The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-07-27
CAPTURE OF JACKSON.
Comrade Miles Corrects Statements Here
tofore Believed to be Sound.

Wilson's History says: McPhersor
moved on Jackson by the Clinton road
Sherman by the Raymond road. Both EN-
eountered some slight opposition, and bOtf
entered the place at the same time. 1t wa:
an easy victory" Then, again: Gen. Grant
entered the city with Sherman's head OF
column"
Gen. Sherman says: I'VE reached Jack
son at the same time, Mcpherson fighting OF
the Clinton road and my forces fighting just
outside the town on the Raymond road
where we captured three entire batteries
and about 200 prisoners of war"
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE in History OF
the Corps" says: AT about 10 o'clock a. 10.
on the morning of the 14ih, the Fifteenth
Corps approached Jackson in pouring rain.
The enemy. in intrenchments constructed
on the high ground commanding the APP
proaches over the open fields, made feeble
resistance. Alter some preliminary artil-
lery firing, portion of the Fifteenth Corps
were moved around the enemyis flank, and
at o. m. they reached the enemy s iBtrench-
ments to find them deserted. About $50
prisoners were taken, together with Is pieces
of artillery and considerable quantity OF
ammunition and stores. The loss of the
Fifteenth Corps was 30 killed, wounded and
missing, all of the Third Division"
Also in history of the Seventeenth Corps
ION the 18th the command marched toward
jackson; the Seventh Division in advance,
and Gen. Sherman marching on his route at
the same time. About five miles from Jack
son the advance-column met the enemy's
pickets and drove them in about 9 p. m"
Doubtless meaning a. m. "and pushed on
until within two and half miles from the
city, where the enemy was found posted in
strong force The position of the enemy was
carefully recOnnOitered, and McMurray's
battery of Parrott guns brought up to reply
to their artillery, which had already opened
upon the Union lines. While the DISPOSE
tions for the attack were being made a very
heavy shower of rain set In, which delayed
the attack for one hour and half, the rain
coming down in such torrents that there was
great danger of the ammunition being spoiled
should the men open their cartridge-boxes.
The time was occupied in putting the troops
In position"
Then, after driving the enemy "until
within range of the artillery from the de-
fenses of Jackson, McMurray's and billions
batteries, which followed close after the in
fantry, were wheeled into the first adyan-
tageous position, and opened a wel-directed
and effective fire upon the retreating enemy.
The troops were here halted and lines formed,
as they had become somewhat broken march
ing over the rough ground. Skirmishers
were Immediately thrown out to the front,
and officers sent to reconnoiter the enemy's
position and defenses found the works
evacuated
Col. Sanborn was directed to send the flag
of one of his regiments which had borne it.
self most calamity in the battle and place
it on the Capitol of the State of Mississippi,
and shortly before 4 o'clock the flag of the
seth Ind. was proudly waving from the
dome. Sherman's command entered about
the same time from the west and southwest.
The results of the victory was the capture of
Jackson, with IL pieces of artillery, the de-
struction of the railroads, manufacturing
establishments, army stores, etc, and loss
to the enemy in killed, wounded and pris-
oners of nearly 1000 men.
Gen. Sherman does not 90 into details as
to what detachment was first over the
enemy's works, or what regiment unfurled
it's flag above the Statehouse dome. He
very considerably and properly gives his
own corps and McPbersons Corps equal
credit in the capture Of Jackson, as the
Seventeenth Corps had a heavier force of
the enemy to contend with in his advance
on the Clinton road than the Fifteenth
until they approached the immediate city
defenses. But take notice that he says
Mcpherson fighting on the Clinton road,
and my forces fighting just outside the
town on the Raymond road, where we
captured three entire batteries and about
300 prisoners of war;" Now, this is correct
history as far as it goes, but il does not say
just what division, brigade or regiment did
the capturing Of those three entire batteries
and those 200 prisoners. John Laird Will
son, in his History of the Great Civil War,
Gays: Mcpherson moved on Jackson by
the Clinton road, Sherman by the Raymond
road. Both encountered some slight oppo-
sition. II was an easy victory" etc Yes?
Well, let's just look into this matter of
slight opposition, easy victory, etc.
To give our readers better idea Of the
nature of this slight opposition we will
state that both of these roads by which the
two corps advanced upon Jackson run along
the tops of "hogback" ridges, in places
barely wide enough for a wsgon-track along
their crest, with their steep timbered sides
fanked by deep tangled brush and cane
brake ravines, up and down thickly-timbered
and brusby hills and through swampy cane
brake and tangled brush ravines and deep
creeks, where superiority of force is no adj
form line OF battle, while the retreating
enemy awaited himself of every hill and
cover to advabtageously oppose and harass
the advancing column, only the head Of
which is able to come into action on account
of the nature of the country through which
we have TO advance in the face of brave
and obstinate enemy.
As evidence Of the slight resistance met
by McPherson's Corps, spoken of in Wilson's
History, one brigade 1.-THE Second Of Crockers
Diyision) lost in killed 80 men, including
one officer; wounded, II officers and 10
men total of PIP killed and. wounded in
q single brigade. which, being in the adj
vance, stood the brunt Of battle while
steadily forcing the enemy back toward
their city defenses.
Of Gen. Sherman's command, the Second
Uive Eagle Brigade, being in the advance,
lost in killed and wounded between 80 and
30 men. A very light loss considering the
obstinate resistance Of the foe, their adyan-
tages Of position TO the pursued party in
such rough country, and the results in the
capture of their stroDgly-intrenched and
defended position with three full batteries,
Is guns and between 200 and 300 prisoners,
with their State Capital and immense
quantities of Confederate property and mill
tary stores.
The comparatively small loss of Fighting
Tea r3c ~. o,l xf.A