[Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.]
Cairo, June 7, 10 p. m.
The steamer Alice Dean, Capt. Pepper, bringing Vicksburg dates to Thursday, and Memphis dates to yesterday afternoon, arrived this evening.
An officer of the Alice Dean reports everything progressing as usual in the rear of Vicksburg. Sappers and miners are still burrowing in the hillside, gunboats and mortar boats are still operating, and new siege guns had opened fire on Thursday as had been anticipated, but with what result is not ascertained.
Sharpshooters still command the rebel works in the rear, and the Confederates are not allowed to show their heads without becoming the targets for hundreds of rifles.
The general position of Grant’s army remains unchanged, his advance regiments being daily relieved and fresh ones substituted.
Gen. Osterhaus is at Big Black river, to hold Joe Johnson in check should he attempt a movement. Johnson’s force is supposed to be not over 10,000 reliable fighting men, but he is reported to have 20,000 conscripts, of all ages, at Eutaw, Mississippi, and about the same number near Jackson.
Deserters report the rebels in the besieged city as reduced to one ration per day, consisting of 15 ounces, and greatly demoralized in other respects.
The sanitary condition of Grant’s army is good. The Alice Dean took down goods. The Captain says, they have more room for hospital stores, and sick and wounded than they need, nearly all the latter having been taken up to Memphis, which is well supplied with everything.
Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, IL