Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-03-31
The Operations In Mi.SissippI in IsGI-UnciaI Re,
port OF Gan. Jos. pm e. JommaLnn.

port OF Gen. Joseph e.. Johnston.
The Official report OF Gen. JOSEPH T. Johrston a.
bis operations in Mississippi, athot gh called oy b,
Congress the lth Of December last has only pui
its app; arance lii print within the past c DAYS Ia
referring to 1t at present, is for US 10 ait .mp 10
account for the delay in its publication Many OF the
facts embraced ia this report have already bee uIvru
to the public in the synopsis OF the corresponds ace he
tween Gen. Johnston and the Government uu norIlirs
in Richmond. Passing Ov,r these, W. conn. In tno
dispatches between Gen. Johnston aud lrut CIpn,rI
Pemoerton, with reference to the opcratoua around
Vcksburg.
On the 9ll of May Gen. Johlston then at TplIobo
ma, received dispatch from the Secretary Il War d
recting him TO proceed once TO Mis ssIpp and lake
chief command OF ths forces there Ga Tn, n of line
same month he received dispatch from Cen PcD,b r
ton, dated VIcksburg, May l2th asking for reinforce
ments as the enemy III large forces was muvuy ro,n
the Mississippi, south OF the Big Back apparently in
the direction of Edwards Depot aud cIDre-slnG the
belief that that point woud b. the batic-tcd If be
could forward sufficient force, leaving troors enough 10
secure the safety OF Nlcksburg.
On the 18Th Gen. Johnston dispatched Gen. Penn.
bertQn notifying him of his arrival at jackson inform
ing him OF the occupation OF Cntoa by portion Of
Grants army, and urged the mpOrtanca OF rc.Csablsh
ing communications, ordering hl to come up il prac
ticable, on Sherman's rear once, aud adding 10
beat such detachment would be ot mmuse yauc--
The troops here could cooperate All the sircustb
you can quickly assemble should be brought Time Is
all important"
Subsequently, Gen. ohnston ordered Cen Pember
ton 10 eVacuaC Icksourg, aud to take the road lead
ing to Clinton. Ihls order was d.4rCgl.l4d. Ilcu-
cluding bis report Gen. Johnston saws:
Convinced OF tie impossibllity Of collecting sui
fcent force 10 break the investment oi V cksbu.g
should 1t be coupIettd-apprCtIalag the difficulty OF
eXrIcatDg the garrison, ana convinced that Nlcksburc
and Port Hudson had lost most of their value by I,,c
repeated passage OF armed vessels aud Transports !
ordered the evacuation OF both places. iene & rj-
did Lot this order before tuc Investment o
Port Hudson, ii at all. General Pembrrtcn SCI aside
this order, nnder the advice OF a cOGuCI Of war aad
though he had in kICksUug Clght thOu.au fresh
troops, not demcral,2 d by defeat dc.ldaI
that 1t " was impossible 10 withdraw me
army from this position, with suc1 morale
and material as TO beStt uThec service to the Uon,d-
eracy," but to hold VIcksourg as long az po.s.p!r
with .he firm hope that the Government NAV ,.r br
able 10 assst me III keeping obslruc ION 1, I %
mys tree navigation Of the M Msslsappl RIVER" ri-.
burg was greatly lmperIltd my Iusllugl ions om
| Tullahoma, TO concentrate, We're Lclkcud H. was
lost when my ordlrs OF the l3 aud 5tn ul 5i.y were
dlsobeyed 10 this loss were aIdld lnc labor, .rvu-
tons, ard certain capture OF gallant m, wueu nv
orders for lis evacuation Wele aside.
| IL this report have been com ,ced 10 enter into
many details, and TO make some anlmadvral1D- ub5n
the conduct OF Gen PtmoeriOn ihc Que was nu pie 5
ant task-the other painful Ou,v: bD,b La,..
been forced upon me BY tbe G.aI IuvuIr i tif e. ,
berloD, made TO tie War Department instead o "a me
| to VII I'm 1t was due.
Gen Ptmberton, by direct assertion sid ,v ,a,,,,c,
ton puts upon NE tie respOnsblnly Of the NOV Ir.l
which led bis army oGtt4t a. Bakers creek aud 4 u
Black brTlge-dcicat which produced tle ,-, OF ke
| burg and Ita army.
bis statement has been circulated by the prc. i-,
more less cctaIl, aud with NOR. 0. ts- mara u nm
official character, unlI my silence would b. any,. an
acknO@Id dgnent OF the justice o, the cIlrg..
proper regard tor lnc goOd nDi,n 81 ay i.o.tfu-
meh1 has compelled me- lh,Eeiorr 10 Ihrog 1-lt. Ia,t
deIicacy wncn | would glaUIy nave Ub,ctvta u.ar4f
a prohGr LLcer suffering much uud served oy,ul.v
and To show that IN bis snort c.mp4gu G,u,r,I i,u-