The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-07-27

TIoNAL TRIBUNE, says: "The enemy, in
| intrenchments constructed in the high
ground, commanding the approaches over
| the open fields, made feeble resistance"
etc.; that portion of the Fifteenth Corps
were moved around the enemyis flank, and
| at p. m. reached the enemy's intrench-
ments to find them deserted. But now take
notice. He says: About $50 prisoners were
| taken, together with Is pieces of artillery
and considerable quantity of ammunition
and stores" Now, the conundrum is little
hard to solve, how with the slight resistance
and the enemy's Entertainments deserted,
one brigade lost 80 killed and wounded, and
captured so many guns and prisoners.
Is it fact that the great Confederate
Gen. Joe Johnston left $50 of his men in
those intrenchments to deliver over to our
Live Eagle Brigade, as present. three full
six-gun batteries, along with themselves as
prisoners of war?
Then, further, in History of the Seven
teenth Corps, after driving the enemy " I'M
til within range of the artillery of the de-
lenses of Jackson" etc, "skir-
misherS were Immediately thrown out TO
the front, and officers sent to reconnoiter
the enemy's position and defenses found the
works vacated" Then, finally, "Col. San
born was directed TO send the flag of one of
his regiments which had borne itself most
CALAMITY in the battle" There seems now to
have been some kind of battle( land place
it on the Capitol of the State Of Mississippi,
and shortly before 4 o'clock the flag OF the
59th Ind. was proudly waving above the
dome. The results of the victory
were the capture of Jackson, with II pieces
of artillery, lin History of the Sixteenth
Corps it was Is pieces of artillery the
destruction of the railroads, manufacturing
establishments, army stores, etc, and a loss
TO the enemy in killed, wounded, and pris-
oners of nearly 1000 men"
Now, it appears that this loss by the
enemy in killed, wounded and prisoners of
nearly 1000 men was occasoned by very
slight resistance and an easily-wOn victory.
But about placing the flag of the 59ih Ind.
on the Capitol of the State of Mississippi.
Now, it has been some time since we took
part in those little incidents of war time,
and perhaps THE NATIONAL TGIBUNEs His
torian of the Corps can refresh our memory
a little in regard TO whether flags were
raised above courthouses and State Houses,
etc, by order of some officer some time after
the capture of the place; we will say, for in
stance, when some officer happened to be so
thoughtful as 10 look after the matter of
taking down the enemy's flag and raising
the Stars and Stripes in its place, after all
the details and preliminaries of taking pos
session, restoring order, etc, has been gone
through with? Or, did the regiment that
first reached and captured such prominent
places include the enemy's flag in the capt
ure when found proudly assuming pre-em-
inence, and place the National flag in its
place?
We happened to be a high private in the
rear rank of the Live Eagle regiment about
the time these little incidents were occur
ring, and we were in the habit of taking
notes of such matters as appeared to us of
worthy of remembering, and capt
ure of a State Capitol and a Confederate flag
floating thereon was not matter of such
common occurrence as to be considered I'M
worthy of record; likewise, the capture Of
the enemy's intrenchments with three full
six-gun batteries, and two or three hundred
prisoners by the Live Eagle Brigade. There
fore we will here submit our version of the
capture of the city of Jackson, the State
Capital of Mississippi, on Thursday, May IA,
1863
We will take backward step to the morn
ing of the 18th, when McPherson's Corps |
leaves Raymond on the road north to Clin-
tOu bobdklOD, OA INC IoOulDcIu hES-lSSlppl
between Jackson and Vicksburg, |
at the same time that Sherman's Corps is |
into Raymond, the head of Sher-
mans column marching into the place just |
as the rear Of McPhersons forces are leay-
ing; while McClernand's (Thirteenth) Corps
is advancing slowly in the direction of Ed
wards Station, on the S. NJ r. R., by roads
farther to the west along the southeast side
Of Black River.
After a halt of few hours at Raymond |
the Fifteenth Corps resumes the march on
the direct road TO Jackson; skirmish with
the enemy about p. M. near Mississippi
Springs, and, after cleaning them out, biv-
)uac on our arms for the night.
Early on the morning of Thursday, May
Ia, 1863, the Fifteenth Corps is on the march
ior Jackson, on the Raymond road, while
he Seventeenth is en- route for the same goal
rom Clinton.-S. C. MILES, Stetsonville,
Wis.