Washington telegraph., 1864-03-16


though old, Is still interesting. Il is the first
| detnled account OF Sherman's advance which
| We have met. or the subsequent events Of
this expedition our readers will learn else
| where:
Meridian, Feb. AFTER telegraphing the
news on Friday Of the brilliant affair Of the
Texans under Ross In the Yazoo raid, and the
advance of the Federals on Clinton and Jack
son. BY the different roads. was unable to
send yen any more news i'm consequence Of the
excitement attendant on the evacuation Of
Jack son, and my inability TO procure an ap-
proval Of dispatch, without which no reports
are allowed 10 pass.
The Federals threw across the Big Black, Mt
the railroad bridge, column Of $1,000. which
Immediately took up its line Of march towards
Bakers Creek, and thence to jackson. At the
same time another crossing was attempted nj
! the Messengers Ferry, but it was greatly i'm
peded by our cavalry, while another force was
crossed over above, which being effective,
forces fell back, skirmishing all the way, and
lispufing every i.4ch Of ground. think ihi-
force was confronted by Jackson's cavalry.
The force that crossed at the railroad bi ilge
was confronted by Writ Adams cavalry. On
Thursday morning Gen. B. ID. Lee assumed
command. The fighting on Thursday by our
| men waS gallant and -tuDbOrn, bnt vverwh-lIn-
| ing numbers compelled Lee 10 give ground,
| which he did gradual ly, az nj the same time
| punished the enemy severely. While these
/ columns were advancing towards Jackson, the
guuboat- assembled the Yazoo escorting trans
| bort feet which was moving up that river, 10
| what paint | am unable 10 say. bur pre-ne
| that it was intended to operate against urenada
| anl also menace LoriLs's flank, who ~
| Canton
By sunset Thursday Lee had been forced
back well on Clinton, the enemy forcing Tor
ward bis infantry in solid mass. Their cav
II \ was whipped back every lime they came ia
contac with ours. In the last charge, on this
lar. the gallant Major Bridges. of Texas. tel.
| nurtally wounded. tie wa regarded a. enc
| Or the most efficient, dashing. daring steel
points Of the army. welve PRISONERS captured
anil sent into the army early Friday morning.
| Tie rrar " tile guns could be distinctly heard
! ia Jackson, coming from tie different pylnt-
| Hhe-e the enemy were known n TIC adya. ,clnE
There Mas scarcely nm! lnterIni --ivn ~ the
artillery hre thrUuZhou the DAY. wiile il
| gradually neared. ~ 10 o'c,ork the Fr,ieral>
| nai reached Clinton. TnI- falrt getting abroad.
| produced u great he nj NJ excitement and took
many BY surprise. A. u Wa not supposed that
the enemy would b. upon them soon. u-n.
| French HAD arrived and assumed command
and military m-Itcrs prDeerlcl with due resn-
| larIIy-
G.n Lorirg was expected down from Canton
! by night aIl with tie twJ DIVISIONS II wa- ex-
p-ciei that tue enemy would hr sept out NJ
| jackson until 1nr rentDrcrmrrt- came MP.
| when ID wa tie eiievrI that would he able rt
drive rhc enemy Lack Tie prompt anva ace
\ ui Gen Sherman prevented ring getting
| down in time. ant ne was compelled ~ crus-
| Pearl river above jackson. French did MT
Gross over P-ar river bnt remained this
4 l.raG -.I tI. nj IA tbn NJ
1 lng'- column would have r-aca-d the not thern
\ limits ~ thr city. Fr-nch'- rnlnmn wnnli have
4 entered frnin h- -a-r thus have naranei
4 Junction ~ the city and have manned the
hr-a>t~nrk-.
Lnring cnnll MT well leave Canton unit
| th' intended paint uf ATTACK hy tic F.'lrra i
lal been f.-i l-crrtlinr'i AMI iii * il m..rr-
than probably That liz ramprrrl Ia HI
movement, d, superior ~ Ter. Th- F,d ril>
| entered Jacks ~ abnt -nn-rt- Gen. L-c I-nvr'l
nf tue canton read. hr-ins -riinnrly com
tr-tr-l every INCH pf ground pn Biy B ack TO-
\ I'r VI river.
.fi MS lram nnr lnss nn Friday but be
lirvr Id 10 havr II---n severe ~ the lighting va
desperate. triIirIs ani sharp. Tie enemy had
| hi forces nsl--c-l aud fpru-l hi- way D., brute
\ inrrr..
I H. must have >nfrre,lterrihiy. AZ 10 clock
1 Friday lrasn..d that Frr-u~on'- hrigair
j"inctl T~r- arl rniinnriy c"nIribn'el 10 the
,ief. mr'- against thr f-s-raa ~lyance.
| During rhe dly large volumes of smoke
Il -rrn rising in tine west. the lin- Df the
my idvanc-. "a supposed I" w. r'.r:"n
burned hy "nr caya4~y. ~nr -finAr- ~ ihr
town NJ Clinton a. Dnrnsri IN In F,.irrii-.
Df The Operations pf Ross vn Inr n a1Jv wv
| Friday. learn nothing definite Ii J. said
\ that hr again beat back the Federal adRance
ani sunk tw VI their Transports. l-liev,
| the HrroHnt a. br true.
\ The Federal fore, arc commanded hy Ger
Sherman. McPh. 70 AMI lluruIr. Ani mum
| n-r. well ri, can learn. ab,nT -iJ.i men
/ II may net ~ great. ! nm inclined 10 fhlnl
\ it from $1,000 ID 4n.OiH nf NIL aral-: every
| thing THAR c.n br mnnhtrl having r-rn hrun.l
~ ihi- -ile ~ thl river AMI planted ',n tr.in~
| our force, Immediately tp-k M the line ~
! march fur MrIr'.n. - miles ei-t nf Jack-,,-.
| where army D. hrIn. nri>-ri.
h Jn-t brf.Ic lra-in-. some I'D bales &c cot
To-. most 0f which Was the property nf the
Gnvrinmrnr. was burned. wrI what f.-w
| things THAT HAY have remained that could not
! h- brought away n the lat trains were
| leaving. Ihc F,lrral- hal reached the we-t
| bank NJ the RIVER. and lanfei a battery. while
| tirlr -harl,-hn ter- went actively a. WORK. rni
prevented the mprrc destruction uf tue Pom
tnon bridge o,rr Pear! river. H. arTrmpIrg
| IL irsI,nciiYn. We l,>t one man killr,i and tM.
| wunnnrh.