The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-09
TRIPLE SH EET
New York. saturday, May ., 1853.
THE SITUATION.


The oficialreport of Admiral Porter, recording
his great success in the capture of Grand Gulf,
Miss, was received at the Navy Department yes
terday. and created much excitement in Washing.
ton. The possession of this point places the for.
midable rebel strongholds at Vicksburg and
Port Hudson at our mercy. Admiral Porter
says that he now holds the door to vicksburg.
The fight lasted five hours and half.
The forts literally torn to pieces by the fire
of our vessels, but all the guns captured by our
forces were in good condition. The works at
Grand Gulf were the most formidable ones the
rebels possessed in the vicinity of vcksburg. Ad-
miral Porter and General Grant now hold them,
and are rcmounting the guns. General Grant is
reported by dispatches from Cairo to have reach
ed Port Gibson. Many of the rebels who fled from
Grand Gulf were captured by our pursuing forces.
We have the authority of the Secretary of War,
in his despatch to Governor Curtin, of Pennsyl-
vania, yesterday, that the Army of the Potomac
will speedily resume offensive operations; that,
although the principal operations of General
Hooker failed, there has been no serious disaster
to the organization and efficiency of the army, and
that not more than one.third of General Hooker's
force was engaged.
The movements Of General Stonemans cavalry
force, which formed the most brilliant episode in
the nine days fight of Hooker's army, are finely
illustrated in the map which we publish to-day.
IL shows the different routes taken by the several
divisions of the cavalry corps under Generals
Stoncman. Averill and Buford, and Colonies
fitzpatrick, Davis, and wyndham. Starting
from Kelly's Ford on the northwest the lines of
march are faithfully portrayed, tmarked with the
design Of arrows) to all the points touched at-the
portions Of the track torn up, the bridges de-
stroycd. and the spot where the canal was
cut near Columbia. The latest news reports
Colonel Kirkpatrick as having reached
Gloucester Point, through Tunstal's Station,
near Yorktown, where he Joined General King.
OF the brilliant movement of Colonel Kilpatrick's
command. General King says IN his official notice
of his arrival at Gloucester Point:-"They burned
the bridges over the Chickahominy destroyed
three large trains of provisions in the
rear of Lees army, drove in the rebel
pickets to within two miles of Richmond, and
have lost only lieutenant and thirty men, hav.
ing captured and paroed upwards of three hun
dred prisoners. They have marched nearly two
hundred miles since the Sd of May. They were in.
side OF the Notifications of Richmond on the 4th
burned all the stores at Aylett's Station on the
Mattapony on the 9Th, destroyed all the ferries
over the Pamunky and Mattapony and large
depot of commissary stores near and above the
Rappahannock, and came in here in good con-
dtion." splendid record this for any officer
The roads to Gloucester and Tunstall's will be
found indicated on the map. The operations Of
General Hooker are also carefully illustrated
the localities OF the battles of Maryes Hill Salem
Heights and Charlottesville the points on
the Rappahannock where the army crossed and
recrosscd.
The rebels admit the loss Of eighteen thousand
men in the late battles. This brings the returns
very close to the figures estimated in the state.
ments made on our side, which put the loss Of the
enemy at about twenty thousand.
The story of our special army correspondents
is continued in our columns to-day, and we need
do no more than refer TO II here. As IN evidence
of enterprise, assduity' and brilliant descriptive
power, from beginning TO end, IL Is unmatched on
Not the least remarkable In this interesting
budget, Is the account Of our captured correspon.
dent, his experiences in Richmond, and his trip
TO and fro while In the hands of the Philistines.
The President has issued Proclamation pre-.
limlnary to the enforcement Of the Conscrptiou
act, defining the position and obligations Of in.
choate citizens under that law. Persons OF for.
eign birth who have declared their intentions "a
become citizens, are, by this proclamation, pro.
ncunced liable TO be drafted, II after the expira.
ton Of sixty-nve days from the date thereof shsy
stu remain within the territory Of the United
States. In connection with the Proclamation, W,
give today list Of those classes who are excmp,
owing TO physical disability.
The defepces Of New York harbor have beer
the subject Of much attention from committees Of
the State, the United States and the city. Plans
aud suggestions have been presented from IA