Washington telegraph., 1863-07-22
correspondence Of the Telegraph.

VIcKsBURG, July 8, 1868.
,st1r. Edkn'-Thinking it my duty to inform
our friends at home of the casualties which
have occurred in my regiment (20th Arkansas),
during the seige of Vicksburg, and the battles
previous to 1t, | take the presen. opportunity
of doing SO through your paper, hoping that |
may be abe to give relief TO some anxious
hearts, even though l am compelled to confirm
others in their worst fears. 1t cannot be ex-
pected Of me, however, to give any detailed
account of the seige and surrender of Vicks-
burg; for, besides the time which it would re-
quire for task of that kind, you must know
that am now paroled prisoner, and am not
allowed free speech and conduct in reference
to the Yankee nation. We fought long and
desperately, braved danger, endured hunger,
faced death; but, alas! all unavailinglyl Vicks-
burg and our army are in the hands of the
enemy We engaged the enemy at Bak er's
Greek Champions Hill), on the morning &
May 10th. A deperate battle ensued. Our
1orces fell back to Big Black river bridge, and
on the next morning at daylig ht the enemy
charged our entrenchments-which, how ever,
scarcely deserves the name; and after a vigor-
Gus fight of several hours, carried them, cap
turing several hundred prisoners, and nearly
all our artillery. If you will allow me a com
ment here, would remark that in my opinion
| humble though it may be, the battle at that
place was, on our part, the most senseless, an
nihiatory movement of which l have known a
General guilty. In order to appreciate the
affair fully, it will be necessary for me to give
you short account of the position in which
our army was placed, in order to oppose the
enemy. Our line of battle was about two (2)
miles long, in an open, level fed-the centre
of which being three quarters I'D VI mile
from the river (Big Black. across which was
"A pontoon bridge, the orly means of crossing
the right closed IN by bayou connecting with
the river the left resting on the river about a
mile from the bridge. A lire of hastily and
poorly constructed entertainments extended
from tine bayou on the right to within half
mile of the river on the left leaving the said
half mile unprotected by anything save The
wal of living breasts which guarded it, our
brigade (Green's) had that dearly bought
honor. The centre first gave way, and the
enemy rushing i'll. left no alternative to the
left wing but 10 surrender or he slaughtered
since retreat impossible-only "a very few
making their escape to the bridge; yet | have
a few-a rery few-of the gallant spirits who
followed me i'll there, still left 90 Us Tie idea
of deliberately marching back retrelf,ng army
over river. after il had once crossed that river
in retreat, leaving only small bridge to re-
cross in case of misunderstanding too. that ii
was impossible to maintain tile position more
than Il lew hours at best, and equally impos-
sible to withdraw and recross the forces with
out a serious demonstrating also, that the
position was of no vital Importance, not worth
the life even of one man, being unable 70 re-
tard the advance of the enemy upun Vicksburg
i say, TIE idea OF such thing would be uu-
worthy the brain Of corporal. al yet We wei
led. rather ordered. and went into such
f-,ga ..,.lt III. Let -.
best men. DO not understand me to inru.u
the mofires of our Commanding General
merely state the facts, yoa can du,lucc your
own conclusions.
We fell back from the bridge to Vicksburc
reaching here the same evening, l7th May.D
the enemy closed ia, tile seige commenced
and after lasting forty-sevcn (4-l lays. re-
suited in the surrender or tie city and army
upon certain terms, which will give you pre-
sentiy. IL "V"'I l." i'npus>ihlc tor inc 60 give
YOU anything like "a iUil account of the -rirr:
il will furnish many themes tor the historian
and poet for many years to come. suppose
there never was seige ia the history of the
world which comes near being equal 10 il. no
matter how considered. Surrounded on nu
sides, ;he enemies works being in most ill.,
stances within 300 yards OF uurs. in some
places-siTange as il may seem--so close that
our men and the Yankees could shake hands
together, aud were constantly throwing hand
grenades at each othcr-a perfect shower Of
Minnie balls and shell. and solid shot o. every
size and description, from four pUunler 10 4.
hundred and twenty FOUNDER, being kept IN
night and day during the whole time all aona
the lines-the opposite side Of the river lined
with parrot guns aud sharp-shoo;ers, and the
river around the point filed with mortar fleets.
which threw shells fifteen Clj) inches in diane
ter, kept up the same incessaut lin. and filed
the city with the same fearful messengers of
death during the whole time. day and night,
without intermission-the missiles from the
lines meeting those from the river. There was
not one spot above the ground an inch in cir
cumfereuce which could claim immunity from
them-uur hospitals torn 20 pieces bv them.
and men already wounded killed every dav
while receiving such attention as We could
give them. Add to this that cur men were
kept III the trenches all the time. without nnv
relief, uujcr the scorchng rays Of the sun,
with only one quarter Of q pound M tour. oEc
quarter oti a pound Of bacon. md one quarter o.
pound of peas. For forty-seven AL days did
we hold NIcksburg. under all these circum
s'ances. wishing, praying for our government
to send us relief: and yet, after all our suffer
ings, after all our prayers, our strength gone,
our provisions gone, many n gallant spirit
quenched in death, VIC were compelled ~ give
up and surrender our beloved city to a foe who
tried in vain by charge after charge to drive
us from our works.
On the morning Of the 4th Of July the city
and the army were surrendered upon these
terms:
The whole armv to be at once parollcd. Off
GERS with their side arms, and every one with
his property, one wagon allowed to every rcri
ment, and one to every Generals Headquarters.
The system of paroling has been going on ever
since. and We will probably move Tomorrow.
Our enemies are v.ry respectful, aud nc
knowledge that all praise j. due Us.
Farther than this | do not consider myself
at liberty to write, not being willing to say. do
or write anything which could be considered n
violation Of my parole.
am very glad to say that shall be able to
take all my boys away with me, who have not
been killed, except Corporal Lard, of Co. ID,
who, however, is recovering, and will soon be
able to leave.
Very truly and respectfully yours, &c.
DAN. W. JONES.
FROM MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA
July 9th, 10 o'clock, A. Vicksbure
b.s fallen No particuIara vat of ,ha