July 3, 1863, The New York Herald
NEAR VICKSBURG, June 24, 1863.
We have reports of an important nature from within Vicksburg. Deserters who came over to our lines yesterday say that a mutiny has broken out among the soldiers in the city, and that they demand its capitulation to the Union forces. The rebel officers have vainly endeavored to crush out the disaffection, which has now increased to open rebellion. The rank and file perceiving that the promises made them of speedy relief by Johnston forces have not been and are not likely to be fulfilled, have been growing daily discontented at the prospect, and are now in rebellion to compel General Pemberton to surrender the city. They know from the sanguine character of our troops and the energy of our operations that the capture of the city is but a matter of time, and in the meanwhile our shot and shell are killing them off by hundreds. Hence the gloomy state of feeling which pervades the garrison, and the desire to avoid a further and useless sacrifice of life. Rebel prisoners say that the bombardment on Saturday last killed and wounded over two hundred in the city, and that if it had been continued two hours longer the white flag would have been hoisted. Women and children, soldiers and officers, are hourly entreating General Pemberton to capitulate. I give you the reports for what they are worth. If they are true — and they certainly seem credible — it may be that Vicksburg will be ours with but a little further expenditure of ammunition.
On Monday night a rebel force charged upon and drove from the trenches, opposite General Lanman’s division, one of our working parties, whom they compelled to fall back to a point some distance in the rear. The rebels next morning brought an iron gun into position, on the edge of our works, and, employing the empaulement of our trench for a breastwork, opened with shell, much to the annoyance of our troops in the vicinity. General Lanman determined to rout them out, and a portion of one of his brigades was sent to that object. The two regiments selected succeeded in flanking the position of the rebels, and then by a charge captured the gun, made several prisoners and drove the remainder back to their former position. Work has been resumed again in this portion of the line, and is now steadily progressing throughout the length of our works.
A party of some thirty rebels were captured yesterday morning by a well planned stratagem. A detachment of the Sixteenth Illinois concealed themselves in the timber near by, and some eight or ten of their number strolled towards the rebels, pretending to pick blackberries and apparently unconscious of their proximity. The rebels, thinking a prize was in their grasp, rushed to capture them, when the party in ambuscade suddenly rose up, surrounded and made prisoners of the astonished rebels, among whom was a lieutenant. They repeated the stories of starvation in Vicksburg, and in proof of their assertion exhibited their empty haversacks. Nothing could exceed their surprise and delight when they were furnished with a bountiful supply of our rations. Pemberton, they say, expected to have been relieved before this, and had promised them a furlough of forty days from date.
Night before last one of the rebel pickets shouted across to our men, “Quit shooting over there; we want to go over and talk to you,” which being assented to some sixteen crossed to our side and entered into a conversation which continued for upwards of an hour. Both parties chatted together in the most friendly manner, and the rebels finally expressed a wish to remain on this side; but, as such a course of conduct would afford a pretext, if not a precedent, to the enemy to hold our men should they venture to the rebel lines under similar circumstances, they were not allowed to do so, and they returned with great reluctance.
The rebels are beginning to use hand grenades to annoy our working parties in the trenches. Sometimes in failing they fail to explode, and our boys, with a charming sang froid, pick them up and throw them back.
Officers who have recently arrived from the Big Black do not confirm the reports of an engagement in that vicinity, though an attack is hourly expected, and our forces are anxiously awaiting it, confident of the result. Johnston’s movements are clouded in considerable mystery, and the latest report is that he is crossing the Big Black above the bridge, and has already transferred twenty thousand men to this side of the river. His object is supposed to be to cross the peninsula between the two rivers and attack our position on the Yazoo, near Haines’ Bluff. Whatever his designs, they give no uneasiness to General Grant, who is confident of success in case of an attack. In fact, an attack is courted, as the inevitable victory which would result to us from it would hasten the crisis at Vicksburg. The garrison there, finding their last hope of relief dissipated, would then find it their policy to surrender.
A general bombardment of Vicksburg commenced last evening, continued all night, and is in progress this morning. The siege guns on shore are throwing eighty-pound shell, and the mortar boats on the river are tossing in thirteen-inch shell at a rapid rate. The concussion made by their explosion is terrific. No news has reached us yet of the effect.
A rain storm set in last evening and has cooled the atmosphere to a delightful temperature.