The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-07-03

Mr.. John J. Fitxpatriek's Letter.
NEAR vIcKsBuRa, June %, 1858.
Pvo6essue March Of tie Sis0e-SAdrp Watch Kept by the
Enemy-Copaant Five Of Auske,ry bat NJ Artillery-A
fNr Along Our Lsre-C trcumscrbcd Development of he
Roads-zAs Scemry of the Locale-Tae Programme Of
SAarmhoo1s Lines-"Coonskia" Around-Capture Of
Hesel Ptckcts. de-, dc.
without touching upon forbidden topics there little
20 write concerning operations for the reduction
The great rebel stronghold the Mississippi The ,ega
progressing with that deliberate energy which charac
serizes such work. and, while advance 10 slow and
sure Of the rebels stcadast and obsti
aats rhsy every inch Of the ground and
spadeu earth turned by the besisgng forces amid
q bullets Their artillery nre, however, has
eost eatirely ceased, which fact has created tho I'M
preston that they nearly devoid Of that arm or arc
- usTvina thsE ammunrion for the Anal and grand
ssaA.
- IA vouR AnouuD me LINES.
IN eompssy tn eowfyys Or shs HERALD have just
bcDciade6 tojr u our lines. by which, sre ne~
ssivxls here obtained quite insight into the posi-
100 r. massfs in this vicinity w started from the
yssse rsssr point locally known n Lakes IAsd,
w3sch h &c oac ~ .h~ 49, arp,~
r@1sAIp1e Ns sns sssh, shs direction q ne
-y SnssSa mdlcsssd 70 - " ~ ioss isnn q army
vssas wfioA, snvsoped in clouds Of dust, were rum
e'as 40 rassiiag alag ths rugged ground Following
sns road thus Indicated, We travesssd . bottom
And, with the Chokasaw bayou on our left,
o 10 struck the forks OF that stream where the couu
%y began TO rso and found ourselves ascending
enc those steep bluffs which have been rendered 10 IA
NOUS In The histsry Of this siege. ride an
Ind half, which accomplished with no little
labor BY hossenosh, unfoded TO comprehension
shs typographical and picturesque features Of the vicinity
The osds-which for the part army roads. In
sersectng the encampments every point aud forming
sstwosk through and around The whole army-run the
greater portion Of their length along the very SUBMITS
q tho various ridges, and 20 narrow
4 places thss two wagons can with difficulty
pass zach other, To obviats this trouble, however,
oil vehicles required 10 the right hand roads In
going and the right returning from the landing the
enforcement which rule forms part Of the duties Of the
guards aud pcksts Tho road varies the d
lance rravsrsing docs series Of ridges, Is at
me steep and PERCEPTIONS again when the Of tho
bluff bu, elevated table lands (smai they may be
IN sxsns). smooth and N level q road In park.
The duse. which almost envelops the view, docs not,
saowsvee prevent due appreciation Of the besnos Of
eature, bonntiful supply Of which seems 70 have
been Afforded to this state. tho vegetation -
Of The most uxurisn. kind. The large pesailcd
anagncaia wans 10 perfume with every breese,
tn white flowers forming a bright contrast 70
the darker timber with Its pend festoons Of Spanish
ac1. while the ravnes and gorges but dense cano.
brakes surnounted with tho fcatherliks foliage d the
bamboo spots where old Ike Walton would have goried
10 cut nshns rod, bright green aud plan, from us
fsatve soil.
Our ride terminated with daylight and bivouacksd
Or the uight
uvx IN rsgsuus.
q inquiry next moraing wc found the
ssntrs OF lines the point 70 wbch the rebels direct
their almost entire attention and where their works are
nosi advanced from the city. To give details Of our
speraoas Al this perhaps tho busiest part OF the line
xcu,d no doubt BE- nprudcnt; but there many little
incidents trsnspsrins outside g nc sNcgcal opsrs.
s,ons Of ~ s'szo vel worthy u noice
scaefsi n.ag, there Is bu, little nrns before Tbs
Sr ski.ss ration eaten Then hos.ilt'es commence,
,sussot Without notification frqm either side u ipsr
sumption Of hostile attitude In this particular refer
70 tho sharp~Ascsrs who Hn the rife pits along either
tine q works. whose business u ID 70 annoy their op
poosss while sbsy protect operations Of their friends
The a<tlsisss keep up dcsuory hrc upon thu city or
salient points Of tho forncstions The sharp
In the early part Of tho morning rscine On the
sdsss o the ride pits the frnges Of the breasiworks.
end keep up . running conversation with each other,
during which 70 ase shot would BE- considered highly
dssooorsbe This ent~1 coniias 10 finally broken, and
generally BY side srss. oie o. men calls out,
.Bsox 70 your holes yoa damned rebels" end forthwith
bsxh parties sksdsddie Into the pits, when the ban
spsns IN earnest From that tins until aftss nighaa the
rsmparts lined With little blue carh of smoke, vhns
che cir " bvckeu by tcsharp "b,ag sins" a shs rass
end 10 mslcd,ous with tbs singing Of shs suIsts.
one Il tAs Of this poros Il sbe asd Of 90
rssos 70 an Individual fanilsary known "coonskln"
sad dsssnslsd BY rebels "Gosd SHOT, account q
"a. .nevrinx sin with tbs rac. Hs lookout an1
A sissso~sx on top OF log observatory, where. with
xsss IN ksx he watches tho motions " the rebels with
On u,os ,nd,asrcpcs 70 the lcaden compliments which
7bsv ,ond hhn N no small quantity. Thsy have endeav
r.d 10 rasec his observatory With artIry but, owing
cns d.oculty abou, obtaining me range. have been 80
rsr unsuccessful.
Continuing our Journey 70 tie extreme lon. We came
upon sman party Of Trnoners rebel picket, who had
oesn captured the night be 10 novel manner DO
sachmenl Of picket guard ID penetrated nknowngy
she rebel ines and, returning W different rogc from
ssas by which they hsd procrs,ss, 10 the ct
<A~ res~l rseks' ~som ssv a'ea srA h-"rva' =
.srasesA whss 'hfy sa8snsg reused "a -ny