Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-29

The jackson Mississippiau gives, from al fcer OF
high POSITION an interesting account of the second
siege OF Vicksburg 1t is well worth reading: :.
Der ander acted vigorously on the lnforma ton
he brolgh and exp ing the landing of the combined
forces OF he enemy YEzoo, every Effort possible
to be made with resources was resorfed to. AS
was foretod in few ys the ankee heet OF some thlr
ty-6ge gunboa and rams and about eighty transports
appeared the mouth OF the AGO. In SIGHT OF the
City OF the Hills he following day at oclk, the gun-
boats OF the eaey had .uiously ielt their Way to the
raft at Spydera Buff alb ut ten miles from the mouth OF
the 1azoo There they found Battery, which opened he
admonshng tn III that their iu tier progress would be
contested with vgor. The enemy threw a lew shells
and retired 10 The meantime the transports bad land
ed abs nj 5000 troops on the louisiana shore, who pro-
ceeded Down to TIE laiIr0ad opposite the city, and de-
sroyed the bridges and otherwise rendered TIE road 10
availa be- cutt eff our communication In that c1an
mel with t e salt mines of Lake Bisteneau which
at that time supplying about 5000 bushels Of salt daily
to the COnfederacy
Failing 20 reach ely considerable force ia their cp
eraigns Tuesday week they landed large body OF
troops estimated at so 000 the 9aZ1o, at the plan
tations OF Mrs Lake, Capt. Johnson, and Col. Blake
gheae forces proceeded through the forest to the bills
which extended along The southern border OF the swamp
from the point at Snyder's distance of two three
miles below Vckaburg varying in distance ir m the
YezOO River from two to five miles, the meandering
OF the may direct lis The bluffs gen
orally quite itIeg uar, running from northeast to south
west s )rdiug beautiful View OF the bottom, which is
the tee to; q froa the Yankee camp fires
Four days il succession the enemy, havi g advanced
the outskirts OF the woods, kept up continued fire
lines under the bluff embracing most Of the DIS
lance from Snyder's to the I.dan Mound, only four
and half mica above Vicksourg and Monday last
it evident they had thrown large force the
centre with view OF bteakng it aud coming in the
Of V;cksburg.
When Gen. Lee discovered their supposed intention,
he ordered tie light artillery to be Ia readiness, and
withdrew the Infantry from the advance line OF rifle pits
TO others at the foot OF the bluffs. This had the de-
sired effect Of drawing out the eremy from the cover of
he woods Most admirably did the Illinois, Missouri,
Indiana ard Kentueky troops 5000 strong) advance
upon small force. Our brave troops admon-
ished to hold their fire until the enemy short
musket range, but their ardor such, remembering
the nsals and snerings endured in their prisons that
patel ce seemed longer a virtue, and when within
It's yards the 8 and Both Tennessee directed deadly
fire the foe he artillery then shared in engage
men both des. The enemy advanced 5allant1y to
within fifty yards OF rifle pitt when the well direct
ed fire OF artillery h rapid, in connection
with isfntry that the lines broken and tie
enemy began precpita retreat ior the woods. The
pits could contain infantry no longer, and they
rushe upon the encmy, killing and capturing they
advanced until they lest IN the woods where the
fight euded, bringing cut prisoners there
Thus closed the fight Chickasaw Bayou at Smiths
Bluff, on Monday last, the enemy being completely
routed many prisoners captured AID some 1900 killed.
wounded and missing.
Monday evening, and sharpshooters fred upon the
troops, who Ostensiby upon the field to take eli
the lead ard wounded, but who undertook first obey
an order to their artillery and small PIE
vious to caring for their own .of1erers 1t while
they thus engaged in plagng the f-!d OF our
rghttul inberi auce the spGs OF war; that fred
the vanqushed foe OuG humane force then advanced
TO take Of their woQuded, ard they turn
fred upon tier sLarPsHO0 ers, when they withdrew
with the few oed they had COLI ed. The wound
ed 1ankets brought eff by us express the beet that
justified IN firing them they had right
to interfere with anything tie field.
The prisoners captured good specimens of We5
tern tIoops, and will compare favorabiy with our own
i'll soldrIy qualities. The greater portion youth
full in Appearance aid is 10 be regretted that those
misguided Western should be sacrificed on the al
tar of Abotondom, the base of the hills the u
ZOO, in vain endeavOr to take Ficksburg
The enemy moved from the Indian Mound on Mon
day night vicinity Of the old Racersck thus ex
tending their lines the Mississippi mile and half
further south Early Tuesday morni. force appear
ed in the fallen timber in front OF the old track, in
the bend above the city Our artillery On the bills above
opened on hem as the infantry stationed the fat
along edge the timber that had been cut down
to Otstruct their passage The enemy were, efter q
couple OF hcues diminishing, forced to retire into the
woods Oar ordnance en- the hills above favored them
with occasional shells all day.
Since TUESDAY morning it is evident that fro the
nightly clamor of axmen the enemy are bridging lakes
and making roads TO transport heavy pieces from the
azoo to this point On the Mississippi in ORDER doubt
less to cooperate general land aud rivr attack,
their right being about mile and half above the
city the Mississippi and their lett extending to Sny
ier's on the Ysz0o.
Should the present rains continue the attack our
ines will be Indefinitely poStpoed.