Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-06-22
The Siege of Vicksburg.
Details Of General GRANTS Operatiens-
Official Advices to W ednesday Last

Details Of General GRANTS OperationS-
Official Advices to W ednesday Last.
NAsnvrLLE, June 2l.-ldspatches dated 18th
and 10th have been received from Ficksburg
The siege works are still progressing with
vigcr.
Gen. Grant was still receiving reinforce.
ments, and the health of the troops continued
excellent. The W hole loss of the United States
force for the week preceding the 10th was not
more than twelve killed. The total killed and
wounded did not exceed fifty.
A correspondent OF the Chicago Tribune,
writing under date of June 9, says
THE SITUATION.
On the main road from Jackson to Eick5burg
the rebels have constructed strong Notifications
On ridge running directly into the town. This
is about the center of their line of works, and
If we can get possession of these, the others
must fall without much trouble. This is ap-
preclared by our commanding officers, and
they are making strong aggressive movements
In this direction. Gen. Logan, who is very
active, energetic officer, holds this point with
his division. fa.HF
In order to approach the main fort as desired,
Yankee ingenuity mnst be called into requisi-
ton. Always equal to any emergency, the
"Yankees'' were not long in deciding what
was to be done. We were approaching the fort
by way OF the road running along the ridge,
and the fort being built right across the road,
commands the position so perfectly that it was
impossible to dig the ditch that is to lead us to
the base Of their works without some protec-
ton. A ditch six feet wide and six feet deep
was completed to within two hundred feet Of
the fort, when it was necessary to turn it in n
direction to the left across the road. From this
point it was to be turned at right angles, nearly,
and 100 feet would bring us to the base.
To dig the ditch across the road was the main
difficulty. To accomplish this a car was con-
structed 30x1U feet, and put upon small wheels.
A row OF cotton bales standing on end were
put In front ana on each side. After it was
ready the men run it out from behind our
ear th works into the road in front of the fort
1t was hardly out before a rebel popped up his
head and exclaimed with an OATH s. here comes
the Lincoln wagon" Their curiosity was ex-
cited, and 1T was very evident that with them
it was mixed question whether it was SIM
pie car load OF cotton, or some I'M ernal machine
OF ankee invention. Heads would peer above
the parapet for an instant to get a look, just
long enough to hear the crack OF some sharp
shooters rifle that fractures the cranial box of
some inquiring mind.
Yesterday the car was run out, and during
the day the ditch across the road was compile
ted. 1t was no longer necessary to us, yet the
rebels did not know this. 1t was expected that
they would make an attempt to burn it last
night, and perhaps successful one. About
midnight, as was watching the movements
OF things along the line, / saw, at the distance
OF two miles, fire balls thrown from the fort
towards the "wagon," and soon it was in
flames The flash OF musketry from our ditch
es was very rapid, and the enemy suffered so
severely by it that in retaliation they returned
the fire as we'll as they could. For the first
time since the siege begun musketry firing was
kept up all night.
This morning our men We're at work again
behind large round bale of cotton. made
expressly for the occasion. AS they advance
they roll it before them. Gen. Price ina usurated
this species OF strategy at Lexington. Before
this reaches you we nope the object of this
work may be attained, and it does no harm to
say that il is for the purpose of blowing up the
main fort or s'key to Vicksburg' A few days
more will complete the work, unless some
unforeseen obstacles are thrown in the way.
When we once obtain possession of these works
and the ridge running INTO town, the fate Of
Eicksburg is decided