Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-28
From the Charleston Courier


s. Editors Courier: Herewith, should you choose to
publish. you will find facts regarding points and
places among which momentous struggle is to take
place. These statements are, Delleve NANNY corl2ct
and may be of interest to your readers.
A description of vicksburg would be repeating
tale already thrice told Suffice TO say the natural
defences in its fully equal to those in its 'front.'
which look SO sternly victorious upon the river.
The Southern Rail Road running from VleKsburg 10
Meridian distance of 140 miles, is conducted by gen.
tlemen OF energy and ability who have made every e-
fort to finnish transportation for troops and supplies,
and keep the read and rolling stock in the best posi-
BILE condition Going East the first station is Mount
Albion, seven miles from Vicksburg-a place of twelve
or fifteen scattered houses Next BovIna, ten miles
from Vcksburg three or four houses, two stores but
is the depot of the neghborhood within fifteen miles
Two miles from Bovina, and twelve miles IRON VlcKs
burg is Big Black Bridge crossing that stream some
fifteen miles from where it emptiee into the Mlsslssp
pi rive This is about ore hundred yards vide
and formerly navlgabe for small vessels as hgh up
where the rail road crosses but the stream las De-
come obstruced by trees and the cavDg 10 of embark
mens so that rs navigation would be difficult, if not
impossible.
The topography of the country through which the
river runs below the rail road, is generally swampy ;
above, it gradu ally arises into unduatng and heavily
woodt lard. As may be supposed the stream is ford
abe bat owing to the nature of it's banks the passage
OF artillery and wagons are difficult, and confined to few
fordS The bridge which the river here about
half mile long and eighty feet high The part OF it
which is Immediately the river is supported by
strong columns of and brick the rest is OF strong
wooden tirbefs. OF course the destruction of this
bridge, the possession of it by the enemy, would
isolate Vicksburg from communication with other parts
OF the Con ede-acy. Six miles from the bridge, eigh
teen miles from VlCksburg, and tweatyeght miles from
Jackson is Edwards Depot. few houses, few stores,
blacksmith and carriage shop, make up the place
In the between eighteen and twenty-five thou
sand bales of cotton shipped from here Tie wagon
road to Jackson by here-as in fact, it does all
along tie airoad. There to be reason, from
its position that it should be considered strategic
point other than to protect the rail road BRIDGE and to
prevent the enemy crossing the Big Black. But at the
same time, the possession Of this point Or in fact
point either side Of it, would open to them the aZoe
country
Next through an undulatipg, wooded country, v
come 10 Bottoms Depot, eight miles from Edwards
Depot, twenty-srx miles from Veksburg and twenty
miles from Jackson. This place is ike the last in
point of and importance rail road extends from
Bottoms to Raymond, distance Of some eight miles,
1t it is not operation. Tea miles on Clinton,
of 1000 or 1900 populaton-seat Of an excellent Col
ege and of the most hourishing cities in
the State. Another ten miles and you reach Jackson
the junction oil n. 0. j. and g. n. Railroad with So.
Railroad tortysix miles from Vicksburg, 90 from Me-
rdian and something two hundred miles above New
| Orleans 1t is city OF 5000 or 5000 Inhabitants,
pleasantly situated and contains handsome State build
Dgs. The Southern Railroad Pearl river here.
This stream is naVigable tor small craft to Jackson but
such is the risk OF cation that 1t is attempt
ed bat as an experiment. his stream South and
empties into or Mississippi Bay. Canton, where
the Mississippi Central Rail Road and N. 0. J. and
G. n. Rail Road connect lies twenty ree miles North
of Jackson. Brandon, place Ct 1900 inhabitants,
and quite enterprsiug town. is twelve miles from
Jackson. Going onward we pass Peshatchie, Morton
Lake. Forest, Newton, Hickory, and so on to Meri-
dian where the So. Rail Road connecs with three diff
erent railroads running North, South and East. Meri-
dian in the hands of the enemy would give him COM
mend of our rail read transportation between Mssis-
sppi and all other ports of the Conederacy Meridian
is low sandy place, consisting of rail road buildings
two three "hotes" and half dozen houses The
stations between Brandon and Meridian are simply de-
pots and not likely to be the scene OF struggle.
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