Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-06-26
y1CESRI-pG- SIBYLIJNE LEAVES.

kSBuRG-SlBlLL Lime LEANf.o.
We believe that the Confederatcs have had
another brilliant success at Eicksburs, or at
least somewhere near that place. by careful
analysis, and skilful excgctcal rcscarch. OF the
various dispatches from Jackson of June =,
one may actually gropc and gather, thresh and
winnow so much out of that mass OF words
Yes, we arc almost sure that another tcat OF
arms has been achieved at Ficksburg which
was worthy of at least an Ineligible sentence
of plain English. But let not the reader hope
to make out veryrlanly, either the place where
the deed was done, Oh who did it-whcther the
attack was really made ~ the f"rtlicanons oil
Nicksburg as before, or on the lines oil Johnston
or Loring. or some other lines OF ours IN th"Se
parts. The dispatch says. 'our lines near
Yicksburr." Some painful students Of the
DISPATCHES after deep consideration, think that
it contains story simply ola new assault on
the works of Eickshurg from the rear; but so
skilfully has the learned telesraphcr concealed
rho facts. that those commentators have also
Great weight of reason on their side, who hold
that the Yankee force which made this attack
turned their face eastward, not westward. and.
assailcd, not Vcksburg, but the lines OF our
forces near the Big Black. These commcnta-
tors point to tho expressions. complete ro"t OF
the cnemv"-''firc of muskctry exceeding any
thing ever heard" in favor Of their theory; Tor
say they, if it had been IN attack on the tortlI-
cations it could not have ended in 4 rout unless
Pcmbcrton issued from the town and attacked
them in turn and they add-ifi it had been an
attack on Notifications the fire of cannon would
have been more conspicuous than the lire OF
musketry The oraclcs Of Apollo's PythoncsS
were never more cni.matic: the leaves OF the
Duncan Sihy were never more preearlous'
fugitive and hishty than these utteranres-
Yet. after all. we really do think something
rather favorable may almost be concluded to
have taken place.
The Knoxville dcspatch-writcr of to-day,
though not so able Il composer of riddles us
the Jackson one, vet does his best. Three
thousand men attack Knoxville on Saturday
morning, with urtillery-arc met also with
artillery: and after Il spirited engagement
are driven from the field with heavy loss"
hut presently their heavy loss turns out--even
hy nur own sanguinc calculation-to be twen-
ty-one kHicd and ,rouRded. Our Jealous news
agent at Knoxville is evidently DESTROYS OF
sending us encouraging news: yet cannot con-
cca the fact that the enemy has made most
successful rai,! into East Tennessee, destroyed
the greatest bridge i'll that country, next 10
the Louion bridge, taken prisoners and com
mittcd serious ravagc and devastation. Our
roopS, whic, were on the west side Of the
Cumberland mountains, had been forced TO fall
back into the valley of the Iiulston: and IL
though we are assured thst the enemy. about
Cortv-two miles from Knoxville, were cog
frontcd in front and rear Ia most peculiar
position! BY Generals Jackson. P"gram and
Scott. vet we are almost forced to doubt the
"hcicycd rumor' that we have taken all their
artillcrv and dispersed the entire force. 1t
NAV be so we trust it is 50; hut how can any
one believe anything coming in such Il form
The Atlanta "lntclligcnccr,' however has
Il brilliant special despatch from another place
in Tcnncsscc-namcly, Wartrarc. ltf"rmally
anuounccS-and we have the pleasure OF COM
municating, to-day, the announcement to our
readcrs-that Things are Working Well. .
Think of the lightnings of Heaven Icing hale
messed to tho car of the Spirit of the Age. TO
carry through the cmpyrcan this declaration
that things arc working well!
On all these points we must he content to
await official dispatches of general officers in
their own good time.