Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-06-18

THE SiruArIoN Al NIcKseuRG.--T
Tribune contains correspondence from
Vlcksburg as late as the 9th inst, from
which we extract the following:
There are but two possible sources
dehverance to the besieged. If Johnston
could muster force Of $4,000 men within
70 days, pass the Big Black and as
sault us in the rear, it is just possible that
the army of Vicksburg might cut its way
through, effect junction with its ally, and
thus escape. To attempt diversion with
any less force would be sheer madness.
Suppose that Gen. Johnston, by weaken
ing the columns of Bragg and Beauregard,
and rallying the scattered and demoralized
forces of Lorng and Bowen, collected an
army OF $4,000 men. Suppose that by
desperate lighting and unwearying labor
he succeeded in storming the strongholds
at the Big Black now held by Osterhaus.
who Is one OF our best Generals. or get
ting through the network of obstacles ON
the Baldwin's Ferry road, he would only
succeed in bringing jaded and dispirited
army face TO face with one of the largest.
best equipped, and most determined ar
mics IN the country, intrenched in cor
don OF fortiiications almost as formidable
IN position as those which protect Vicks-
burg. He would have to fight an enemy
capable of reinforcing from all points.
without any concerted plan with the be-
sieged, and with strong probability of
being whipped in detail
But it is hardly possible that Johnston
can gather the requisite force to make a
diversion before the troops in Vicksburg
are starved into surrender. Gen. Bragg
will need all his troops to cope with Rose
cranz. The army at Charleston, could it
be spared, would have to make the march
over wretched and frequently crippled
railroads, and be compelled to advance
from jackson on foot, while the debris of
Loring's corps would be little more than
an anorganized mob.
Secondly - Pemberton's army might
make desperate attempt to break through
Uncle SANS net between McClernand's
left and Warrenton. There has been
some little apprehension of this in official
circles. On the night of the first of June
we were wakened by a sharp firing of
musketry, mingled with heavy cannonad-
ing. The first supposition was that the
enemy were attempting to cut their way
out. II proved to be merely sorte up
on benton's miners. Two or three men
were wounded in the sally, but our artil
1ery Immediately opened upon them, and
forced them to retire. | look upon such
an attempt at escape as hardly probable,
and only as an alternative of an army T.
lerly despairlng of all other means of de-
hverence. If Pemberten succeeded in
cutting his way through our lines before
Sherman and Mcpherson could arrive. he
would sull be obliged to fee in tota, and
fatal rout, CT to fight the whole combined
army. In either alternative. nothing but
rum complete and ilwemediable would be
the consequence.
1t IS possible that Grant NAV feel JUS
tlfied in making another assault, raiher |
than to await the slow progress of the !
siege. Our army is slowly lessening the
space which divides it from the enemy
McPherson's approaches are very close.
IS are those of Burbridge and Benton in
Jarr,s Division, and those Of General
Hovey.