The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-26

that notwithstanding this vast superiority OF numbers
ments weak they were assault by him would re-
| SILT IN his discontinue
Instead Of attacking the enemy, a. soon as they Or.
rived. commenced ntrenchug and constructing batteries.
On the 10Th there was spirited diminishing with slight
cannonadng continuing throughout the day This was
kept up with varying intensity and bu. little interruption
unsfthe period OF our evacuation. Hills, commanding
cd ses for na,ers sross ape Of sho, and
shell reached all parts OF the town. showing the position
Dc entirely 1n,suable against po.erfal artillery
could ;Ssss
last moment wi.hdraw We n SsnnSs stack ssrioaas
On the 18th, besides the usual skirmishing there
heavy cannonade from the batteries the Canton and
south Of the Clinton roads The missiles reached all parts
o. the town. An assault though not . vigorous one
also made on General Breckinrdge's line Il quickly
repeled however principally by the direct fire Of Cobbs
ers Of the First Third and Fourth Florida. and Forty
seventh Georgia regiments The enemy's loss was two
wousded The coors OF the Twenty eighth Forty
and Fifty third Illinois regiments.
both his TANKS rested on Pearl river. ''' '''"
se,egraphed the President on the I4th that large
win compel Us to abandon JACKSON The troops before Us
nave oeen nsrenching and constructing batteries since
| on the 18th telegraphed the President
,. Tss ensmy Il s evidently mssSs which
It's way 10 this place. - Wy 'u u0u0' On
On the 10th Of July information was received tina.
largo train from Vicksburg loaded with ammunition
their batteries made n probable that Sherman would on
hundred guns II also reported that the enemy had
crossed Pearl river In rear OF their left flank The
mined
Our withdrawal was effected the night OF the Ieth
All public property the sick and wounded except
few not 10 condition to be moved had been previously
carried to tho rear The right wing retired towards Bran
Brandon q
bridges over Pearl river and observe the enemy The
evacuation was not discovered by the enemy until the
loss during the siege estimated at seventy ono
killed, ave hundred and four wounded and about
to Morton, distant about thirty five miles from jackson.
Desertions during the siege and on the march, re-
cavalry. drove our cavalry through Brandon on the 19h
returning to jackson tho next day Their object seemed
10 be to destroy the railroad bridges and depots.
around Port Hudson reported three successful engage
ments with detachments Of the enemy.
On the 18th Of July received information from Colonel
Logan Of the surrender Of Port Hudson the 9th sub-
sequent the report Of Major Jackson Assistant Aduant
General was received. informing me Of the surrender
That ocer stated that provisions exhausted and
the garrison to cut It's way But Thousand i've
hundred Of the garrison were 1t for duty at the time Of
The enemy advanced against Yazoo CITY, both by land
and water on~he 18th. The attack by the gunboats
command oi Commander Isaao n Brown, Of the navy
Tho DeKalb the flagship Of tho hostile squadron IRON
NO y
by the garrison commanded by Colonel Greasman Of the
Twenty ninth North Carolina regiment.
Here follows review OF minor points In the
ders, and General Johnston then proceeds
The time TO strike the enemy With the best hope Of
saving yiCsburg was when he was landing near Bruins
burg To do this with prospect Of success. rapid
Of al the should boon made and
an es.ack Under this conviction .eegraphsd % Gcne
.rmy lands % this ID. q he rvor The safety q M:ss
unite Your your whole force" And again, On Ny SIT
Grant Crosses unite the whse force 70 beat him.
These iussrucson: were neglected ana time was given
70 Grant 70 gain oothod 10 the state. AT Ports Gibson
and back 3 overwhelming numbers q the enemy.
On the 18th, when learned that there were four d.
hs main mai Ssosr
him orders attack them, and notified him that
oSsyed and 90 reported 70 me IN bis letter Of The l7tn
u directed him 70 move twenty miles TO the east,
Bile. he claims cha. this order compelled him 10 make
astrous. Before had reached Jackson and before the
order was given, General Pemberton made bis first ad
After Tie 10 Violation " t. he @aa:
his second and last advance from that point the Geld Of
caused the subvsrslon Of his "maiured plans" do
not know what those plans were, but startled
Violation my By IL. %sy
MS council Of war IA and disapproved Sas he statesl
collect force enough Edwards depot would be the battle
field The battle OF Bakers creek was fought three or
Sa e s Of the
apparent obstacle to prevent bis resumng his original
position, and carrying out his ''maturcd plans"
II Is new military principle, that when officer dis
oheys positive order from his superior that superior
becomes responsible for any measure his subordinate
But had the battle q Bakers creek not been fought,
General Pembertons belief that vcksburg his base,
besiesed, and therefore captured TheXarger force he
would have carried into the limos would have added TO
not merely his entsngng himself with the advancing
coumus q superior and unobserved enemy but 70 his
stead Of man@uvering TO prevent siege
Convinced Of the impossibty OF collecting sufficient
force 70 break tns nyestmsnt o. veksogrg should pc
garrison and that vicksburg Port Hudson
bad lost mos. Of their value ~ The repeated passage
both places General Gordon did not receive this order
before the Investment Of Port Hudson q ALL General
council OF and though he had 10 Vicksburg eight
thousand fresh troops, not demoralined BY defeat de
cided that 10 twas impossible 10 withdraw the army
from this position with such morale and material 70 be
further service 10 the confsderacy but "to hold
ns ,no 1nS %sy YET be- able
10 keeping this obstruction to the enemy's free
greatly mperlied whom my Instructions from TuIshoma
70 concentrate were neglected II was lost when my or
this loss wore added The labor prvaous and certain
capture Of ssan! army, when my orders Tor lie svac
In this report have been compelled 10 enter many
details and TO make some anmadversons upon the con-
duct OF General Pemberton. The no pleasant
task-the other most painful duty both have been
forced upon by the Official report OF General Pember
ton. made TO the War Department instead Of 10 me, TO
whom was due.
General Psmbcrton, BY direct assertion and by mp
cation puts upon the responsibility Of The movement
which led bis army 10 defeat a Bakers creek and Big
Black brdgedefeas which produced the loss OF Vicks
burg and its army.
THIS statement has been circulated by the press, In
lees detail. and with more or lees marks Of an
Official character. until my silence would be almost an
acknowledgment Of the justice OF the charge.
proper regard for the good opinion OF my govern.
compelled me, therefore. TO throw aside that
dolicscy which would gladly have observed towards
brother ocer, suffering much undeserved oboquy, and
show thss 10 his short campaign General Pemberson
made not single movement 10 obedience 10 my orders,
and regarded Of my Instructions and, finally, did
embrace the only opportunity 10 bic army, that
given by my order 70 abandon vcksburg Most respect
I'LL -. ALL