Year: 1863

VICKsBuRG, May g, 1868.


A remarkable quietnsss has superseded the
excited state Of expectancy which prevailed in
tie early part Of the week. Everything has
settled down into determined and fixed reso
luton to hurl defiance at the enemy, come he
in ever SO strong a force. Confidence in our
ability is now The universal feeling, and the
soigit Of the troops is evidence Of the earnest
noss with which this feeling is snimaing the
entire army. The demonstration made last
week, in unexpectedly coming upon us in diff
fsrent quarter from what he had been looked
for, lad the eject Of slightly disconcersins our
arrangements. but all is now again in proper
trim.


We had been somewhat apprehensive that The
enemy might attempt to push forward his ad-
vance early in the week without giving US time
70 perfect our line of defense, bat this danger is
now over. and we are ready for him. General
Grsnt evidently received severe check OF
Bavou Pierre, aud was too much reduced to
f,llsw up the fight Of last Friday, and it now
seems that it requires more tins for him to re-
cuperass tbsn we had sniieips'sd. This advan-
sage gained by US win enable Gen. Pemberton
to complete his entire plan Of defense and be,
10 every respect, ready b. he time the erenag
ean spHraneb.


The Isss news I have from below is indefi-
mite. and represents the enemy as falling
bsek and cur skirmishers advanced across Big
Black. Whether this is reliable is not yet fully
established; but it Is certain that we have
gained cur object in Withdrawing our troops to
the point which they occupy at present. If
Gen Grant desires to advance under the protec-
ton of the gunboats, hs viii find us prepared
to watch his movements and protest his ad-
vance. Nor will the fleet be Of much assistance
to him, as our batteries viii attend to the iron
clads as well as the wooden vessels, and if they
make successful trip it viii be as much as
they can attend to without giving much aid to
Grants army on land.


The running of the blockade on dark night,
dowy stream, without steam, and with port
holes closed, is quite different thing from &C.
ing p sgainst the current, in open daylight,
and engaging our batteries all the while. Five
5r Fsrrsgut's vessels performed this feat last
year, when we had only luur guns to dispute
their passage, and they were SO badly damaged
that it required one month to get them into ser
vieeable condition affef the trip. Now We have
more guns-the number it would not be pru-
dent to tell, but enough are on hand to demolish
the boasted feet as fast as they may come within
reach.


According to the programme, as last an
it is their intention to sttsck our works
along the river between the lower batteries and
Wauenton. The road being within good she'll
ing distance Of the river, will be occupied by
Grants troops, and if their progress is sry-
where interrupted by our forces, the gunboats
will come to their aid. and also drive the rebels
back from the river. IF 50, we may expect to
see one Of the most extended battle lines that
has yet been witnessed in this war. The gun
boats have no terror to cur troops, and The NOR
iars cannot be brought into play unless our men |
arc f:st dislodged from the batteries.


We have another advantage, viz: Our de |
anses being all along the high ridge, We can
rive the enemy plunging shots all the time,
While the gunboats can effect nothing by direct
lring, and not without mortars car they ding /
my falling shells into our works. Besides this,
,ur troops win attend to Gen. Grant, and see
hat he is received with becoming formality on
be occasion. In glancing over the prospects
low before Us we have reason to congratulate
ourselves upon the brightness with which the
Gene is opening up. We have every hope Of
eing able to record not only brilliant victory,
ut the entire aanihilation of Grants army.


EEGTOR