Year: 1863

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lN REAR OF V1cKsDURG, june Is.


am tired writing that the siege of
Vicksburg is progressing, but that there
is no news of special interest from this
point that is not eontraband; that the
bombRrdment is kept up night and day,
with uncertain results; that Joe Johnston
is concentrating in our rear, and is re-
ported to have from 10000 TO 10000 men,
and so on TO the end Of the chapter. All
these things have been written up in va
rious styles, until the public has no ex-
ouse for not understanding them fully.


We believe here that Johnston is at
last actually moving, and will bring
things to a head or issue soon. tits my
impression that the protraoted struggle
for the possession of the bellicose little
town of Vicksburg will be decided in
the neighborhood of Haines' Bluff with
in ten days. If Johnston, feeling along
our rear-wsrd line finds a weak place
and effects an entrance, thereby sand
wiching General Grant between himself
and Pemberton, the latter will hold out
till absolute starvation puts an end TO
his obstinacy, or until he is relieved by
the raising Of the siege. If not, John
ston's failure to do anything formidable,
makes the holding out of Pemberton a
piece OF inhumanity to his men, and he
cannot do it long. 1t is all very well for
him to tell his men that he will fieht on
till the last dog is eaten and the last man
is killed in the last ditch, but that is
something about which they will even
tually have something to say. They
may be more heroic than other rebels,
but that they will immediate themselves
for mere stubbornness sake is beyond
belief.


Beyond the usual amount of sharp
shooting from the pits and cannonading
from our batteries, there has been little
done in the way of fighting for q week
past. The rebel0 have used their ammu-
milton more freely than is common with
in the last three days, without any
material damage, however. They are
not able to use any single piece Of ord
nance, mortar excepted, along the
whole line, for more than an hour or so
at time, each attempt to work their
pieces resulting in their being driven TO
shelter by our artillery. a battery in
MePherson's corps yesterday morning
DutbI tnte0 bntlls IN succession IN one OF
their principal forts, which was at the
time filed with men. Ii is supposed
that many rebels were killed thereby,
as there was nothing to save them.


In the camp of the oath Iowa, Gen.
McClernand's Army Corps, Hovey's
Division, they were treated to a shower
of MINES on Monday last, which Killed
two men aud wounded several. The
rebels would do much damage if they
only dared use their artillery, as many
regiments are encamped in exposed posi-
tiOns.


There has been some little skirmishing
with the rebel cavalry pickets or scouts
between the Yazoo and Big Black, in the
vicinity Of fredericksburg recently.
Many exaggerated and foolish stores are
circulating in reference thereto. The
only fact of interest that this skirmish-
ing proves is, that Johnston is at last
moving and may be expected to do his
work as best he can. No one here is APP
prehensive that his boasted strategical
powers will avail him anything in This
case.


It is a matter of pride TO the Missouri
ans in this army, and doubtless will be
TO those at hone, that every single Mis-
souri, regiment in the field has made for
itself an enviable reputation for efficiency
and bravery in the actual shock of bat
tie.