June 29, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
General JOHNSTON arrived in Mississippi early in May, to assume command of that Division and direct operations. Near two months have passed, and no movement has yet been made by him to cripple GRANT or raise the siege of Vicksburg. Whether this apparent inactively arises from confidence in the ability of Vicksburg to save itself without assistance, or from an unwillingness to engage, even in this great emergency, in any enterprise of uncertain issue, or from the positive inability of our forces to cope with GRANT’S superior numbers in positions now fortified, we know not. Some accounts say one thing, and some another. But we conclude, from General JOHNSTON’S remaining at Jackson in a state of quiet preparation, that he must have some confidence in Vicksburg ability to hold out – for the present at least. We judge, too, that if General JOHNSTON was without the hope of expectation of moving against GRANT, he would not keep a considerable army, such as that at Jackson, in a state of idleness, but would move to some other point, either to the relief of Port Hudson below, or to the attack of ROSECRANS and the capture of Memphis, on the Mississippi River above. Either of these operations would embarrass GRANT, and assist Vicksburg and save the river.
We see large hopes of Vicksburg, based upon, the fall of the river, so that gunboats cannot navigate it; also upon the effects of bad water and hot days on the health of GRANT’S forces. As far as they go, these circumstances are a help to us against GRANT, but we see no ground for believing that his troops will perish out as they stand, while ours wax fat, or that the river cannot be used unless something is done.
We, therefore, frankly confess that we await developments with much anxiety. The issue in the West is of infinite importance.