The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12
FROM VICkSBJJRG.
Satisfactory Progress Of the
Seige Operations.
Our Artillery Pushed to within 50
Yards Of the Enemy'S Works.
HEAVY B0MBARDMENT ON SUM-
DAY AND MONDAY.

the guns were in position and opened fire
at midnight, continuing till daylight with
unparalleled rapidity. 1t is believed that
great damage is being inflicted by the fire
of the heavy guns.
Twelve men were captured early yester
day morning, while endeavoring to pass
our pickets and get into the city. Two
hundred thousand percussion caps were
found in their possession. One of them,
a boy, came out of the city ten days ago,
took the oath of allegiance, and was al
lowed to 90 to his home five miles back.
He will probably be condemned as a spy.
Gen. Johnston is reported to be toward
jackson, but not in force sufficient to at
tack us.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-ISpecial to Post.
The Government has advices from Grant
up to the 30th ult.
Every thing is reported to be satisfac
tory.
Gems. Mcpherson and Sherman had
pushed their artillery to within fifty yards
of the rebel works.
Heavy reinforcements were reaching
Grant, and he is now quite able to carry
on his siege of Vicksburg, and take care
at the same time of Johnston.
It is believed Vicksburg cannot hold out
but a few days longer.
CAIRO, June 5.-The dispatch boat Gen.
Lyon, from Vicksburg Monday night, has
arrived.
Firing was kept up all day Monday.
Sherman's troops on the right could be
seen in motion when the General Lyon
left.
At midnight a contlagration was going
on in the city. Some supposed our shells
set the buildings on fire others conjectur-
ed that the rebels were destroying their
supplies preparatory to surrender.
Grants position will be absolutely i'm
pregnable in few days.
No particulars are given, but they are
of the most cheering character.
The steamers Chancellor and Atlantic,
loaded with troops, when near Island No.
81, On Wednesday last, were fired upon by
guerillas from the Mississippi shore. One
captain and two privates were killed and
several wounded.
CHICAGO, June GA special from the
Chickasaw Bayou to the 1st, says there is
no important change to report.
Gen. Logan has planted battery of
heavy siege guns within hundred yards
of the rebel forts, and constructed COW
cred pathway from behind the big hill,
through which bis gunners pass to and
from with little danger.
a bearer of dispatches from Pemberton
to Johnston, left the rebel lines last Thurs
day, and came directly to Grants head
quarters and communicated their contents
to the Government.
From Helena it is reported that Gen.
Price has removed his entire force from
Little Rock to Fort Si...ith, leaving behind
but a single regiment.
Marmaduke is at Jacksonville, Arkan-
SaS.
The country between White River and
st. Francis is patrolled by guerrilla band
numbering six or seven hundred, under
Col. Dobbins.
This band are extremely enterprising,
extending their observations to point
almost within sight of Helena.
WASHINGTON, June "A telegram was
received tonight, extracted from the
Richmond Sentinelof the Sd, as follows:
JACKSON, June 1.-Gen. Grant demand
ed the surrender of Vicksburg on Thurs
day, giving three days to Gen. Pemberton
to consider the demand. Gen. Pemberton
replied that he did not want fifteen min
utes, and the troops would die in their
trenches before they would surrender.
The enemy's gunboats fire heavy shot at
the city.
Port Hudson is invested
The General forwarding this dispatch to
the Government, adds: There is nothing
in the Richmond Enquirer of the 18th.
Dispatches have been received directly
from Gen. Grants army, of dates respect
lively the 28th, 10Th, 3Oth and 31st, and
while they mention the progress of the
siege, they say nothing of an assault on
on the 2lst and 22d, nor of any battle
since the 25th, which last was not very
heavy. Our troops are officially represent
ed as being in good health and spirits.
Up to the 31st of May, the siege of Vicks-
burg was progressing with reasonable sat-
isfaction. There was not then any imme-
date pressure on Grants rear. General
Banks had Port Hudson invested.
CINCINNATI, June 4.-Our direct advices
from Vicksburg are to the 3Oth, and sew
eral days previous. Quiet prevailed all
along the line, broken only by occasional
scannonading.
The Commercial has dispatch, dated
May 30th, saying "spades are once more
trumps. We are erecting earthworks, and
are mining to blow the face out of one or
two of the rebel forts that are unapproach-
able otherwise. The idea of carrying the
place by storm seems to be abandoned.
The safest and surest plan of starving Gen.
PembertOn into submission now finds favor
everywhere 81 ..aa
"a deserter came into our lines this
morning. He represents that he was sent
by Gen: Pemberton to communicate YER
bally with Gems. Joe Johnston and Rains.
The former is supposed to be between the
Big Black River and jackson. The latter
was near Port Gibson. He represents
affairs in the city as growing desperate.
About 5000 effective men are there, two