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Lancaster Ohio June 6 / 63.
Sir
There are two or three matters to which I wish to call your special attention--
First & chiefly Maj Genl Blunts order, (which I sent to the Attorney General) commanding the Sheriff of Atchison Kansas, to deliver two prisoners in his custody on Judicial process, to a mob to be hanged-- Nothing of the kind ever before occurred in a country governed by laws-- The act demands a prompt & stern rebuke-- The order has been extensively published in the Western papers -- (I sent a slip from the Cincinnati Commercial to Mr Bates containing it) -- and is therefore an Executive act which has come under your observation--
Second-- The first assault on Vicksburg by Grant was delayed by want of preparation on the part of McClernand -- and the garrison were allowed time to recover from their panic-- If we had had a prompt & brave general in the place of McClernand we would have carried it on the first assault-- This may not be reported to you, but it is true, and his special newspaper correspondents deprecate the unfavorable opinion held of him in the army--
A general assault was as you are advised ordered on the 22nd and our troops after a most determined effort were repulsed at the parapet by enfilading fires-- In the heat & fury of the assault McClernand who was on the left sent a dispatch to Genl Grant, who was near the center, some three miles off, stating that he McClernand had captured twothree of the enemies Forts and that he his flag floated on the strong hold of Vicksburg-- This was simply a lie -- he had captured nothing, but thinking Vicksburg would be taken & he would come in with the melé, wrote this down to be first on record as the captor-- Hence arose the false rumor which first cheered & then shamed us-- He is a dirty dog, unfit for the society of Gentlemen who regard truth & honor--
Third-- An incident of trivial unimportance occurred, which perhaps it were well for you to know to enabling you form a strict estimate of men-- On the afternoon of the 19, by order of Genl Grant Col Swan was sent with a cavalry regiment to Haines Bluff-- He found it deserted with the exception of seven men whom he took prisoners-- He signaled the Gun boat De Kalb which lay about two miles below-- She came up & he placed the prisoners on board-- The rest of Commodore Porters fleet on being signalled came up and were placed in communication with the right wing of Shermans Corps-- You would not infer from Com Porters report that Haines Bluff was in possession of Genl Grant before he approached within striking distance-- I have this not only from the land side, but in a letter from an officer on board of one of his Gun boats-- It is a peccadillo-- And lastly I am most happy to say I have been agreeably disappointed in Genl Blair-- He is a brave fellow & has intellect and energy and He is a man--
The fate of the rebellion now hangs on Vicksburg-- The place can not be taken by storm, but may by regular approaches-- Our investment is close-- Our Engineers have their sappers & miners digging under the forts-- The enemy must not be permitted to raise the siege-- Tell Halleck to send there all his disposible force-- Genl T Ewing is idle at Rolla with some 5000 men-- They are useless-- Price dare not venture further North-- 20.000 men might be picked up at ports in the West & used in the emergency
Yours truly
T. Ewing
