The New York herald., 1863-07-16
sttles has granted us the smiles OF his invnc bic assist


ne question has often besn ased. "How long could
v,cksburg have held out n It's provisions had
sxhaustedT, This 10 readily answered now that we have
exam ned ,ho ground condition OF trer wo Ks and
the fact s this weeks further operations aud the
city would nave obliged 10 surrender, la couse
auenoo OF tho murierous lre (wh en- every day grew
more seyere) which batteries and sharpshoc,ers
were continually hurting against the fated city
Afew q the for this ASSERT may be succiact
u stated Aside the fact Of the scarcity OF percus
sion caps which for the sake better show pos
sioa We will suppose abundant the conaguraton
the ground within the rebel works poary adapted
% ssfence, and afforded position second line
Between tho line or works and the city there Is
but single rasne From the works-Fort Hill par
tcu arly-tho slope 70 the bottom Of the rayiae was
gradual and presented remarkable opportunities or pour
ing iAto the enemy superlatvey sangunary drs. rhs
asoont OF the slope tho other side equally ~ ex
posed, though The Grc could not be ing upon
tho retr at the works to ths ravinc Once driven
soross this raw inc the enemy be exposed
than at rst for not only would have
fair sweep from tho andward side but the guaboais
could be brought TO boar upon the position from the
This would be predcament for tho enemy, The reaiz
uou Of which could be endured for a day
Bus may be said how 70 secure the necessary
positions without the sacrifice Of great many The
key to the position which could enalade AL the
knes Of the enemy in the vicinity already ours. The
mine Of the 25h Of june, though tremendous its results
but partially up ~ The wishes OF oilcers. Yet
We held tho position. This Fort Hill 90 July
another minc exploded and Ia its effects satisfied
every WISH On the I'd and 81 instant sappers and
miners busy engaged IN fashioning tho work
fort for artillery, when Pombertons flag Of truce ap
peared and abovs at this point brought 70
tion.
fhs troops greatly di appointed the peaceabe
surrender Of tho city and garrison They looked upon
the less glorious than IL il mad been won by
I'D, Iron and steel. However, let them bs saved
sad need be chow their prowess and daring upon
future field
In viewing the rebel foracations their defects are ev
asat tho untutored in the eminent science OF mill
tary defences. There be system about them
but merely collection OF bitches aud raised earth The
hea suggested to person vi wing them Ia TINT the
gnsos for the construction OF the defenccs Of vcksbug
went 70 work 10 the most casy manner, physically, TO
sAemselves. II appears as II detail made and
ssoh alternately presented with spade aud pick
end ordered dsperse; and, in tho language Of the
West, "ptoa I'M wherever they thought proper being
careful always give hills and prominent positions the
preference
From the looks Of the this is the way 10 which
vCksburg was fortified. There no system no oonsecu
tive chain OF positions, interlacing OF works, upon
which depends the fed strength OF place another
observable feature in the rebei works the lack OF
gabions which in all field fortfcons deemed almoft
hdspensable. In the enemys works there
Il would be unnecessary say further in summing up
hat great lack Of engineering skill the part Of the
snsmy was displayed upon the dclences Of vicksburr.
mix fact ID indabitable 70 who has them and
certainly those who carefully perused
NE above statement which is based upon observation.
In conversation with several rebel prIvates elcited
Dsrtons to the effect that had not yet all the large
guns which had been used in the defence OF vcksbuig
inquired what had become Of them They not
promo 70 tell but ncautous than the rest ina
vertently said they buried ] asked further
questions for this be fact have learned II
70 the whereabouts Of the inferred instruments Of
viii be found by marks Of fresh earth by
formation. Certainly the entombed terriners win be
humcd and restored 70 service In rational
shan he which their former propre,ors used them
On the Sd inst, after the enemy had placed his white
aass upon the fortncatons would naturally be sup
posed ceased their Gre and stood up exposed
have heard instances where the enemy, taking
advantage Of the exposure O. cur men, hred at them,
killing officer and wounding several privates Retail
nsbon was volley u tho rebels In reply
but with wha. effect 10 nos known.
n the design Of the military authorities here 10
pssesly renovate tho city During tho siege very
poorly poosd II ALL and the and levee
Il addition thoroughly policing and purifying the
city, tho buildings ovcrhauled and cleaned with
D. While the siege in operation tho large numDer
q SICK and wounded was more II IN the regular
b arranged hrpitas could accommodate. u was
necsssaYy, consequently, to go 70 the city for
sssonmodaiions, which was done, and whom we made
or entrance but few houses that had not s sick
~ treatment Of sck may incidentally say, in tho
ssbs service decidedly primitive, one may Judge from
appearances The allowed It se ms, 70 trust In
CD and take care Of themselves They n.hy in sp
pars and person, and supple with but scant sup
ply of inferior medicines when hey arc 70 bs had, which
y many instances b lot the case.
ne Seventeenth corp, @ neral Nc" hersou, has been
naSeod By two divisions, which makes his the largest
sesys IN General Grants army The aceessons are Tho
Aytsioas Of General Lanmap and General Heron, both
aSss and willing oces and both tho head Of divisions
uassrpaAssd drill, discipline bravery and experience.
n addition Of these commands viii add greatly 70 the
sussrs usefulness Of McPhcrsoa's corp.
Oos Of the evidences of the ingenuity Of officers
~ .. forth during hitter part of tbs SIEGE
= ,hs Invention and discovery Of . nov instrument Of
warfare, nothing loss than . mortar made Of wood,
aad uasd 70 throw msI shell used ~ hand grenadss.
Tns construction Of these mortays ID - follows
A og about three feet long By eighteen inches
n diameter 10 hewn out Of . tree, the nbres Of
which are tic most nrmyset and compact In
~ centre Of this log . hole bored which
y Of Tho same calbre the shell 70 be used which
b never six pounds In this case The bore Of the
Mortar 10 let in about Two feet which will allow the base
q Tho bore sufficient strength " overcome the explosion
snA weight and resistance of tho she'll The mortars In
sdAM,on 70 tho strength Of the wood reinforced by
several bands Of around the outside at different
pAess between tho muzzle and the base, and nrmiy
sssured.
After the mortar 10 completed 10 set II frame and
tAsn securely stationed in the position chosen.
fhs nrng Of this curious instrument In similar 10 that
q artsry in the old fashioned accepa,on
TAs charge cossi.s Of few ounces Of powder, which u
asposed In the chamber ~ the botop. of the boro
psperly racked Tho shell mex, dropped on top Of the
vcwdsr. The mortar thon prined and set on
inquired OF several rebels what OBJECT these singular
luxe h,