The National tribune., 1884-11-13
JACKSON, MISS.
suirerings Of the Ninth Corps.

To THE EDITOR: Like thousands Of other
old soldiers have read and enjoyed the story
of Comrades Mason and Fry. 1t has most
wildly brought back to my mind many events
of that terrible Summer of 1863, in the swamps
of Mississippi, the most fatal campaign of my
regiments three years of service If correct
q date in the comrades story it is only in the
interest OF history, which should be correct.
especially as regards dates. 1t was the night
of the 18th of July that Johnston evacuated
Jack son. and not the 18th, and our troops
entered the citz the morning of the 18th. This
fact take frorn my own diary, written on the
spot, from which will quote: July 17.-At
daylight this morning the Second Division
Ninth Corps being in front, We heard loud
cheering, aud afterwards ascertained that the
rebels had evacuated Jackson during the
night" The 35th Mass, of Gen. Ferreros
Brigade, was the first regiment inside the
works. and raised its flag on the capitol. So
much for history; but in the brief account OF
this short three weeks campaign against john
ston what does not memory reproduce! Those
days OIL the hot, dusty roads, in broiling sun
poor rations, or none at all, except the fields of
green corn water that even the animals
refused to drink no cover at night from the
poisonous air or tempest, for we left all our
tents at vicksburg. We did not undress
once, and did not take off my boots, except
to put them on again Immediately. l am
6imOSt surprised tnab Inc COIuTaues uO uot Heu-
ton that fearful thunder storm the night of
July z, that was admitted to be the worst of
the many We had that Summer; that stopped
the army movements and drove us out of the
roads into bivOuac; when the artillery stuck
in the roads and horses were so frightened az
to become unmanageablc. My own horse was
so terrified at the continuous flashes of light
ming that it was all l could do for hours to
control him, while drenched to the skin, and
hcof f,11 of u,ot njuht that
was!
Now, would like . little information, and
doubt not some reader can supply it. AS we
advanced into the battle at Jackson, the after
noon of the 10th, my regiment was on the ex-
treme right of the Ninth Corps, and on our
right was an Ohio regiment, of Smiths Divis-
ion of the Sixteenth Corps. 1t is my impress
the 44th or the 45th Ohio. The next day (11th)
the same regiment, or part of it, was on our
right, and its skirmishers connected with those
of my regiment. 1t suffered some loss at the
same time that two of our companies lost q
number Of men. By the Coloners order I
went out to our right front to find the line,
and in the bushes saw two boys of the Ohio
regiment who had just been killed, and Lieu
tenant in command of the picket-line advised
me to get back to my regiment unless my duty
kept me there. As bullets were flying pretty
thick, concluded to take his advice for the
rebel sharpshooters, only 200 yards or SO away,
were up in trees picking off our men, and their
aim was very sure. If that Ohio Lieutenant is
living / should like to hear from him. Our
Corps (Ninth) lost in this battle 81 killed, 25S
wounded and 80 missing; but the fight was
nothing to the injury to the Corps from the
exposure. 1t was complete wreck when it
went up the river in August On the 9th of
that month"; year exactly from our muster
into the United States service, 1,040 strong
we stacked 90 muskets while on the march,
near Bryantsville, KY.
/ would like to hear from some Of the West
ern comrades about the Jackson campaign.
We Eastern boys, from the Army of the Poto-
mac, are proud to have served with them in
the Army of the Tennessee. We left them
with pleasant memories and high opinions of
their soldierly qualities. And now, after 81
years, am glad to greet them through the COL
umns of THE TEIBUNE.-S. A. RAHLkTT, Adj't,
S6th Mass, Boston, Mass.