Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-02
The News from Viclsburg.

news from Vicksburg is not satisfied with such
dispatches as have reached us from that quar-
ter, during the last week. The letter-writers
have given very full and satisfactory accounts
of Gen. Grants operations between Port
Gibson and Haines' Bluff, previous to the in
vestment of Vicksburg; and we have had
some short and imperfect accounts o: what
has been done since, but nothing that gives
connected and particular account of all that
has been done to capture the place. We know,
generally that the rebel position has been as
saulted without success; and, also, that these
assaults have been succeeded by other opera
tons looking more like regular siege. Heavy
guns have lately been moved into position
against the rebel works, and, at present, the
Irregular approaches of a formal siege APP
pear to be going on.
General Grant first attempted to carry the
rebel works by storm. 1t is said that three
assaults were made, neither of which was sue
cessful. 1t was impossible to capture the po-
sition by storm, the bluffs being too high and
steep, and too thoroughly fortified. This
punt bSlllS SSlliCu, lllc ulGlllOuS VI d regular
siege were adopted, and these have now been
in operation for more than a week. They do
not furnish daily battles and adventurous
movements to make the news dispatches ex-
citing; but they keep the besieging forces ac-
lively at work, and tend regularly to the tri-
umph that is deemed certain. A more par
ticular account of them will soon reach us in
the letters of newspaper correspondents.
The capture of the place is deemed
entirely certain; but the work is not
to be done swiftly, by direct assault, and we
must not now expect to hear that it has been
so captured The operations of successful
siege require time, and they become lively and
exciting to observers only towards the close.
Of course, the rebels will very much desire
to reinforce Gen. Joe Johnston sufficiently to
move against Gen. Grants army and raise the
siege. But such a movement requires amuch
larger force than he can get Immediately,
and, probably, much larger force than the
rebels can spare for the purpose. An army
large enough to modest Gen. Grant, seriously,
can not be moved with great rapidity on the
southern railroads, in their present condition;
and, whatever force is employed for the 'pur-
pose, must have, not only men, but also ar
tillery, ammunition, food, and other supplies,
all, or nearly all of which must be
transported thither. General Grant, it is
said, has no fear whatever of anything that
Gen. Joe Johnston can be enabled to do. He
can be reinforced more rapidly than the reb-
els 1t is reported that portion of Gen.
Banks force is already in the vicinity of
Vicksburg. Should Johnston get a force
large enough to venture march to Vicks-
burg, he will find the plateau between the Big
Black and that city u ''hard road to
travel" 1t is everywhere intersected
and cut up by ravines and small
bayous, and can readily be made still
more difficult by such contrivances as
military engineers can devise. He will think
and count his men good many times before
he undertakes such expedition. At any
rate, Gen. Grants perfect confidence that he
can repel any attempt of Johnston is assuring
because his judgment of the situation COM
mands respect.
Whatever may happen, our troops can not
be deprived of the great advantages they have
already gained. Their base of supplies on the
Yazoo below Haine's bluff can not be inter-
fered with; and should Johnston come with
twice that number (Which, of course, is i'm
possible, he could not drive them from
the positions they have gained on the
north side of the city, where a rebel attack
would encounter our gunboats as well as our
army. When last heard from Johnston was
at jackson, in want Of both provisions and
ammunition. The news from Vicksburg is
encouraging. Gen. Grant keeps his position
and is gaining ground. In due time the cap:
ture of the place will be reported, if the pres
ent signs may be trusted.