Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-05-19
Iaokson Ind the hands of the Enemx.

Jackson In the handS OF the Enemy.
The Richmond Examiner of Saturday conveys the
unyecome intelligence that Jackson the capital Of
the State of Mississippi is in the hands ofthe enemy
That paper says: s'r .'a
"a. courier arrived here yesterday with official
intelligence that the enemy, probably the combined
armies Of Grant and Banks had penetrated to Jack
son, Mississippi and taken possession OF that place
This news was regarded as bad by the ,uninformed,
but we are assured upon the best authority, that
| General Johnston who fell back from Jackson for
strategic purposes regards the situation all that
| is desirable. With a fine army he has taken po4
sitiop between jackson and Vieksb1rg, with his
communications open to the latter place. great
battle in this vicinity is regarded imminent and
all our military men are sanguine that signal vic
tory awaits our arms
jackson is about forty miles from Yicksburg, and
contains population Of some five thousand
We learn that the supplies on hand in jackson
I were removed tOVicksburg before the enemy reach
ed the former place. If it be true that the enemy is
in possession of jackson, Yicksburg may fall.--
This would be great blow to the Southern cause.
1t would give the enemy control of the entire Mis-
sissppi and his operations would be carried on from
the river as his bas against the States of Mississp
pi and Alabama The death of StoneWall jackson
and the loss of Vicksburg taken together, would
occasion serious fears among our people as to the
result of the war. The Examiner says:
"By running the gauntlet of our batteries at
Vicksburg with his transports, Grant avoided the
necessity of the completion of the canal and secured
passage of the river after leading his troops over
the narrow peninsula below Yicksburg at any point
above Port Hudson which he might select. IL ap-
pears that the defences at Grand Gulf, which is
twenty-five miles south of Warrentun at the mouth
of Black river, were only constructed after the
h,l, na0fh No.
tween Port Hudson and Yicksburg The Black
river being naVigable for some distance, they were
intended obsruct the passageOf force to the rear
of Vicksblrg by this route. -. Cd
The abandonment Of our works there after a Sc
we're bombardment has opened the door to the ene-
my, and the recent battle Of Port Gibson has put
them still further on their way to Vlcksburg. The
evacuation of Port GibsSn by General Bowen has
been followed by that of Bayou Pierre, and at last
accounts, his forces had been withdrawn across the
Big Black, within twenty miles of Vicksburg.
The situation is one of immediate and critical in
| terest II remains to be seen whether the enemy
will advance against VckSburg or make an attempt
on our communications at some inland point. 1t is
more than probable however, that Vicksburg is the
prize to be contested and that It's fate is on the eve
| of decision. Hitherto the Yankees have failed in
! every attempt this heroic city by canals and
through lagoons and bayous; and their plan Is evil
| Gently to march around the city, destroy the
| Southern railroad and compel its capltulation.
An immense stake is to be contested in the cam
paign in Mississippi. Not only are the two strong
holds of ,Vicksburg and Port Hudson menaced, but
tho line of the Mississippi from far above the mouth
of the Yazoo and the interior of the State with its
great system of railroads, including the three lines
of rail drerg,ng from Corinth, from below by Pearl
river and from Pontchateula, are threatened by a
numerous and enterprising foe. On all sides the
| department of Gen. Pemberton is assailed"
! Gen. Pemberton is Northern man by birth. So
was Gen. Lowell, by whose treachery or incapacity
! New Orleans was lost.