Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-05-20
WHAT THE REBEL PAPERS THINK
ABOUT THE CONFEDERATE SlG!-
ATEONiS THE SOUTHWEST
THEY DON'T LIKE 1T
THE DEFENCE OF ouR RIVER FRONT.

THE DEFENCE OF OuR RIVER FRONT
From Augusta Ga Chronicle, May Il
We have trembled the past few days NJ the
thought OF disasters that might befall Us in
the Department Of the Mississippi. We have
watched the progress of the enemy with pain
ful anxiety, and the maSsing OF his forces for
the desperate and final attack apon the strong
holds that defend the Mississippi Valley. The
latest dispatches from Jackson represent the
situation there in no enSiable light We have
seen the forces OF the enemy threatening Vlcks-
burg at every point the army of Grant alone
numbering 12U.HU men, as we learn from
Northern sources. But We can now breathe
freer, for are assured that The fT0rernmient at
Richmond has made such n disposition Of lis forces
sriH mt 0nly The safety Of Ficksbtsrg and
orr other offences. tut insure the ufter rout Of the
en|tay. and render probable the capture of a Enrgs
portion Of has forces. We feel almost positive
that The troops near Edwards Depot, now
threatening the rear of Ficksburg, will soon
be completely bagged.
OF the importance of permanently hol ing
the positions we now occupy on the Missssip-
pi river, the Jackson Appeal truthfully re-
marks:
The enemy that is now making such hercu.
lean efforts to wrest the river from are fully
aware of the great advantage to them and the
inestimable detriment TO us that such a result
would work out Besides, they also know
what depressing results would follow failure
on their part 10 accomplish this cherished
scheme, and hence, they are bending all their
energies to its accomplishment. Their efforts
should and must be thwarted. If necessary
General Pemberton should be furnished with
one hundred thousand men to beat them back
Such n force would be required only for about
the space OF two months, after VI hich time the
heats of summer and low water will do our
fighting for
Our hold upon the Mississippi once ayrestcd from,
as, tiS gone forecer, or at least so long as the
war shall continue. which would isolate the
Government from the West, cut oil all inter-
course, and place us at disadvantage when we
shall enter upon the adjustment of terms of
peace. great deal has been said about guar
anteeing the tree navigation of the river 10 the
North west, but with what plausibiiity could
our Government come forward with such
proposition when the entire river, with all its
foriificatons, erected by the Confedsracy, is
already in their possession OF course they
would laugh at such Il proposition coming
from ms under such circ nins stanses, and hence
IL Is of the first Importance that our present po-
sitions on The river be permanently held. Bet
ter Jar r0Nid q be to sacrifice Richmond, Charles-
ton, SardRnah Of Mobile than TO gield tie riusr by
which the Contederacy will be rent in twain,
the West hopelessiy cut off from the East, and
vast section of the best producing portion of
the country subject TO the depredations and
spoliations of the enemy. The very thought
of such a result is excrnciating
THE LATEST FROM NIsslssIPPr.
A correspondent of the Mobile Register
writing from Jackson, May 3, says The state.
ment of a naval officer in Un cinnati, mentioned
by the Appeal, Is doubtlest correct, that yicks-
burg will not be attacked in front aaving the
mouth OF Red river in their occupation, and a
formidable neet securing the Mississippi from
Vicksburg 10 Port Hudson, st is their aim to
land q powerful army on this bank Of the river
between the two strongholds, penetrate leisure
ly into the interior of this State, and wait for
the expected reinforcements from Gorinth
They would thus both oceupy the courrry'and
completely isolate fiekshurg from supplies or
subsistence, leaving it only to time for the gar
rson to starye and 10 capitulafe. The forces
to counteract such designs are Inadequate in
point of numbers, but we have Generals pos
sesting some portion of Lees sagacity and
Jackson's strategy and dash, and our men are
AS impetueus and confident IS those who won
Fredericksb burg, Seven Pines, or Manassas.
From the Richmond Sentinel, May i5.l
Mississippi is to- day the principal scene in
the shifting drama of the war The interest
now centres on Jackson and on yickxsurg
On the Rsrpahannock Hooker has been gentled