, 1863-03-25
Farragut's Gunboats Ar
rive at Vicksburg.
FROM THE YAZO0 EXPHDI-
TI0N.
Rumored Evacuation of
Haines' Bluff.
THE REBELS INTO
TIGHT QUARTERS.


Via CAIRO, March 81, 1868.
At sundown last evening the marriage OF
the Mississippi with the head waters of Wa.
chita and Black Rivers was consummated,
and this morning stream one hundred feet
wide came raging out, tearing through the
break in the 1evee. It is impossible to SOY
What the end will be. This morning 4 skiff
with three or four sailors went through the
creyassc, creating perfect furore Of excite
ment. The little craft entered the raging waters
ree1ing like drunken man, and all expected
every moment to see her svampcd in the
baiIing torrent. First on crested billow, then
In the yawniDg chasm below, 1t was for some
time doubtful which would conquer, the cle-
ment or the vessel. When three hundred feat
below the little craft camc into still water,
The long pent up feelings OF the spectators
gave expression in shouts and cheers Of con-
graduation and jor.
LATER.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune,l
LAKE Providence 18th via CARo 24th.
There are exciting rumor5 reaching us by
way Of Vicksburg, that the enemy have eyac-
uated Haines' Bluff, and that the sth Missouri
FederaD regiment, has been sent up the
Yazoo to garrison it.
Ifthis is true it foreshadows the fill, or the
evacuation Of Vicksburg. do not believe it,
however, no such demonstrations have been
made against it as should induce its evaeua-
tion. Heavy firing was heard in the direction
Of Vicksburg last night and all arc on the q,i
ri,e to learn the occasion Of it. AL is quiet
here although there arc Indications of work,
warm and furious.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribunc.1
NEMrHls, March q, via CAIRO, March H.
The adyices from the fleet ut Vicksburg are
to Thursday noon md nre Of considerable in
tercst. The Rebels continue shclling the ca
nal across the Peninsula, but thus tar without
results. They continued also during the
night, interfering somewhat With labor on
the canal.
The water ut Young's Point is falling some,
and there is now no fears Of an overflow Of
our camping ground.
It is questionable whether the Lake Proyi.
dence Canal, NOW that it is completed, will be
used, as so much dependence is placed, uncx-
pectcdly, on the Vicksburg Canal
On Thursday morning considerable heavy
firing was heard below Vicksburg, supposed
to be at Warrcnton.
4 few hours Inter two Of Admiral Far1a-
CUTS gunboats reported themselves at head
quarters.
Preparations arc said to be making to flank
Haines' Blnti By q new route, II the post IL not
evacuated before il can be put in force. The
report Of this stronghold having already
been evacuated is not credited.
Six thousand balcs Of cotton arc lying at
American Bend. The whole Is to be brought
to Young's Point by tho steamers Won Phul,
Empress and Chancellor, sent down for that
purpose, to be employed for 1ar uses.
4 correspondent from tho Yazoo Pass expo
dition, l1tl, says matters since the reported
battle are quiet, both in the army and navy,
which arc reposing, waiting movements in
another quarter. The battery that had been
taken Oft the U. S, gunboat De Kalb and To-
Gated 60 as to command that Of the enemy at
Greenwood, was forced to rc-cmbark, the
place being too hot for occupation. If the
present land and river force proves to be in
sufficient, the Mississippi will soon be brought
to their aid, as the 1eyccs arc being cut to
drown the rebels ont.
CAIRO, March "a 24.-Memphis papers Of Sun
day report that another canal or cutoff was be-
ing opened from the Mississippi, fifty miles be-
low Helena into Deer River, Washington Lake
and into sunaower River, by which means We
arc to gain access to Yazoo River, between
Yazoo City and Haincs' Bluff.
The Federal forces at Greenwood arc still,
held At bay. The rebels hare one 10-inch gun
In their battery commanded by the former
Captain Of the rebel ram Arkansas.
Several bouts Of the Yazoo expedition arc
much disab1edby difficulties encountered en-
route. The rebels seem deteruincdto dispute
our passage down the YAzoo at every availa-
bic point.
GEN. GRANTS LETTER TO TIE SURGEON
GENERAL.
The following Is Gen. Grants letter to
the Surgeon General, referred to in our re.
cent Washington dispatches:
HkApqCAn7Ens DEPARTMENT or T1sSEssxx,
BKFoRE T1cksnrRG, March q, 1865.
Assistant Surgeon General R. c. Wood, StLoufs,
No.:
DEAR SIR: Tour letter, showing the efforts
you have been making to supply everything
necessary, pertaining to the Medical Depart
mcnt In this army, has been received, I eau
assure you, nothing has beaD}eft undonc hero
to secure lhe health OF the men. No army
ever went into the field better provided with
medical stores and medical attendants than Is
! furnished the army now in front Of Vicks-
| burg.
| There WAS deficiency in volunteer Surgeons,
| but now that deficiency is fully supplied The
| hospital boats are supplied with the{r own sur
| the sick The PurreEor'e Department not only
have everything ususlly furnished the sick, but
| more than even dreamed WAS ever furnished an
army: more than the great majority Of men could
Of sickness that persons would be led to believe
from the statements IN the public prints qnes.
ton whether the health Of the St. Louis forces is
| better today than that Of this command.
On MY arrival here the men had been pcnt
up 80 long time Oh steamers, then camping
! on low ground, and in the most terrible
weather ever experienced, there was, for a
time, necessarily, great number Of sick.
Surgeon Lamb has been sick cvcr since be
arrived here, and is certninly unfit to attend
to any ofhis duties. The Doctor Is not will.
ing, Or, at least, never fntimated willingness
TO give up. I have; however, found It neces
Rary for my own relief, to order him awny
The duties would lie sufficient for the Doctor
If in good health; as he is, he Is entirely Inca
Ia''le of them, and his desire to perform hi:
duties would prevent his recovery If he shoulG
be kent here, VeE respectfully
your obcdient serrant.
(s1gnetD U. s. GRANT, Major General.
| EbnA AAnIef1M