BEHIND VICKSBURG,
May 28, 1863,
VIA MEMPHIS, May 30 – 9 p.m.
(Received June 1 – 3.15 a.m.)
The siege works progress satisfactorily. Sherman has his
parallels completed to within 80 yards of the rebel fortifications. He is able
to carry artillery and wagons with horses under cover to that point.
McPherson's rifle-pits are at about the same distance from the forts in his
front. On both these lines our sharpshooters keep the rebels under cover and
never allow them to load a cannon. It is a mistake to say that the place is
entirely invested. I made the complete circuit of the lines yesterday. The left
is open in direction of Warrenton, so that the enemy have no difficulty in
sending messengers in and out. Our force is not large enough to occupy the
whole line and keep the necessary reserves and outposts at dangerous and
important points; still, the enemy cannot either escape by that route or
receive supplies. An officer who returned yesterday from a visit to Jackson
with a flag of truce to take supplies to our wounded, found Loring there with
his force, apparently reorganizing and ready for movement. The number he could
not ascertain, but thought it was 5,000 at least. Loring, you may remember,
escaped to the southeast with his division after the battle of Baker's Creek.
The gunboat Cincinnati was disabled yesterday in a sharp engagement with the
enemy's upper water battery, on Steele's front. She was compelled by discharges
of grape to close her bow portholes, and in endeavoring to get away, swung her
stern around toward the battery, when she was so badly hit that her commander
ran her ashore, and she sank in shoal water. Some twenty-odd lives were lost.
She may be raised and saved.
The weather is hot, but not at all oppressive.
C. A. DANA.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
24, Part 1 (Serial No. 36), p. 90
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