The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-09


trump In the Southwest, a. appears from the
map We published yesterday illustrating the
three great Union expeditions on the Missis-
Sippl In the peninsular campaign Of last year
General Mcclellan was violently abused for
rssorting TO the spade, though 1t turned out he
saved BY It thousands OF lives What the spade
could accomplish In war was then matter Of
history, and illustrated In the case Of the
famous earthworks Of Warrington in the
Revolution and Of Tottleben at Sebsstopol,
and the counterworls Of the English and
French. II has since done something for the
rebels at James Island, in the vicinity Of
Charleston, and also ct Fredericksburg and
Vicksburg. This year. however, the spade Is the
chief weapon Of our armies In the Southwest
more potent than cannon to open the highway
Of the Father Of Waters from the mouth Of the
Ohio to the Gulf II the simple spade, with
the aid of American ingenuity, can neutralize
the frcwning guns and formidable works Of
"the Gibraltar-Of the Mississippi" that will be
. great triumph Of peaceful implement Of
agricultural industry over the terrible enginery
Of war
Tho cutoff from the river, commencing four
or five miles above Vicksburg, and entering the
river again below the city, near Warrenton, is
only awork of time, when the blue clay Is cut
away with the spade and the sand Is reached
Then new channel shall have been opened
for cur gunboats, leaving vicksburg far to the
east, and, it may be- cutting it Off from naviga-
ton But, If the latter result do not follow, Big
Black river-near Grand Gulf, on the Missis-
sippi side-can be asceRded, and the rear Of
vicksburg gained in that way, and the strong
hold reduced by siege andstarvation. This, the
rebel newspapers say, is the object Of the
cutoff at Vicksburg.
But the Importance Of gaining time has sug-
gested two other water routes by which vicks-
burg may be circumventea more rapidly, and
already each ID pronounced not only practical
BILE, but . faI aocompH. Our telegraphic intel
ligence published in yesterdays HERALD de-
clares that the cutoff to Lake Providence is
20 success" and that Yaxoo Pass is also "sup-
posed to be success" By the latter boats
would be enabled TO reach the rear Of Vicks-
burg and the Tallahatohie, and perform most
important service in reducing the place. Yazoo
Pass is not to be COMPOUNDED with the Yazoo
above Vicksburg Yazoo Pass Is two hundred
and seventy -four miles above vicksburg and
was formerly navigable water course; but Its
mouth was closed up by the Legislature of
Mississippi in order to prevent the inundation
Of the adjacent country whom the water was
high in The river. This pass i now opened,
and connects with Moon Lake, which, by very
crooked, marrow pass, connects with Coldwater
river, which enters the TallAhatchie. which dis
charges itself into the Yazoo river whence tho
roar Of vicksburg above the Notifications on
the Yazeo river can be reached and all the
steamboats, on that river destroyed. The COM
municatieas Of Vicksburg with the country In
the rear Of It may be thus completely cut OF.
We learn that the gunboats have already started
on this expedition, and every hope is enter
tanned of its success. The rebel journals laugh
At the enterprise, say 1t d utterly hopeless and
that every vessel which attempts it will fall into
trap. But wSshall soon see
No doubt is entertained by our generals that
by way of Lake Providence, the Tensas and
the Black river Tin Western Louisiana our
boats will be able to enter the Red river,
and thence the Atchafalaya, which leads direct
to the Gulf, thus diverting the Mississippi from
Its present bed, fifty miles above Vicksburg,
and, after q course of five hundred miles, direct
ing it into the Gulf Of Mexico, fity miles west
Of New Orleans, cutting or that city, Baton
Rouge, Port Hudson, Natchez and vieksburg-
work compared with which the capture of
Babylon by turning aside the course Of the Eu-
pirates We mere bagatelle. The canal, five
hundred yards in length, connecting the Missis-
sippi with Lake Providence Is completed with
entire success by the spade, and it will soon be
determined whether the remainder of this pro-
posed new route to the Gulf is practicable. 1t
appears that in connection with this expedition
another has started from New Orleans to meet
It from below. At least so the best informed
rebel journals say. Highly interesting news
may therefore be expected at any moment from
that region.
These stupendous undertakings are charac-
teristic of the country. When Napoleon was
told by the chief officer under his command
that it was impossible to storm the bridge Of
Lodi, he replied, Impossible is not French"
He took the colors In his own hand and led the
way in that immortal charge in which the fa-
ture Marshal Lannes equally shared the glory
with him. The bridge was won. The word
"impossible" is still less American than
French. The opening Of the Mississippi from
its head waters 10 the sea is but question Of
time, and must be accomplished, and when that
il done II will be seen that spades are trumps
DErAULT1NG PAYMAsTERs.-Some time ago, 1t
will be remembered, certain paymaster was
sent to the West with vast sum Of money to
pay or the army Of General Grant, and, falling
by the wayside, he took to the faro table at
Columbus Ohio, where he was carefully at
tended to by gang Of gamblers. They fol-
lowed him to Cincinnati, and thence to Louis
VILE, and the end was that the military official