Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1863-07-29

Bsy'A correspondent IA Paroed prisoaerl wriilngise
tie Washington ark Telegraph, from vlekshurg ra-
der date Of the Sh July gives The following in' 're''ing
detail OF cycpt' in and around vieksburs during and
hgiorc The siege and surrender;
M EokH;--rhinking It my duty to inform our
friends home OF the casualties which have occurred
in my regiment t2lth Arkansas during the segc of
Nckshurg, and the battles previous 10 h, take the
present opportunity Of doing go through your papcr
hoping that may he able TO give relief some anxious
hearts, even though an compelled TO confirm others
r their worst fears IL cannot be expected Of me
however ~ give any detailed OF the s-ige and
surrender ot VicJshurF tor besides the tine which u
would REQUIRE for task OF ,hut kind YOU must ka1w
that am now parolcl prisoner, and CIR not allowed
free speec AMI coulUc. in reference 10 the Yankee ma
ton. We Tough, long nud desperately bravcd danger,
endured hunger accd death but alas all unayailing
Is! iahshurg and our army arc in the hands OF the
enemy We engaged the cnomy ut Bakers Greek
Champions HIM. on the morning Of May 18th. de-
pcrate battle cnsued Oar ferccs fell back 10 Big BLACK
river bridge, aud On tho next morning At daylight ne
enemy charged our cnteuchments-~ ich, however
scarcely deserves the name and after vigorous fgt
Of several hours carried hen, cptura several hund-
red prisoners, and nearly all our artillery. II yon will
allow q comment here, | woui remark that in my
opinion, humble though II may be, the battle thft
place was, on part, the scnseicsS, Gnnihila
tory movement of which have known General guilty.
In order TO appreciate the affair fully IL will be neces
gary Ter give you short Of ha position
in which army placed, in order 10 oppose tho
enemy Our line Of battle was aJont two t2) miles
long in an open, level irlhe ceutrc OF which b. ny
three quarters y of mile from the river Big B.ack)
across which was Il ponloon bridge the only Of
crossng--ihe right closed in by bayou connecting
With tine river. the felt resting the river about
mile from the bridge line OF hastily and poorly
stlpie I'd cntrcnchncnts extended from the bay
the right to within half mile Of The river on the left
leaving the said half mile unprotected by anything
save the wall of living breasts which guarded it. Our
brigade Green . had that dcarly-bought honor Tho
centre first gave way and the enemy rushing in left
no alternative to the left wing but 10 surrender be
slaughtered since retreat was impossible very
few making their cscap DC to the bridge: yet | have
lew---a yery rcw-of Tie gallant spirits who followed
me in there still left to us The lea of deliberately
MARCHING JacE rgtrcqtng arny over riyer after It
had once crossed that river in retreat leaving only
s,aL bridge % rc.cross in case of disaster-knowng,
too that it wts impossible to maintain the position
more dian Il few hours at best, and equry impossible
10 withlr0 nd recross tho forces without serious
osscor siderng also that the position was of no vital
Importance no wortl the life even Of one man. being
unable to retc i hc asNu-e Of the enemy upon Vicks-
burg--T say the idea of such q thing would be un-
worthy he bra Il of a corporal aud yet we were led or
ther ordered and went INTO such tr0p and thereby
ost some Of oar braves and best men. 30 under
stand ne to impugr tie motrsS of cur CGnaiandlngr
General merely state the facts you can deducc your
own conclusions
We fell! back from the bridge to yiclsburc reanhins
here the same evening, D7th May,) the enemy closed
in the seigo commeqcod md after lasting forty-seyel
(t7) days. resulted in tha surrender Of the city ana
army up5n certain hras Hbich VIII give yol pre-
senty 1t would be impossible for me to give you any
thing like ful! account Of the seige; it, will furnish
many 'nene9 or INC historian "u PoeI loi nuhy !eatS
IT, m matter how conai,lerel Snrroundei IN ali si5cs
the enemies works being in instances within 200
vpre of onrs in some pnccsstra are MS il may seena