The New York herald., 1863-05-28
New York. Thursday. May as, 1893
THE SITUATION.

4. N
THE 8ITUAT1ON.
The latest news which the government has
received from yicksburg is by way of Mem
phis, up to four o'clock on the morning of the
9th inst. Vicksburg was then holding out, and
Grant was hopeful of success. 1t is said that
a storm interrupted telegraphic communication
between Memphis and Cairo yesterday. Rumors
BY way Of Cincinnati from Murfreesboro state
bat without any confirmation vicks-
burg had fallen on Sunday, .and that Gene
rll Pemberton had got his army away safely,
losing all his artillery. Another despatch from
Chicago says tint on Friday morning last General
Pemberton sent flag of truce to General Grant
olering to surrender vicksburg if General Grant
would allow the rebels to lay down their arms and
march out, and that the offer was refused. We
give all these stories for what they are worth.
We have considerable news upon the subject
from the Southern journals. Their tone with re-
gard to the state of affairs at vicksburg is not
very cheerful though a little more confident
than it was few days ago. General
Forrest is said to have arrived at Shell
byvilie, Tenn, from Murfreesboro, and will
take command of Van Dorn's division. A Savan-
nah journal says that as General Bragg and Gene
ral Rosecrans are both afraid of provoking bat
tie at Murfreesboro it is quite probable that they
are both sending off portions of their armies west.
ward. Rosecrans to reinforce Grant, and Bragg to
-enforce Pcmbcrton. This would imply the ad.
mission the part Of the rebel journal that Bragg
At all events, WAS sending his troops towards
yicksburg.
Richmond papers of the 25th state that An off,
ssd. says an officer who left vicksburg on
Tuesday reports that an assault near the Yazoo
'Oad on Pemberton's intrcnchments had been re-
oelled. It is said that another assault was made
near the Jackson road, and was also repulsed.
Confidence in Pemberton's ability to maintain his
'ositionis expressed, and hopes are given Of final
success.
Despatched from Atlanta, Ca, say that vicks.
burg has five months suppliesfof every kind, and
be taken only when the force defending IL have
exhausted their supplies. r.,
Tie cavalry Of the rebel Colonel Brecknridge
were pounced upon in their camp, within twelve
niles Of McMinnvlle near Murfreesboro, few
lays ago, by General Wilder, with force Of
Union infantry, mounted. The camp was de-
stroyed, and nine prisoners and twenty-five horses
captured. Some of the prisoners stated that all
Inc cavalry under Wheeler and Morgan are ordered
20 report at Columbia within five days; that the
'orces at Liberty, under Harrison comprising five
'egments. were preparing to move, and that Nor
gan is falling back to Sparta to join General
Wharton's forces, which are also preparing to
move.
A despatch from Cincinnati yesterday says that
the report through rebel sources of the capture Of
Helena, Arkansas, by General Price, is false.
Our news from North Carolina is interesting.
The schooner Sea Bird. of Philadelphia. was cap.
sured and burnt by the rebela on the 2Oth inst,
while aground at the mouth Of the Neuse river.
Her captain and crew were taken prisoners.
fhc rebels boarded her in small boats from the
shore. It 10 reported that all the rebel
troops in North Carolina, including even the new
conscripts are moving to Virginia. Our cores
pondcnce from Newbcrn to-day by the United
States transport Emeie, which has arrived at Nor.
folk, contains fine account Of the attack of Col.
J. r. Jones, ofthe Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers,
upon the enemy in their intrenchmenis at Gum
Swamp, In which hc captured their artillery,
ammunition and over two hundred prisoners, com.
pletely destroying their works, and, for q time,
dispensing them. They rallied, however, and fol.
towing in the rear OF our troops harrssscd them
considerably until they reached their own lines
Hsre the fire Of the enemy became very severe,
and unfortunately Colonel Jones was shot dead
behinl his own breastworks.
NIsCELLANxous NEWS.
The Onion Loyal Leagues, in the interest Of Sec.
retary Seward held their convention at Utica yes.
terday. The proceedings, of which we give full
report, were exceedingly harmonious. Among
the attractions Of the occasion was the entertain.
mcnt OF several hundred returned volunteers by
The ladies of TIE city. The soldiers were, no
doubt expected 10 fratcrnizc with the leagucrs,
but, TO the disgust Of the politicians the volun.
fecrs persisted in vocicrously cheering for McClc
Ian aud Fitz John Porter and some of them declar.
cd that the meeting was nothing but an abolition
"scIl.n
The steamship Great Eastern, from Liverpool
on the 10th Of May, arrived in Flushing Bay yes
icrdsy afternoon. She landed over nine hundrcd