East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-09-23
The Situation.

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The Situation.
Our latest advices from New Orleans
state that General Grant with his ar
my had sailed from that city, en- the
9th inst, for some unknown post. 1t
is, however, generally understood that
his destination is Mobile, and that it
is his purpose TO invest and capture
that city. That he will accomplish
the work, should he undertake it,
there is not particle Of doubt 1t
will not be done at once, and probably
not without great loss Of life The
capture of that post is of importance,
and would be q terrible blow TO the
Confederacy. That city commands
the navigation Of the Alabama River,
which once within our grasp gives our
forces clear sweep TO Montgomery, the
capital Of Alabama; Mobile once cap
tured, and Grant could at once al
vance without opposition TO meet the
advance of Rosecrans and Burnside
and together they would hold the very
vitals of the rebellion The rebels,
however, understand its importance as
fully as we do, and they viii defend
il TO the last.
The city is tremendously protected
against attacks both by water and land.
It's land or rear defences consist of
several series of the strongest fortifica-
tons, series within series, several miles
, in extent, all earth-works like those
which have proved so nearly invulnor-
able upon Morris Island, all construc-
ted upon the most approved principles
of military engineering, and all mount
ed with artillery of the most effective
] NlItIdtltIs Iuc W dltI lipLll ucIcHScS
consist of powerful forts and numor-
Gus batteries mounted with some of
the heaviest cannon used in the South
during the war, and all sorts of harbor
Instructions the most formidable. and
perilous. The military men in Mobile
believe that no feet in the world could
run the gauntlet of the approaches to
their harbor.
Thus the undertaking upon which
our land and naval forces are about to
enter at Mobile is a stupeldaQs one
We assume that favorable result is
certain, but we do not expect it to oc-
cur speedily. Ideas Of doshing pcrcip-
itately on such land and water deicn-
ses as the experiences Of this war have
taught the rebels to establish have
been exploded at pretty serious cost TO
us. OF course Mobile, having long
boon in expectation of the trial to
which she is exposed, has made pre-
paration for it by the utmost possible
accumulation of provisions and ammu-
milton.
But the patience and skill that cap
tured Vicksburg, will also force Mobile
to succumb.
In the meantime the forces of Rose
Grams and Burnside are pushing the
forces of Bragg from place to place
Our forces at last accounts, were hold
ing Chattanooga, and it was supposed
that Ewell or Longstreet had rein
forced Bragg, and that battle would
be fought at that point very soon.-
We have unlimited confidence in Rose
Grams, and feel sure of his success if
attack.
From Charleston we have favorable
news, although nothing effective has
been achieved since the rebels evacu-
ated Wagner and Gregg. Gilmore
is increasing his offensive measures
and expects to take Sullivan's Island
very soon, or at least to make lodg-
ment there from which Muultrie can
be brought to terms. One after an
other of the defences must fall, though
it may be months before the decisive
blow will be struck.
The Army Of the Potomac are again
moving with view to ascertain the
whereabouts and strength of Lee. Our
front is along the Rapidan. A small
force of the enemy are in front, but it
is not possible to find out just where
the main army now is. Some reports
say thatLee has gone South, while
others as positively assert that he is
preparing flank movement or raid
into Maryland and Washington. We
however, incline to the belief that he
is simply holding the defensive and
that portion of his army has joined
Bragg, and another portion gone to
the relief of Charleston. In either
case we may expect stirring news in
a few days.