Year: 1863




The sftuatiOu-A Rebel View of IL.


The news from Port Hudson is cheering, and
imparts more promising aspect to affairs on the
Mississippi. But the situation at Vicksburg still
engrosses all the solicitude of the country. 1t is
known that heavy reniorcements are pouring in
TO Grant. and that large installments from the
command of Rosecrans have been transferred to
the great army investing Vicksburg. Whether
Johnston has, at the last hour, been invested with
authority 10 concentrate the troops of the West,
is the anxious topic of inquiry and the vital ques
ton of the crisis. II full powers have been con-
ferred at the last moment, and if Nicksburg can
hold out until the concentration can be effected,
then all will be we'll The folly of attempting
to manage from Richmond distant campaign of
infinite importance, has become most painfully
apparent.


Surely we are not at liberty to suppose that the
long period of warning was left unimprOy ed and
that VieksbQrg is not stored with supplies so
abundant that she may laugh siege to scorn.
All that engineering skill and enterprise could
accomplish seems to have been achieved upon
her works of defense. Her garrison is ample
TO hold the place against assault; and the only
doubts about her tate which exists re er to the
authorities at Richmond, viz: whether they have
taken care TO provide within her magazines am.
pie provisions TO sustain n protracted siege and
whether they have supplied Gen. Johnston in
time with authority to mass force adequate to
cope successfully with the heavy bodies OF troops
which the enemg have concentrated and are
bringing to bear against the place. The country
have viewed with modification the necessity Of
organizing an army, with its transportation and
anG com miesariat, in the of Vicksburg, after
the crisis had set in, and before the very face Of
the enemy. But all things are possible 10 heroic
purpose and indomitable energy. and the public
are still actuated with lively hope that the new
army organized in Mississippi will meet the great
occasion nobly. and strike the decisive blow of
the war with crOwning success


Meanwhile splendid diversion i'm favor of
Vicksburg is made on the northeastern frontier
The troops, led by the companion of Jackson,
are in the van: and il we ourselves are filed
with anxiety concerning the situation on the Low
er Mississippi. consoled and amused BY
the nervous and fantastic trepidation which is Oh
servable among the Swabians of Pennsylvania
For the first time in their lives, these sturdy peo
pie view the ample dimensions and packed full
ness of their great barns with dsmay, and indulge
the unaccustomed wish that those ostentatious
edi6ces we're less conspicuouslv situated, less
compacty stored. and less captivating to the eyes
of strangers. Recoections of the sacking of
jackson, and the burning and pllage of Freder-
icksburg, on the Peninsula, and in every region
in which the Yankee vandal has set his foot are
for the first time unpleasant to the citizens of
Harrisburg, of Cleveland, of Philadelphia and
Cincinnati The disorganized army of Hooker
s following they know not where or what; but it
is legitimate to presume that the troops of Sedg-
wick will be in no haste again to encounter those
of Early, nor the feet corps of Sige their Chan
cellOrvllle acquaintances under Ewell


Although the war of last year is curiously re-
peating itself in this; although we have another
storming of Vicksburg. another breaking up Of
the campaign against Richmond. another with
drawal from the Rappahannock another march
down the Valley, another campaign in MARYLAND
and beyond; although Kentucky is again open to
Bragg, and Bragg possibly is too inert to secure
the inviting field, still the situation is more ad
vantaseous for the South at present than it was
twelve month ago.


The iron clad Monitors of the enemy have
proved a failure, and the Yankee navy has lost
all its fictitious terrors 1t is now only capable
of annoyance and acting as a convenient auxil-
iary to armies of occupation. If we had par
ticle of energy in our own Navy Department, or
few Semmeses, Mafits, and fuckers in our
home naAy. the blockade would soon be raised
and nearly all rivers cleared of gunboats
Even as it is the blockade is not much better than
nominal An immense maritime trade between
the South and English ports is growing up, and
arrivals aud departures of vessels are matters OF
daily occurrence Charleston il no longer
threatened; Mobile is safe from the Gulf, and
there is even hope that, by the aid OF yellow
lever, We may again secure New Orleans.


At this time last year, the enemy had succeed
ed in overrunnng large additional districts of our
territory But, for twelve months past. he has
made new conquest. He has crushed, for the
time being, the spirit of resistance in the regions
he has thus occupied: but that he has not succee-
ded in really re apnexing them to the North is at
tested by large force which he is compelled Ia
employ in holding them to the Ysnkee dominion
The heavy draft thus occasoned upon his forces
has rendered his principal armies too weak to
to achieve any new results-so weak. indeed. tina,
everywhere, save at Vicksburg, he is now stand.
ing on the defensive.


The season of active and progressive opera
tons in 1863 has passed away from the Yankees
and the summer stolstice. which inaugurates fe
and the tropical diseases. finds him retreat
ing from the lines TO which he had advanced las,
year. The western waters have subsided with
out any results for II twelvemonth to his arms
and he is likely to find General Black Vomit q
far more troublesome customer ON The Lower
Mississippi to himself than he had hoped General
Starvation would be to us.


view of the present situation reveals con
dition of things in striking and gratifying con
trsst With that which existed year ago, ever
were the relative spirit of the belligerent armies
the same as then, which is far from being the
case The events of the past twelve month.
have established sort of concession on thei
part that it is their business to be whipped. Ii
these facts are embodied the only promises o
peace which exist for the country.