Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-05-27

/ intended to be influenced, warning 10 all
who dare to think and act as he has done.
k. :szs., South, caroliniam.
1 4y--7t--------- --4ses%-------
| Vieksburg and the River.
From gentleman just arrived from
jackson we learnsom points Of interest not
exactly in the nature of the latest news but
facts which enable the render to form just
conclusions in reference to matters IN that
district. -
1 That grand effort to reduce Vioksburg
would be made by the enemy has been be.
/ lieyed for some weeks; but at what precise
point the blow would fall could not be fore.
seen. Whatever conjecture might be en-
tertaiued, it was impossible to foretell with
certainty whether the attack would be made
!. from the north, south, or front ofszsicks-
burg, or from all points simultaneously. -
When Grant, or Sherman crossed the river
4 below Grand Gulf, it could not still be
known whether the foe meant to approach
| our stronghold by the river under cover OF
the gunboats, or whether he would attempt
to circumscribe the place and cut our com.
municatious east Along a river front of
more than a hundred miles, the enemy
could land somewhere; and having landed,
he must move in some direction, and the
General commanding deemed it prudent to
wait until the enemy's plans were sufficient
| ly developed as to leave no chance for asur-
prise by feint
= Gen. Bowen, with the 1st and I'd bri-
gades Of Missouri and Arkansas troops,
4 checked the rapid advance of the foe, and
!. retarded his movements until Tracy's and
Baldwin's brigades could arrive, and. offer
such resistance as enabled General Bowen
10 evacuate his, position south of the Big
Black, and establish line Of defence, ex-
tending along that stream east from the
Mississippi, SO as to secure Vicksbnrg a.
gainst assault from the south. This was
the work of.the first few days after the enc.
my crossed the Mississippi. The fighting
i incident to- this plan was very sharp and
sanguinary. We lost about 500, and the
4. enemy three times as many, in the judg.
ment Of old aud experienced officers. Pre-
], viously to these events Yicksburg had no
defenses on the South other than the river,
the swamps and the hills. Now tits strong
in the superadded lines of earthworks,- =
These extend twenty miles, and cross Big
Black at the railroad bridge, where cres,
!, cent line Of some ten miles protects that
I. structure. Gen. Pemberton, who, what.
sser.his capacities may be as a Field Mar.
shall has extraordinary energy, was instruc.
] ted BY telegraph from the President to hold
his position at all. hazards; and he has stub.
bornly and earnestly addressed himself to
| that work. ReiDforeements began to ar.
rive, of whom some joined our main force
at Vicksburg, to the number of seven or
eight thousand, were eitberin front of the
foe, fighting and falling back in order,' or
at Jackson awaiting his advance. Gen.
Johnston arrived at Jackson Thursday at
at p. NJ, while some 1000 troops leaving
| Meridian on Friday morning failed toreach
4 Jackson in time, and were turned back,
and are forming a corps at Newton Station.
! Gen. Johnston deemed it uuadvisable to
risk battle at Jackson with very great
odds against him, for the enemy advanced
iu heavy columns, and our troops, stores,
rolling stock, ETC., etc., were withdrawn to
wards Canton, and the enemy took posses
sion Of jackson Friday evening at 8 o'clock
These conditions leave the foe with a line
on the south of Yicksbnrg and Big Black
extending from the Mississippi below Grand
Gulf to Jackson-at least one hundred
miles long; while we hold that very strong
position with our main army, and a column
10000 strong under Gen. Johnston is or
the north, and another body swelling tc
IL, ,000'or Is, 900 more, under Gen. Gist
of South Carolina, on the south of jackson;
Never did an army occupy more peril
Gus position than Gen. Grants, unless they
canbripg out such vast and overwhelming
8 numbers as to maintain line and forward
q supplies a distance Of 100 miles. Mean
while our army is troubled and our plans
somewhat disarrauged but our army is moi
:, beaten all our forces remain to contest the
occupation ofthe great valley, aud bravel
body of men never went to battle. We
now have Johnston to plan, and host ot
gallant officers to execute his plans. Vicks
, burg is.in no immediate danger; it is pro
, visioned for months to come and the bat
tie which decides the possession of tha
stronghold and the navigation of the rlvel
has yet to be tonight. We now know tha
J, powerful column from Vicksburg wa'
thrown out to move against the enesny''
line forty-eight hours since but up to thi'
time the result has not reached u.s. The
occupation of jackson is mere incident
and decides nothing in itself; and the sci
zure of the railroad neither cuts off supplies
nor prevents the coming of reiuforcements
6 While the facts are certainly calculated t
; excite our interest and our apprehepsions
there is no ground yet for despondency.-
| Mobile lri6ape, 18th.
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