Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-01-08

FORT HUDSON AND tfCKSBURG.-y Tn
a st report, received at the time of writing,
concerning the expedition against Vicksburg, il
reliable, 1--WE use the saving "if" on accoun
Of the reliability Of the first dispatches from
that quarter, and because we cannot tell, il
these telegraphic times, especially ). what day
may bring torth), then the grand opening Q
the Mississippi from "Calro to New Orleans,
| is unavoidably postponed; to the grevious dis
appointment of the public our expectations
founded on telegraphic reports (for which Gen
Sherman, we suppose, isn't to be blamed)
have been too fast, and we must abide another
trial. 1t is asserted that Gen. Sherman anti
cipatsd the time fixed for attack, from an
anxiety to nonopolize the glory-preventine
necessary cooperation hence the failure
This is mere conjecture, and the want Of Co
operation, and the repulss, are more likely due
to other causes such as the failure of fuel for
the gunboals (as mentioned below, which
prevented their rendering the expected assis-
lance, an the failure Of Gen. Grant to do his
part, if, as reported, he was with bis formida-
BILE army to threaten the position from the rear
But further intelligence must be received be-
fore the responsibility for the repulse can be fast
ened where it belongs.
1t is not to be supposed, however, that
the vastly important work of opening up the
Mississippi is to be abandoned The latest
advioss Cup to Dec. so), Gum New orl~zn,,
represented that Farragut was about to attack
Port Hudson, and had probably been waiting
for Gen. Banks to make land attack in con-
junction with him. So far as Vicksburg is
concerned the repulse amounts to another
compulsory letting go to get better and
stronger bold, and it is to be hoped that past
experience derived from two attempts upon this
same stronghold, both of which failed from
want OF proper cooperation by land and wa
ter, will have the effect to secure such COOP
peration without possibility of failure on the
third trial that this third trial will be delayed,
if necessary, till Banks and Farragut come up
from below till army and navy, above and
below, are ready, and then success must sure
ly follow.
Intelligence of active operations at Port
Hudson, cannot long be delayed. Meantime
some idea of what must be done there may be
gathered from the following brief description:
Port Hudson is said to .be the key
to the State of Mississippi. 1t is con-
nected with Clinton, by railroad, with on
ly 81 miles of turnpike to be passed over to
reach the New Orleans and Great Northern
Railroad, so that in IL hours JEFF Davis could
pass from Jackson, the capital of Mississippi,
to Port Hudson. The town of PIT. Hudson is
situated on high bluff, defended on the
north by Thonpson's Creek, and deep marsh
es, and earthworks some twelve miles in ex-
tent, erected beyond the reach of our gun
boat missiles, are SAID to form a semi-circle to
the south and east Some 30 heavy pieces,
ranging from "a Founders to 10 inch guns de-
fend the approaches by the river The est
mated rebel force now within these works is
about $4,000 men, and by the Miss ssippi pa
pers we can Judge of the efforts TO increase
the army, from the fact that school teachers
are no longer exempt from conscription.
We also find published the following par
ticulara of the recent fighting at Vicksburg.-'
The accounts, Judging from the reported loss
es, have been exaggerated, though the fgat-
ing was doubtless very severe and gallant
When Gen. Sherman landed at the mouth
OF the fazoo river, he was Immediately at
tackled by an overwhelming force. All day
Saturday and Sunday 9th and 2Sth ult },
the fighting was severe On Sunday he took
tbe outer works of the enemy. consisting of 9
guns and 700 prisoners. The next fortified
tons We're on Walnut Hill. just one mile and
half from Vicksburg. These We're taken at
the point of the bayonet on Monday, about
two oclock-the 4th Iowa regiment and the
18Th Illinois charging up TO the guns and
fighting over them. Gen. Sherman held
these works only 40 minutes for soon Prices
army came up, and after terrible struggle
our forces were compelled to fall back and give
up the works.
The 18th Illinois, Col. J. B. Wynan, occu-
ped the left wing, and contended against the
enemy with an unsurpassed bravery and
heroism. He fell on the hot contested field
mortally wounded, and his dead body was
brought up by the Minnehaha to be forwarded
to his friends in Illinois. He is greatly lamen-
ted by his brave troops, and was well worthy
of their confidence and affection.
The 4th Iowa infantry and sth Missouri were
tamilarly exposed in hazardous positions, and
sheir loss was equally severe. Col. Morgan La
Smith was also wounded in the fight, but no
dangerously. OF the 4th Iowa troops it is re.
ported that they went into battle on Monday
600 strong, and came out at night with only
TO-
The gunboat feet had as yet accomplished
nothing They are nearly out of coal, and
failed to receive supply in consequence of the
capture of the Blue Wing, which had two
coal boats in tow when she was taken by the
enemy and carried off up the Arkansas river.
1t is believed that the officers of this boat were
traitors, and purposely allowed themselves to
be taken. The boat rounded to and surren-
dered on a single shot being fired across her
bow. Great indignation and regret are felt on
account of the loss of the mail and of valuS-
l.1o