The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-31
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BY SIR ARTHUR JAMES LYON-FREMANTLE,
KcMG C. B. now Lieutenant General, British Army.

May 20.-At a. m. we were awakened
by a great bombardment going on at NickS-
burg, which lasted about three hours. Il
afterwards learnt that this bombardment
preceded one of the unsuccessful assaults.
The assembly was beaten by an old
niger, performing on a cracked drum, and
its sound was hailed by the soldiers with
loud yellS.
Gen. Gist his staff, and I, brealdasted
with Mr. Robinson whose house is charm
ing, and beautifully furnished, and had
| not been visited by the Yankees.
We had a crazy old planter with us, who
| insisted upon accompanying the column,
| mounted on a miserable animal that was
the only thing left him by the enemy as
not being worth carrying away.
| But what "riled' him most was that he
had been visited by Federal officer, dis
| guised in the Confederate uniform. Full of
rebel zeal he had, on being invited to do so,
mounted en- croupe behind this officer, and
unbosomed himself to him. His fury may
| be imagined at finding himself shortly
afterwards in the very midst OF the Fed
| eral camp; but the Yankee Gen. McPher-
son ordered him to be released, and it APP
pears that the reason OF his being KID
naped was to extract from him a large
quantity of gold, which he was supposed to
have hidden somewhere.
He took great fancy TO me, and insisted
on picking some Of the silk of Indian corn,
which he requested | would present to
Queen Victoria To show her how far ad-
yanced the crops were in Mississippi.
The column reached the village or town
of Livingston where was introduced 10
militia General and his pretty daughter.
The latter had been married two days be-
fore to a wounded Confederate officer but
the happy couple were Just on The point of
starting for the Yazoo River as they were
afraid of being disturbed III their felicity |
by the Yankees.
now heard everyone speaking of the /
fall of VicisbuTc very possible, and its |
Jeopardy was laid at the door of Gen. Penn
berton, for whom no language could he too |
strong He was freely called a coward and
a traitor He has the misfortune to re a
Northerner by birth which was against
him in the opinion OF all here.
Gen Gist and can,e~ed on in front of
the column, and reached Gen. j. +. John
Ston : bivouaC al y. III.
Gen J Alnston received ne with much |
Kindness. when | presented my letters Of |
introduction ard stated my object in visit
ing the Conlcte ate 3r.lscs.
In apTcarance Gen. Johnston com
monty called Joe Jchnstcnl is rather below
the middle hight. SraFe, soldieTlil<e, and /
well set up; his features are GOOD, and he
has lately taken to wear a srayish beard.
He is a Nirein;an by birth. and appears to
be about fifty seven years old.
He talks in Il calm deliberate. and |
confident manner. To me ne was ex-
tremely affahle. hut he certainly possesses
the power Of Keeping peopIc at u distance
when he Chor seS. ard his officers evidently !
stand in great awe Of him. He lives very
plainly, and AZ present rs orIy COOKING
utensils consisted ci an cd coffee got and
frvif1c pan-both very Inferior articles.
There was only one fork iGne prong do
fcientl between himself End staff and
this was handed 10 me tremendously as
the quest.
lie has undoubtedly occurred the entire
IL Il. 4 IL"
u1der him. Many II the officers told me
they did not consider him inferior as a
General 10 Lee or anyone else.
He told me that NicIlsburc was certainly
in a critical situation. and was now closely
invested by Grant. He said that he John
stoni had II coo men with him which in
Guides Gists}, hardly any cavalry, and |
only IS pieces OF cannon; but II he could !
get adequate rcinforcements, be stated his
intention Of endeavoring TO relieve NickS- |
burg.
also made the acquaintance Of the |
GEORGIAN Gen. Walker, fierce and very |
warlille fireeater, who was furious at hay |
ing been OBLIGED To cvacuate jackson after |
having only destroyed SEQ Yankees.
| returned with Gen. GiSt 30 his camp, !
as my BAGGAGE was there. The bivouacs
are extremely pretty at night, the dense
woods being lit up by innumerable camp
fires.
Nav 2f.I rejoined Gen. Johnston and
was received into his mess. Mai. Eustis
and Lieut.. Washington, officers 81 his
staff are thorough gentlemen, and did All
in their power To make me comfortable.
The first is a Louisan;an Of wealth for
merry; his negro always speaks French
He is brother Ia the Secretary of Mr..
SidelI in Paris. and has learnt To become
an excellent staff officer.
\ Yankee military SURGEON came to
camp. He had been left behind by Grant
to look after toe Yankees wounded at