Daily national Republican., 1863-03-07
THE SIEGE OF vICKsRURG.
Three Plan. for the Reduction orths city.

There are three distinct projects for COM
passing the defeat of the rebel army at Vlcks-
burg. First, there is the canal across the 18th
mus opposite the city, which is expected TO
change the channel of the Mississippi, leaving
the city several miles inland, and enabling our
feet to pass below the stronghold, and operate
against il from quarter least able to resist at
tack.
Secondly, there is the project at Yazoo Pass,
above Vicksburg, on the east side Of the Mis-
sissippi. This pass is already reported to be
successful. Its object is TO pass boats into the
YazOO river, so as 10 attack the rebel fortifca-
tions at Haines's Bluff, a few miles above the
boats and in the rear by land forces. The
works at this point are the principal defences of
Vicksburg against inland assault; and Il is con-
idently believed that they must fall before
combined assault. A feet, laden with troops,
was reported several days ago TO have sailed on
this destination; and It is by no means i'm
probable that we shall hear, very soon, Of an
engagement, and possibly Of the reduction of
that important point.
The third enterprise now in process of de-.
velopment ls the Lake Providence Canal. This
lake is on the west side Of the Mississippi, sixty
miles above Vicksburg, the bed Of the lake be-
ing twelve feet below the channel OF the river.
A canal four hundred feet In length, which
Memphis dispatches Of the Sd announce 70 be
finished, connects the two waters. The i'm
portance Of this communication consists in the
fact that Lake Providence empties into the
Tensas river, which, running south sixty miles
west Of Vicksburg, In turn empties into the
Washita river, and the latter into Red river,
| forty miles above the mouth Of the latter. The
Teasas river is nayigable for more than one
hundred and fifty miles; vessels can therefore
| pass from Lake Providence to Red river, de.
| stroying all the Red river and Louisiana con.
nections of the rebels, and cutting of entirely
the supplies upon which they absolutely depend
for subsistence.
But a still greater advantage than these WI
have named will accrue from the success of THU
Lake Providence enterprise. II will insure, by
means of Atchafalaya bayou, which will be ac
cessible to our feet, junction Of the forces o
Generals Grant and Banks, and thus not onl,
compel the reduction of Port Hudson, which
in this way can be readily hanked, but expos,
to our occupancy the entire range OF plantation
lands lying between the strongholds OF Yicks
! burg and Hudson.
, II, as reported, this Lake Providence cana
! is actually completed, (and there is no reasol
to doubt the report, } We may regard the reduc
tion of Vicksburg as already practically accom-
plished; and If this stronghold falls, the spin
Of the rebellion in the Mississippi Valley will
be hopelessly broken.
LATER FROM LAKE PROVIDENCE.
E The St. Louis Democrat of Tuesday publishe
the following;
"From private sources we learn Of importaI
movements down the river, the news Of whic
has not been permitted to come to us throug
our telegraphlc correspondence. The cana
from the Mississippi river to Lake ProVidenC
has been completed, and on Tuesday last th
steamer Continental passed through. larg
division of the army, including the Seyent
= Missouri, Eighth, Twentieth, Thlrtieth, an
Eighty first Illinois, and some others, undC
, Generals Logan and Macarthur, was ready fc
transportation through the Lake, and befoI
this time is doubtless on Its way to Red rive
r the destination probably being Port Hudson
, where the command will cooperate with Ger
Banks for the reduction of that rebel stronl
hold. Great and good news may soon be ei
q pected from this expedition"