The National tribune., 1893-08-03
CAPTURE OF JACKSON.
Comrade Miles Corrects Statements Hereto
fore Believed to BE Sound.

Concluded from last uceek)
A BOUT o'clock in the forenoon
IA McPhersons advance (the Second
- Brigade Seventh Division, Seven
teenth Corps encounters the enc
my's scouting parties about five miles from
Jackson. and skirmishes with them to with
in about two and q half miles of jackson
where, receiving a heavy artillery fire from
q heavy force of the enemy occupying al
advantageous position, he finds it necessary
TO deploy his advance division, the Seventh
in line of battle at the same time feeling
the enemy's position with a line of Skin.
mishers, and bringing his advance batteries
into position to return the enemy's fire.
1t is during this time, from about II a. m,
until near l o'clock p. M, hat the advance Of
Gen. Sherman's command is on the Raymond
road in pouring rain, Fighting Joe Now
er's invincible Second Live Eagle Bri-
gade in the lead, skrmishing with the enc
my and steadily driving them toward Jack
son, while the heavy booming of cannon
away to the lett, where Mcpherson is engag-
ing the enemy, with the shells bursting
around us, the rapid fire of muskety and Il
storm Of leaden hail sweeping by, blending
with the almost iDcessant lightning and
thunder crash Of Heavens artillery, with the
down-p0uring torrents from the clouds-ali
combine TO make a scene of sublime but
rather dismal grandeur. Still, there is no
delay in the steady advance of the Live
Eagle Brigade as the steadily-advancing
skirmish-line develops each hidden stand OF
the enemy, and a charge Of the advance
regiment of the brigade soon routs them
from cover, so that there is no halt or delay
in the onward march of the Fifteenth
To- fha -
road from the southwest, and while the
Seventeenth Corps is delayed by the rain
and the stubborn resistance of strong force
of the enemy, the advance of the Fifteenth
Corps approaches the enemy's strongly
intrenched and fortified line around Jack
son. The approach TO that line of city
defenses is from one-fourth 10 half mile Of
open fields, covered by the direct fire of
their intrenched line of infantry and we'll
protected batteries of Is guns.
The rain is now over, and the bright sun
begins to pierce the fast-feeiug clouds and
cheer the thoroughly-drencheds soldiers with
his bright rays. We meet the heavy artil-
leTy fire from the enemy's line of city de-
fenses along the ridges and high ground
across the open fields, but without delay
Fighting Joe issues orders to his regimental
commanders to deploy in line as they ad-
vance under cover of the timbered ridges
along the open fields.
The line of battle is soon formed and
Gen. Mower, accompanied by Gen. Sherman
in person, comes dashing along the line issu-
ing orders for an immediate charge. Above
the battles din of booming cannons' roar
and bursting shell the command rings forth
along the lire, Attention! Fix bayonets-
Forward - Double-quick = Now, steady,
boys! Keep your alignment-March!"
And now ont upon the open field sweeps
that invincible line of loyal blue and venge-
full glistening steel, and while before the
unquailiDg, even line of valiant defenders of
their State capital, beneath one of those four
stands of proudly waving regimental ban
ners the War Eagle Old Abe's valiant form
and spreading wings proclaim to that line of
rebel gray that they are vainly resisting a
foe who never knew defeat.
On sweeps that irresistible line of blue,
undismayed and unchecked by the terrible
storm of lead and iron which thins their
ranks and strews the field with mangled
slain. With their laundering Union cheer
pealing clear above the battles horrid din,
as their undaunted line sweeps up that last
homestretch of bTistling trench and psrapet-
crowned nights, is it any wonder that when
they leap over those defenses they find most
of that chivalrous line in full fight for safer
localities, while those men who choose
to stay, either too brave to run away, that
they may fight another day, OF dare not
leave the shelter of their trenches to turn
their backs toward the charging foe, are
gObbled within their defenses?
Having cleared and captured the defenses
of Jackson on the southwest, the Live Eagle
Brigade pursues the retreating CoDfederates
through the streets 10 the north, in rear of
the enemy's line extending north, and COW
ering the Clinton road, thereby compelling
their hurried vacation by the enemy to
avoid capture, and the whole Confederate
force is Immediately in hasiy retreat in the
direction Of Canton, on the Mississippi Cen
trail Railroad The line of march of the
Live Eagle regiment through the streets OF
Jackson in pursuit of the fleeing Ccnfed-
crates brings them TO the State House
Square, where the Confederate flag is AFRO
ganty waving above the State capitol dome.
1t does not take the Color Guard of the
Live Eagle regiment many minutes to enter
the building and haul down the Secession
rag, and about o'clock in the afternoon of
May IA, 1863, the Stars and Stripes Of the
9Th Wis. are proudly waving in its place,
and remain there until after 10 o'clock on
ceiyes orders TO follow the other troops al
ready on their march in the direction of
Vicksburg, the regiment having been on
prOvOs'-guard duty in the city during this
time Lieut.-Col. John W. Jefferson, the sec
ond officer Of the regiment, having been APP
pointed Provost-Marshal.
As above stated, the capture oF the line of
city deienses on the left by Gen. Mowers Bril-
gade with all their cannon and over 200 pris-
oners, compelled the hasty evacuation of those
in front Of McPhers0ns Corps on the Clin-
ton road by the Confederates TO "save their
bacon" and when reconnoitered by the adj
vance diyision-Gen. Quinby's, of the Sew
enteenth Corps-the works were quite nat
urally found evacuated, and Gen. McPher-
son rode into the city near the same time
that Gems. Grant and Sherman followed the
victorious Live Eagle Brigade into the CEN
ter of the city, and all three Generals met
in large hotel facing the Statehonse Square.
Gen. Grant, after informing Mcpherson and
Sherman tina. he had intercepted dispatches
from PembertOn to Johnston, which made it
important for them 10 work smart TO prevent
junction OF their forces, Mcpherson is or
deIed to start back early on the next morn
ing Oh the Clinton road 10 form junction
with McCiernand's (rhirteenth) Corps in the
direction OF Edwards Station, while Gen. Sher-
man Is ordered to remain one day to break
up railroads and destroy the arsenal, found
a. = = =