The Portland daily press., 1863-06-09
o Raymond
OPorl Gibson
% Bruinsburg

% Bruinsburg
ties and some account of the intermediate
marches, will serve to render that review en-
tirely satisfactory and ineligible.
General Grant landed at Bruinsburg on the
last day ofApril, marching Immediately inland
% miles to Port Gibson where he defeated
General Bowen the next day. He thus fianked
the enemy's position at Grand Gulf which was
simultaneously attacked by Admiral Porter
and evacuated May 3D. Sherman's demonstra-
ton on the Yazoo had successfully distracted
Pemberton's attention from Grants operations.
Port Gibson is 80 miles from Jackson. Gen.
Bowen's shattered command was followed up
the Big Black river for two days and half,
but escaped. After a two days bivouac the
army moved on Thursday, 7th May, toward
jackson. The three corps advanced on DIFF
ferent roads, Sherman on the left, Mcpherson
on the right, and McClernand in the center,
some seven miles in the rear. Owing to the
difficulty Of bringing up supplies from Grand
Gull, the troops moved very slowly, and it
was Tuesday, 18th May, before Mcpherson
found the enemy in considerable force at Ray
mond, IA miles southwest of Jackson. Having
dislodged this force, Mcpherson pushed north
ward to the Vicksburg and jackson railroad,
branch of which runs down TO Raymond,
and at length cut that important line of COM
munication at Clinton, 10 miles west of
Jackson.
Meanwhile Sherman, rom The direction OF
Edwards station, and McClernand, by more
eastarly .routr, were coming in; and on Thurs
day, l4th May, the whole army moved upon
jackson, where General Johnston, comman-
ding the Rebel Department of the West, had
arrived the day before, and occupied the
place, encountering only Intellectual opposition.
Gen. Johnston, with some 5000 men, withdrew
TO Calhoun, II miles north of Jackson, seeking
to effect junction with Pemberton, who had
marched out from Vicksburg, crossed the Big
Black, and taken up strong position on
Champions Hill, near Edwards station.
: Johnston was too late. General Grants
advance encamped II miles west of Jackson
Friday night within nine miles of Pemberton's
position. The decisive battle was fought next
day, Saturday the 10th. The enemy was
driven from the field in disgraceful rout, falling
back six miles to the river, which he crossed,
leaving guard of 2600 men and II pieces of
artillery on the left bank to defend the bridge.
Men and artillery, the whole guard was cap
tured next day. The bridge was burned, but
rebuilt during the night and on Monday, 18th
May, the army crossed the river. Pemberton
had retired to his entertainments. McCler-
d's IN he laft NcDb
occupied the center, and Sherman crossing on
pontoons little above the other corps, took
the right This relative position of the differ
ent corps was afterwards maintained.
On the 10th the first assault was made. 1t
was a failure-the first check which the army
had received. Wednesday and Thursday
were spent in getting the artillery into posi-
ton, a work Of incredible difficulty. "You
"might as well try to climb trees with your ar
"tillery, as to get it along the road near Wal
"nut Hills" said Mississippi planter last win
ter TO newspaper correspondent. The ground
is succession of high hills and narrow ra-
vines. All the approaches are fortified and ca
pable Of very obstinate defense
By Friday, 22d May, the investment was
complete. Gen. Macarthur had taken the
heights near Warrenton and at last Sherman
occupied Haines' bluff The Yazoo had be-
come the base of supplies above Vicksburg
and the lines touched the Mississippi below.
The second general assault was ordered-to
no purpose. Since that time the siege has
been progressing slowly. The cannonading
from the feet in front and the army in the
rear has been constant. Except on the 25th
there had been no battle in May and no severe
fighting then. The plan of the siege is OF
course unknown. Gen. Blair is on the Big
Black, with a corps of observation should
Gen. Johnston attempt to raise the siege. 1t
is barely possible that Johnston may have
collected 10000 men by the end of May. The
railroads in their present condition, according
to the judgment of Mr.. Colburn, the N. Y
Worlds correspondent, who traversed them
recently, could not bring up'more than 1870
men day. 1t is very unlikely that they have
been used to this extent, and it is certain tina,
at last accounts there was no pressure in the
rear Of the besieging force. The lines of in
vestment were drawn within two miles OF til,
city.
10 Speaking oil Fernando Wood, Bur
leigh" in the Boston Journal says he saw hin
the other day, and was surprised to see wha
time is doing of his person. His hair is quit