, 1864-07-21
FROM MISSISSIPPI.
GEN. DENNIS ExPEUlTEON
TO JACKSON.

Correspondence Of The Chicago Tfibnne.]

expedition to jackson, Miss, which left this
city on the morniug Of the 1st inst, and re-
turned on tie evening of the 9th inst, under
command of Brig. Gen. E. 8. Dennis, COM
mander Of the LIST division OF tho 18th army
corps, and a complete list OF the losses in
different companies during the engagement
on the mcrnin. OF the 7th inst, at point
some three miles west Of jackson, known rs
"Cross Roads," or rather whtre the Canton
road intersects the main Jackson road !
On the evening Of June 3oth, orders Fere
received at the headquarters Of the different
regiments composing the force to make the
NECESSARY arrangements for move the next
morning at g o'clock; and when the specified
time arrived, everything WIS in readiness
and start effected. Although the day WAS
exceedingly warm aud dusty, we marched to
Biz Black River, where we went In camp for
tie night, with the expectation of rosumins
our Journey at an early hour next morning.;
but not so.
Morning came, hut no orders, in cousp-
oueuce OF which We lay in camp NIL day and
the second night, our delay being to await
tie Of ths eFage ns 9TsI
tiors and forage; bul early on the morning
ct the Sd inst. We took our position in ranks.
and t.marched slowly on" until We arrived
at Champion Hil1s, place which will long
be remembered BY friends Of many brave
men who now lie In sweet repose, filling the
ling for their country's rights aud the pro.
lection Of their old emblem md protector,
the stars and stripes, under which they have
won many hard,Iought battles. Here we
went into camp, to spend another night IN
the grand canopy Of Heaven:
Next morning We moved BY the break Of
day" and: made fins: progress, it having
recteate md enltven our little army, us 1t Ind
been very warm aud dusty the preceding
three days; and It 2 O'Clock p, II. We were
encamped In the suburbs Of Clinton, small
town On the Vicksburg aud Jackson Rail-
road. Here We had made ample arrange
mcnts for doing our Eations justice, when the
advance, detachment Of cavalry, was at
tackled, and a general move was the result
Eatnbles Of every description, which h1d
bet d served In the most luxuriant style, were
rut aside, and u line Of battle formed, but to
no avail, as the. enemy retreated upon our
making arrangements to meet them; conse--
quently VIC retired, spending the balance Of
our hours Of rest in peace.
Morning came, and We advanced as per
orders, at o'clock, but proceeded only a
short distance when this regiment Was or.
dered to tue rear, the train having been at
tacked by n squad oi rebel cavalry, and for
the remainder Of the day, We acted In the
capacity Of rear guard, but did not encounter
my emmy, they having gone to their ad-
vance TO support q battery which was oper-
atipg aeainst our front. After O'Clock, the
enemy fell back in the direction Of Canton,
tearing Col Coates' I'd brigade, lat division,
wculd effect flank movement on them.
Previous to our entering Jackson, flag OF
truce was sent out By the citizens with q re-
quest that We should not shell the city, re-
pcrtItg no enemy there. SO we marched
through their once prosperous, but now des.
olate ca itol, with banners lying, filling the
air with the nelodious sounds Of martial
music, amidst the prolonged cheers Of the
men, and arrived at the river on the south.
east Of the city, where We went in camp.
Here We remained until ! o'clock next day,
when the bugle was was sounded to depart,
the direction or destination being unknoT Tn
to any but the commanders, and in few
moments MI were on the move in the direc,
tion OF what was termed "home," but alas
We proceeded but short distance, tho SGih
Infantry being in the advance, when we
came to .shnlt" Artillery was no. put In
position, cavalry thrown ont as skirmishers,
and the lires established By the infantry
everything in position, aud the ball opened.
Heavy firing from both sides was kept up I'LL
til the shades Of darkness set in, when both
armies retired, our men taking position and
lying on tht If arms until the coming morn,
and long ere the sun ascended nom behind
the hills Of the tar distant east, the sktrnlah.
ing commenced. Heavy firing, both from
artillery and ulusketry was kept up coutinu-
ally unIil seven O'Clock, neither party sesm.
i'll to gain any advantage, until finally the
| I'd Brigade, OF the gullant Old 4th Division
| were ordered to advance, the 7Gth Illinois
Infantry in front as skirmishers, anil the 46th
! Illinois infantry, as support. And advance
| they did. until the entire line was within
I sorna fx,enff.f}rR yards frntn the he
lay in one position, which they had estab
| lisbed the previous evening, under cover. ly
ing In the edge of body Of heavy timber
| while on the contrary our lines were exposed
to their whole fire, btin. In an open tlelt
which inclined towards them. In this posi-
| tion these two regiments lay for five hour
| until the entire train had passed, without th.
loss OF Il wagon, and it has been asserted tha
| th's command saved all from destruction, b.,
TIT ir gallabtry and desperate lighting. Tot
much credit .nd praise cannot be attributed
to the officers ana men, and permit nc to 50,
Strange as 1t ay.seem, the 16th did not los'
an other, and had twenty-one on the field
hut lost about one hundred men ont Of thre1
hundred and eeventy-fye- Lieut.. Col. Z. c
| Jones bad Ills horse shot four times whil'
riding along the lines, the last shot proriu:
! fatal, but he never retired from the Held, III
| though his leg was somewhat fractured b.
the falling OF his horse
! After continued fighting for dye hours, or
| ders came to fall back, nnd 1t was with th'
| greatest difficulty that this regiment escapct
| capture, az they were compelled to leave 81
tue dead and seriously wounded on the deld
being obliged to craTl some two hundres
Yards under heavy and CALLING fire, afte
which tley reformed the line and crossed
large opening some two miles In width, IN
der constant ere Of grape, canister, AM
mueketry, when we reioined our coMm0n
S1nu 0+6a tr1~s. {f1a n
the General and his staff who had given u
up us lost.
After leaving the field Of action VIC move
in direction OF the train, tut were harrassed i
tie rear BY the cavalry of the enemy, VII
made th1ee unsuccessful charges on ssctlo
cceEfulls repu1sed on each occasion, with
comparatively email loss on our Eide bu
heavy On the enemy's, the battery pouring
murcerous Ere ol grippe, canister and she
ito thtir ranks, as they advanced, with th
11th Illinois Infantry as support, who attn
no more serious tr. uble, but still an attac
was hourly expected on the train, which q
this time was perfectly safe
In tits manner We reached Bakers CreeE
ubout tne and q half miles east of Cbampio
Hills, where We camped tor the night, afte
hard doy's work: the men and animal
being completely fatiyned aud worn out
having been destitute OF any food OF import
ancc for the past duy, and the heat Ecn
very oppressive, in consequence OF whic
there WAS eeverM cises of sun stroke. one d
which proved fatal Tine rolled on, an
by O'Clock next morning our noble littl
band could hare been eeen vending thet
way in the direction Of Black River, wher
We arrived in the evening after long an
srduous march, at which place We lay unit
O'Clock On the afternoon Of the 9Th instant
I whtn our last days march began, aud by th
dead hours Of midnight we we're once NOR
within the walls Of this Inflated city.
Suffice me to say that it is thought by al
parties interested, we achieved everything
anticipated, having drawn forces from u
importnnt point Of the enemY's, thtreh
gaining advantages in other sources, and b
destroying q bridge over Pearl River, q
Jackson, which was partially completed
Still. the general suppositton is that it We
not the intention Of Gen. Dennis to cngsg
the enemy as he old, knowing their force
ontnumbered ours, having some !, ,5W caya
| n and mounted infantry, while Onr entiE
| force Of effective men did not exceed 2,0O
Tut to attract their attention 80 that on
. train could be put past danger.
speaking of our noble brigade commandel
Col B. Dorublazer, 46th I'll. infantry, Ii
stat, Col, Busey, commanding 18th, an
Lieut.. Col Jones, commanding 18th, wht
at all tines, wtre to be found with thei
commands, In the discharge of their dutfel
A]eo, to the minor officers Of the brigade
who can be numbered only among the 6es
aud are an honor to the service of the Unite
States. Long may they survive, among th
s'roaring of cannon and clashtns OF arms,
Is the pr;yer OF many noble heart unds
their commands, and may their heads
crowned With laurcls ere this cruel war
oycrH