May 26, 1863, The New York Herald
As yet we have no official intelligence confirmatory of the news published yesterday of the actual capture of Vicksburg; but we have an important official despatch from Admiral Porter to the Secretary of the Navy, dated the 20th instant, which fully confirms all the accounts we had previously received of the splendid achievements of Grant and his army, who defeated the rebels at all points and in such a manner as they have never been defeated before. By his rapid Napoleonic movements he outgeneraled Johnston, Loring and Pemberton, preventing their junction, and whipping them separately. According to this despatch, “General Grant had closely invested Vicksburg, had possession of the best commanding points, and in a very short time a general assault would take place.” In fact, the capture of the rebel stronghold was deemed on Wednesday last but “a question of a few hours;” and no doubt the next boat which arrives from Vicksburg at Memphis will bring the news of its surrender or being taken by storm after a terrible battle. The distance between the two cities is five hundred miles, and against the current the time occupied in making the passage even by a swift boat is from two to three days. From Memphis there is telegraphic communication. At any moment, therefore, we may receive the most stirring news, giving official confirmation of yesterday’s report that the flag of the Union floats over the rebel Gibraltar of the West.
How formidable its inner fortifications are may be estimated from what Admiral Porter says of Haines’ Bluff: – “Such a network of defences I never saw. The rebels were a year in constructing them, and all were rendered useless in an hour.” Fourteen of the heaviest kind of mounted eight and ten inch and seven and a half inch rifled guns, with ammunition enough to last a long siege, were captured by the Admiral. And there can be no stronger proof of the rapidity and vigor of Grant’s movements than the fact of the rebels abandoning such defences without having time to destroy or carry off the ammunition. It is also evidence that the demoralization of Pemberton’s army is complete. Haines’ Bluff formerly resisted the most determined assaults from our gunboats. It has now fallen without any resistance at all. It is the key of the whole position, and, holding it, as he does, Grant can get supplies, and more troops if he needs them, through the mouth of the Yazoo. So that, even if he had not now sufficient force to capture Vicksburg, he could hold Haines’ Bluff till he received such reinforcements as would render its speedy reduction a matter of certainty.
Admiral Porter deserves great credit, not only for his energy and successful cooperation, but for his generous praise of the land forces and their heroic commander.
Should the news be confirmed, as there is every reason to believe it will, the moral and military effect of the blow on the rebels will be tremendous. We have just received news to the effect that they are preparing to invade Kentucky. The news of the fall of Vicksburg will speedily break up that enterprise and compel them everywhere to contract their lines. Now is the time for activity in the army of Rosecrans and in that of Hooker. The dispersed insurgent forces in Mississippi will retreat to Brag’s garmy. Before a junction can be effected Rosecrans ought to strike, and if he needs reinforcements he ought to receive them at once. Hooker, too, ought to press Lee before he can be reinforced by the remnant of Bragg’s army, retreating from Tennessee. The fall of Vicksburg will render the rebels desperate, and they will endeavor to concentrate all their forces in Virginia for an advance upon Washington, in order to restore the equilibrium which they have now lost.
If advantage be not taken of this favorable opportunity to crush the rebellion by quickly repeated blows, not only will the capture of Vicksburg be in vain, but it may result in serious disasters. The capture of Fort Donelson, though a heavy blow to the rebels, was not followed up as it ought to have been by General Halleck, and it had only the effect of causing the Confederates to draw in and strengthen their lines, and levy a new army of conscripts, all of which General Halleck permitted them to do by his dilatory movements against Corinth. Now, therefore, is the moment for a simultaneous vigorous movement all along the line, and the armed rebellion will be put down before the fall of the leaf now green.