Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-06-03
Occupation of Jackson, Mississippi.
of the Cincinnati Commercial


great battle 20 chronicle as having taken
place before the surrender of this impor.
tant point. Having heard that Charles
ton had been evacuated, and the garrison
Withdrawn to strengthen jackson; that
the Confederates had been fortifying here
for two weeks; that Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston was here in person, and that ev-
cry preparation had been made for Wig
orous resistance, my expectations were
certainly reasonable. Instead of this, a
short but gallant Sight by ore division of
the 18th army corps, may be said to have
accomplished what we thought nothing
bat tremendous battle would do. Gen
Crocker's division, formerly commanded
by Gen. Quimby, did nearly all the work.
THE BATTLE OF JACKSON.
The battle of jackson was won by
simple charge upon the rebel forces. The
details OF the affair ere as follows: The
divisions commanded by Generals Logan
and Cr0oher marched from Clinton this
morning at SIX o'ciock-Gen. Croker in
the advance. We expected to meet the
enemy in force at least five miles from
jackson Our troops moved cautiously
along, encountering rebel cavalry pickets
about three miles from Clinton The
miles OF jackson, when we came upon
their main force. The rebel position was
good one-on gentle slope, with heavy
timber In the rear, and on either side.-
Their line was nearly three miles long, OF
which the 18th corps eng ged about one-
half, Sherman, on the right, giving his at
tention 10 the other halt. On ascertain
ing the situation of the enemy, Crocker
ordered the LIST Missouri battery, of four
PARROT guns into position to feel their
artillery strength. a reply from three
batteries was elected before long, and an
artillery duel commenced and was contin.
ued for upward of half an hour, without
any decisive results to either side. The
infantry were now ordered into action
The hrst move was slgnally successful
charge-a charge that should immortalize
every participant, and fill with pride the
hearts of all who admire true courage and
heroic devotion to the cause of the Amer
lean Union. No pen can produce the i'm
preston made upon the minds and hearts
of all who witnessed it. The imagination
OF the artist has equaled iU-never excelled
it.
a mile of open space lay between Us
and the enemy, every foot of which was
controlled by the well served artillery of
the foe. The task before our brave SOL
dlers was to form on hill in face of this
terrific fire, and move forward to victory
or death.
The first brigade, under Col. Sanborne
consisting Of tue 4th Minnesota and 5Sth
and 59th Indiana, and the second brigade,
under Col. Holmes, consisting of the 10th
Missouri, 18th Iowa, Both Illinois and 6Oth
Ohio, were selected for the bloody work.
They formed in line and advanced steadily.
They had two hills to ascend and descend.
The shot and shell from the enemy's bat
teries fell thick among them, threatening
destruction to all. The lines began to
waver. Some hearts began to quail, as
they approached the jaws OF death. They
halted Tor few moments under cover of
q hill side. Words OF encouragement were
spoken by the commanding otticers-every
man was nerved to the struggle" For
ward again, and the long line of heroes
assembled heavy slope, with colOrs flying
and voices shouting. Three minutes OF
double quicking, Indifferent to an entilad,
ing fire of grape and canister, and the
fire of mus&etry at deadly range, coin-
me need. Another minute and our men
sent up the loud shout Of victory, as the
defeated foe left the field in panic-stricken
Union soldiers had fallen, but the day was
won.
THE REBEL RETREAT.
The rebels retreated in hot haste before
the two brigades OF General Crocker's d.
vision. Our Generals thought they had
fallen back TO better position, and made
every preparation tor another attack upon
them. The two divisions of McPherson's
corps followed them up closely in line of
battle, expecting every moment TO hear
from them at u second stand point. But,
while we thought they were forming tor
another struggle, they were making the
best of thelr way out OF jackson, on the
road leading to Canton, Mississippi. At
about noon, q heavy column OF smoke
arose from the beleagured city. This
might be signal, or it might be q large
cODhagration-we did not know which
We have since learned, by observation,
that 1t was caused by the burning of the
railroad depot, which was filed with ar
my stores.
GEN. SHRRMAN's PART IN THE FIGHT.
Gen. Sherman opened the ball on the
right at about nine q. IN. l cannot speak
in detail OF his movements, rs L did not
witness them, being on the battle-ground
on the left all day. The part he took can,
however, be Judged from his casualty list,
which is very small-only two or three
killed, and proportionate number
wounded, l believe. After the rout by
Crocker's men, the rebels were panic
stricken al along the lines. Gen. Sher-
man arrived In the city immediately after
Col. Sanborne had hoisted the Stars and
Stripes on the Capitol building.
THE REBEL FORCE.
The rebels had 10000 men in the fight.
Had we postponed the engagement half
day, they would have had twice that num-
Der, as reipforcements were no ally expec-
ted. The oath South Carolina and 10th
Georgia arrived last night from Charles
ton. They were eight days in coming
There were several regiments of Port
Hudson troops IN the fight.
LOSSES.
Our loss in killed and wounded will
reach two hundred, all sustained during
the charge. The 18th Iowa lost heaviest.
The rebel loss WAS less than ours, owing
To the fact that they were under heavy
cover, while our men were IN an open
field. We took probably hundred pris-
oners. | will send you our casualty list as
soon a. il can be obtained