The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-05-27
The News from Mississippi

The Montgomery Advertiser gives III,
following statement on Information whicl
10 approved and endorsed:
The fight began ut an early hour Thurs
day morning, some eight miles South wes
Of Jackson, and continued nearly all day
our troops commanded by Johnson and III,
enemy's by Grant. We were finally driven
back 10 Jackson, and fought them througl,
the streets until overpowered by greatly
superior numbers, and were compelled TO
evacuate the city, the enemy's force mount.
ing to about 10000 or 10000. and ours
only TO about 5000. Gen. Johnson then
Ietreated on Canton, twenty -four miles dr.
North of Jackson. situated on the wagon
road connecting thence by Walden to the
Tosd running due Fast TO the Yazoo river,
and leading directly TO Nicksburg. some
seventy miles from Jackson by this route.
When heard from Yesterday morning. the
enemys cavalry were at Brandon, on the
Southern road, twenty odd milrsth aid Q
OF Jackson, near which point we had a force
to protect the road. This fact is official
and may be relied on.
General Johnson had arrived at jackson
ia. m, Wednesday, and the fight com
mencing so early the next morning left hin
no time to re.organize and concentrate the
forces, and he no doubt made d-sperat,
resistance under great disadvantages. II i,
stated that some days before leaving Ten
nsssee, General Johnson sent General Penn
berton an order to somewhat change hi.
plans, which was forthwith set aside by tn,
latter ~ very improper dlctation to so con
sequential a commander, whereupon Gen
oral johnson received an order at the Ias
moment on Saturday to go to Mississippi
and take command Of the army liz ief
the snme day and arrived in uEprecedentrc
time, ~ before stated, Wednesday morning 2
We are glad to learn that his complacen
Predecessor had so far anticipated the evar
uatiop as to have the most important sup
plies and The archieves and other arsicles oi
value removed. Our army has four NOR tn,
provisions at Vicksburg We have ample
forces in communicating in Mississippi, un
der the maaterly lead Of Johnson, TO NEE,
and repel tho invaders, but il may require
some little time 10 put our forces in the
proper position.
The ENEMY IN Possession OF THE Town
"A courier arrived here yesterday with
sthcial intelligence that the enemy, proba
bly, the combined armies Of Gran, and
Banks. had penetrated to Jackson, Mis,is.
sippi, and taken possession Of the place -
This news was regarded as bad BY the 10.
Informed. but we are assured upon the bes,
authority, that General Johnson, who fell
back from Jackson for srrage,ic purposes
regards the situation ~ all that 10 desirable
With fine army he has taken a position
between Jackson and VicksburG, with hi.
communications open to the latter place
A great battle in this vi,iniiy is regarded
- imminent, and all cur military men are
ssnGuine that . signal victory awaits our
srms.-Riehnond Examiner. l6th inst
THE ssFNY EvAcuArx JAcxsos.-A sps.
cisl report to tho Advertiser and Register
from Jackson to the l7th conhrms the pre-.
vtoss accounts Of damage inflicted by the
Yanksss. The Catholic Church Was de-.
stsoysd. the Mississippian ofios Quilted
pfsssss broken and type thrown into the
street; the furniture 10 the Capitol wss
badly sbassd. and 10 the Governors man
don demolished ladies were robbed oi
jeOsly sud money; and the stores were
ssaksd and contents destroyed: iron safes
we're broken open the railroad badly torn
up for several miles, and the telegraph wires
iorn down. About three thousand negroes
from Hinds county joined the Yankees, and
the county wss pluudsrsd generally. the
damages being estimated at from hvs to
seven million dollars. There 10 much des
titution aud suffering in consequence. The
enemy evacuated Jackson Friday and Sat
urday, retreating hastily, having had no Sc.
rious engagement, and tho last Of their ear
guard left about two o'clock. Our cavalry
pick cts dashed in, killed q Federal Colonel
and captarsd two Others The Yankees