Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-05-21
The Z ailway Communications OF the South

The rebel papers inform us that heavy REIN
forcements have arrived near Jackson, Miss-
sippi. from Charles ton and from Georgia, whose
cooperation with The rebel force al Ficksbu-g
wlll render the destruction of Grants army
certain. But with Jackson i'll our possession,
il is impossible for rebel reinforcements 20 reach
Ficksburg, and with their railroad coInInUni-
cation south and west cut OFF, IL is quite diff
cult for troops to reach Jackson, or, indeed, 10
come within thirty miles OF il, al least for some
weeks TO come.
On the northeast Grierson has DESTROYED the
Mobile and Ohio railroad at Okolona; on the
East he cut the same road at Enterprise, as well
IS the Southern Mississippi at Ohunkeyyille,
seventy eight miles from Jackson; on the south
he GeStI Dyed the bridges, tracks, DC, OF the
Mississippi Central ut HaZlehurst, Bahala,
BlooknaSen AID summit, burning, also. along
the entire line, for 3 distance OF over forty
miles, all the cars, engines and other rolling
stock, without which the road, even il repaired,
would be useless, and which the rebels cannot
replace. Thus reintorcements, toreach Vicl1s-
burg, must march long distances through a
country which has been swept clean Of sup
plies. and must moreover, fight and defeat
GRAFT in the open 1ieid before it would be pos
Sible 10 form :. junction with mbertOn al the
Iet 81 stronghold.
The serious injuries inflicted by Grierson,
apparent from this statement, are yet more
clearly exhibited if We consider the great value
81 lie railway system OF Mississippi, as a
Whole, which he has practically destroyed. In
all, the state has So miles of railroads, valued
- Soi, lW.tGG. OF these the Grand Gulf ana
eight miles in length. Is now wholly in our
possession. The Mississippi Central, ls7 miles
long, and costing 81 ,EA, ,937 is entirely useless
% the enemy, and must remain SO, from sheer
want OF iron and other material necessary To
lis repair and operation, Tins inflicting vast
damage upon ali the interests OF the State, in
dustial ana commercial as well as military.
The Mississippi ard Tennessee road, running
from Memphis 10 Grenada, ninety-nine
miles, and costing Sr,1i9,3i9, is also
useless TO The enemy, its northern section
beng under our control. The Mobile and Ohio
load, which has q length in Mississippi Of 2s3
miles. and cost in all SS,47s,000 cannot be used
continuously. and is of no value, so far as
concerns the transportation of troops or sup
plies 10 Northern Mississippi or Tennessee.
so the Memphis and Charleston road. running
through the northeastern part of Mississippi,
now in our possession almost to the Georgia
line, is OF no use to the rebels, our occupancy
OF the road cutting OF their army in Tennessee
by that route from all communication with
their inland reserves.
These facts show us clearly the immense aG-
Tantages which the forays into the heart of the
rehellious States have given in our western
operations: and if now our eastern commafi-
GERS would but possess themselves of the noun
tain ranges running from Pennsylvania TO
Georgia, thus isolating and cleaying in twain
the Copfederacy, it would in six months inevi-
tably fall TO pieces were not another blow 10
he strGck.-N. 7. Post