Grant, Papers
sometimes get out though, and rebel yicksburg Daily
Citizen Of June 20 is before They request pickots
10 get all tho Northern papers they 30 give
latest nows
Tho "reps'' have news far Of the Virginia raid
which sufficient proof that all communication shut
or botwecn the confederacy and Vicksburg. = -
TO such straits have enemy reduced that they
throwing into lines bolts, railroad iron,
half conical balls sedge hammers and dumb bells. We
assure OF the IxRAiD that the Of
the boaed rebel stronghold numbered and perhaps
before this letter reaches their eyes the federal flag will
oat all that Of the strongest fortified city
in America.
-
The Opera tiOns OF the 24th and 25th,
and I'm the Mines.
MR.. DE d. RANDOLPH KEIM's DESPATCH.
HsApQUA ARrERs, sEyESTKkSm ARMY CoRrr,
DEPARTMsNT or THE TENNESSEE, y 2
BEFORE VicSsnuRG, Juno 25 1868.
This morning, at early hour, In company with Cap
tain ickcniooper Chief Engineer OF the corps
and Lieutenant Colonel william F. Strong, Inspector Ge
visited the works in front of ogans position, in
the lines or this corps, in order TO examine
tho famous mines, the approaches to which, and
which In themselves object OF attraction
to all fortunately acquainted with their existence Tho
utmost possible secresyhns been observed concerning
thom, and though may know tho intention 10 blow
up the enemys works, yet how where IL ia to be done
matter known to but few Tho guards at the head Of
the saps loading the entrance Of the
Cd to allow to pass who ranks under q genera, ,
with exception in the OF engineers and workmen
Immediately In charge. The rigorous maener in which
these instructions carried out Is evidenced
In scowis upon the countenanccs OF multi.
tudc OF disappointed candidates, particularly field
officers, who, in majority OF instances, are the
most adcfatgable and nquisitivo itinsrauts in camp
After waiting time at the mouth a the main sap,
permission granted the admasts Of tho party
to advance which dono with ordinary satisfac.
ton only relief from the gradual ntensifying
heat and warmth Of the trenches but answer
70 a much more unconqaerable curiosity 10 view tho
unusual spectacle which lay but short distance ahead
CHARACTER eF sHE ArrsoScHs
In order reach the main sap running 70 the mine It
10 necessary 70 traverse distance three hundred
Yards. In front OF the enemy's main work.
10 do this q series OF trenches hase been dug,
taking directions az tina exposed 70 an cnlading ne
the enemy yet at every yard approaching nearer
nearer with perfect saoty the sappsrs In these
a number Of sharpshooers are posted TO keep tho
enemy looking and discovering and interfering
with labors. In different locations along these works
batteries havo been thrown up and guns mounted which
have excellent Oatleriog positions.
IL Is not advisable 20 mention figures, yet
may be safe 20 say that, In addition
to number OF Light guns atlntervals Bat
terry McPhorson contains thirty FOUNDER Parrotts
and another battery Of marine guns taken from gun.
boat all commanded by Captain Il. H. oniay First United
States infantry. number OF other heavy batteries
also working order but In locations that do possess
the advantages OF those already mentioned
me MAIN SAP.
From tho head OF the trench 70 tho mouth the mine
thcre ditch about SIX feet wido and six deep
the earth Of which has been thown upon tho surface
wards tho enemy. This arords double security aud
protection against the ensmys procces The longn Of
this sap is about thirty five yards. ..
As approaches the mine. In looking around he nds
.f.t.. ..fn.w a.
mys strongest work. the psrapet Of which about
~ feet from the bottom Of the dch and much pden-
ted by shot aud she'll Tho work, however,. bears
some few marks Of It's original exterior II was evidently