June 4, 1863, The New York Herald
Up to noon yesterday no advices touching any late movements of the army before Vicksburg had been received by the government. All stories of attacks and repulses of Grant army are totally discredited.
It is stated in despatches from Cincinnati yesterday, by way of Cairo, that the base of our lines extends from right to left on the Mississippi, from Yazoo to the lower part of Vicksburg, over six miles in the rear of the rebels and east of the city. We hold undisputed possession of everything between the Black river bridge and sixth […..] of hills in the rear of the rebel army. At the last accounts General Frank Blair division had started for the Big Black river bridge. His destination was unknown.
Admiral Porter sends an official report to the Secretary of the Navy of the proceedings of the gunboats at Vicksburg, acting in cooperation with General Grant’s army. Admiral Porter also sends a despatch relative to the loss of the gunboat Cincinnati. She endured a tremendous fire from the rebel batteries, and went down in shoal water with her flag still flying.
The progress of our forces around Port Hudson is very favorable. The siege goes on well, with every prospect of success. Our correspondence by the steamer Cromwell, from New Orleans, gives a very full account of the movements there up to the 27th. The New Orleans journals of the 28th, however, furnish the latest news from that point. The place appears to be so completely invested as to render its capture a matter of certainty.
It was officially known in Washington yesterday that the rebel privateer Alabama was off Campeachy on the 12th ult.
Great excitement exists in Chicago in consequence of the order of General Burnside to suppress the Times of that city. After midnight on Tuesday a writ was issued by Judge Drummond, restraining the military authorities from suppressing the paper until a permanent writ of injunction could be asked for in open court. In defiance of this order, at half-past three o’clock yesterday morning, after nearly the whole edition of the paper had been worked off, a file of soldiers broke into the office and took possession of the establishment for several hours. During the day bills were circulated throughout the city, calling on all loyal citizens to meet in front of the Times office at eight o’clock last night, take counsel together in regard to the recent infamous and tyrannical order of Major General Ambrose E. Burnside suppressing newspapers […..] always democratic, and consequently always loyal.”
The grand Peace Convention, advertised for several days previously, took place in and around the Cooper Institute yesterday afternoon and evening. It was one of the largest and most enthusiastic assemblages ever convened in this city. An address and resolutions, urging peace in the strongest manner and denouncing the administration in the most violent fashion, were adopted. Every allusion to peace was hailed with tremendous applause, and every time the name of Gen. McClellan was mentioned a perfect of enthusiasm was occasioned. The mention of Mr. Vallandigham’s name was also the signal for very decided approbation. The speeches were in time with the resolutions, exceedingly denunciatory of the administration, and in favor of a cessation of hostilities and the shedding of blood immediately, on any honorable terms. The principal orators were Attorney General Wootten, of Delaware, Fernando Wood, George Francis Train, Judge Flanders, Hon. Mr. Dinninny, Judge McCunn and Mr. Wood, of Virginia.