New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-25

Tho Lake Providence project, now abandoned
had in Wow the same object as the new movement.
This ia, instead Of gaining the rear Of vicisburg
from above, to do 70 from below. 1t is 10 abandon
further attempts by the Yszoo Pass and the
maze OF bayou. and rivers that have their origin In
that direction and seek in the ground lying behind
the bluffs Of Warenton, between the Mississippi
and the Black Rivers, means Of reaching ficks'
barg by passing below tha, row eslebrated city.
To accomplish this the necessary prerequisites evil
IDENTIFY were 10 obtain possession Of The forts at War
renton by means OF gunboats and TO keep them, and
obtain command thence back 10 Black River by land
forces.
Tie first step in the new strategy was the COM
mencement Of another canal on the Louisiana shore
beginning at higher point and terminating lower
than the one whose failure has caused 20 much dis.
appointment. Through this canal are to be sent, In
fatboets or barges, such coal, ammunition, provis-
ions, and other supplies, rs will DO needed for the
land forces and the gunbosts below YicEsburg
Thu canal il. now in satisfactory progress. -Four
dredee-b boats are ct work in II, and even the old
river pilos-who from the first prophesed the fail
ure OF the other canal-express their belief In the
success Of this.
bow many Il ia Of course not prudent 10 siae) TO
position opposite, or nearly opposite, Warrenton.
They marched from Milliken's Bend, passed through
Richmond, and at the end Of thirty miles reached
New Carthage, point In tie bond below Warren
ton The soldiers being at hand, the canal for sup
plying their wants and those Of feet being at the
point of termination the last and most hazardous
step was 10 ,end down gunboats for the attack on
the Warrenton batteries, transports for crossing the
troops from New.Cartbage TO the Mississippi side OF
the river, and such supplies as will be required be-
fore the new canal can be broughfinto use. There
was no other way to get them down except the bold
one OF running the gauntlet Of some eight miles Of
batteries past the stronghold Of Vicksburg. AL.
though the recent catastrophe Of the Lancaster and
the terrible experiment at Port Hudson, bad sur
rounded this mode Of transit with horrors undreamtd
of ON former similar occasions, il was resolved to
send eight guDboats, three Transports and various
barees and Aat-boats laden with material and sup
plies down ite river to Now-Cartbage. NsPesks
well for the bravery OF our officers and men, and
especially Of those who had 10 take the responsible
and dangerous positions Of pilots, that no difficulty
WAS experienced In manning the expedition.
During tho whole of yesterday feeing Of anxious
expectation existed throughout the feet. The day
was fine and sunny. Cloud and gloom would have
been welcome, but the vault Of heaven bsamed blue
and serene over the spot of approaching strife. The
sun yet clear and beautiful and the stars came out In
full radiance. As the night deepened slight haze
dmmed the bosom Of the Mississippi, but the eye
had 10 difficulty in making out the dark line Of the
opposite shore.
The former expeditions had started shortly before
or at daylight; this time change was resolved
upon. Eleven o'clock at night was appointed as the
hour at which the boats should leave their rendez'
yous which was Gear The mouth Of the Yazoo River.
To the anxious expectants Of the coming events
the hours stole slowly by. As the appointed moment
drew near the decks Of the various steamboats, were
crowded with va ,hfnl spectators.
A sor Of ayI tneusye shudder ran through the
olected gazers when it was announced that the
first boat destined 70 pass tho batteries was ap-
preaching. Somber and 4ilent IL ioated down, near
the Louisiana shore; scarcely wsro its dark SIDES
TO be distinguished from the foliage lining the banK.
Stealing slowly on it passed US, and at point De-
low took An obliqus course, steering for the MlsS-
sipp aide Of the ver; and in the gloom II was soon
eonfounded with tho dark shadow Of tie trees be-
you'd.
Before this boat was lost sight Of another sue
ceeded and 10 that another and another until before
midnight the whole had gained the Mississippi side
of the river and were swallowed up in the di.a Oh
scuIty. With brsathless interest their trannt was