June 10, 1863, The New York Herald
A despatch from Murfreesboro’ dated yesterday, says that a lady who had just arrived from Shelbyville reports the surrender of Vicksburg with its entire garrison of 12,000 men. Later arrivals at the same place repeat the rumor, and it was stated that some rebel papers (names nor locations not mentioned) had published the particulars of the capitulation. In the absence of more reliable intelligence we are safe in regarding the position of Vicksburg to be still as reported from other sources. General Rosecrans’ despatches to the War Department, also yesterday, relates the arrest and execution of two rebel officers who entered his lines as spies, but says nothing of the story about the capture of Vicksburg.
Our special correspondence from Walnut Hills, in the rear of Vicksburg, and other points in that vicinity, gives a fine description of the opening of the bombardment on the city and the desperate attack on the enemy’s works which preceded it. Admiral Porter sends an official despatch to the Navy Department recounting the particulars of the destruction of the Navy Yard and other rebel property on the Yazoo river.
The map which we give today of the fortifications around Vicksburg, and the positions of the Union army now investing it, will prove of great value to our readers.
The rebel army on the south side of the Rappahannock preserve a state of continual activity, and our own is not less active, although the precise objects of either are not known, nor, so far, quite intelligible. Our troops hold their positions below Fredericksburg, which the enemy still occupies. Skirmishing continues along the lines, the parties engaged being but a few rods apart. A division went over the river at Franklin’s Landing on Sunday night and destroyed the rebel rifle pits there.
The enemy was at work yesterday on the intrenchments at the edge of the woods skirting the plain not far from Fredericksburg. There was some picket firing in the morning; but there is nothing of greater importance in that direction. There is a report that the enemy’s cavalry has attempted to cross at Beverly Ford, above Rappahannock Station, and that a brisk engagement is progressing at that point; but no further particulars have reached us.
Gen. Banks officially reports the loss in his army up the 30th ult. to be nearly 1,000, including some of his ablest officers. He speaks very highly of the conduct of the negro troops.
The news from Mexico by the steamer Constitution at San Francisco, with dates from Puebla to the 18th ultimo, leaves no room for doubt that the report of the capture of Puebla by the French and the surrender of General Ortega’s army is true. But the facts which establish this result also bear testimony to the undaunted bravery and unquenchable patriotism of the Mexicans. They only surrendered when starvation compelled them, and even then many of the officers shot themselves, rather than become prisoners to the invaders. On the 17th of May General Forey sent a flag of truce to General Ortega, offering to allow the Mexican officers and soldiers to march out, the officers with their side arms, providing they would give a parole not to serve against the French again. This offer was refused by General Ortega, who meanwhile spiked his cannon, burned his gun carriages, destroyed the arms of his infantry, and then surrendered his forces as prisoners of war. The advance of the French army is at Cholula, six miles beyond Puebla, on the way to the capital.
The Mexicans, however, are making preparations to defend all the approaches to the city of the Montezumas to the utmost of their ability, and it is probable that the French will have a bloody route to travel before they reach the grand Plaza.