The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-31

May 1S.-.JackS0n, the Iapltal OF III
state of Mississippi, is a place of grea
importance. Four railroads meet here
and have been destroyed in each direction
for distance OF from three TO five miles
All the numerous factories have beer
burnt down by the enemy.
| called at Capt. Yerger's house, AM
found him with Gen. Gist and anothe
officer lying fat on their stomachs porln
over a map. Capt. IerCer then Introddce'
me To the ladies of his family, who weI'
extremely pretty, very amiahle, ana hlghi!
patriotic
The house is charming. and, being out
side the town, il had by good luck ESCAPED
destruction and pillace. After supper; the
ladies' played and sang, and / ehded al
eVentfIll day in a very agreeable manner
Gen. Gist promised that / shculd accom-
pany his brigade tomorrow on It's march
towards Gen. Johnston. and Mrs. lergei
insisted that / should pass the night at hei
house.
In ihis part of the country the prospects
OF the COnfeder2Cy appeared 10 ce yer!
gloomy Gen. Joseph Johnston, who com
mantS the whole Western Department,
arrived from Tennessee only last NedneS-
dav. and on the following day he found
himself obliged TO abandon Jackson to an
overwhelming Northern army, after max
ing a short fight TO enable his baggage TO
escape.
Gen. Pemberton. who had hitherto held
the chief command is abused 10y all. lie
was beaten on Saturday at Bakers Creek,
where he lost the greater part oil MS
artillery. He has retired into tIcksburg,
and is now completely shut up there by
the victorious Gia II.
Gen. Maxey's Brigade, about five thou-
sand strong was near Broollhaven. and
was marching east when | was there
Gen IorinC'S force. cut of from IemDer-
ton. was near Crystal Springs.
Gen. Johnston. with about SIX thousand
men. was supposed To lee near canton;
Gen. Gist's troops, about five thousand
five hundred strong. were close by, having
arrived from South Carolina and Georgia
sust too late to defend Jackson.
The. enemy under Gen. Grant, IN vastly
superior force, was pressing NltkSpulS
very hard and had now completely IN
vested that fortress.
The Great object of the Confederates
must. of course be to unite their scat
tered forces under so able General as
Johnston. and then relieve NicksEurC-
May 19.-The landlord of the Eowmont
House gave breakfast to Gen Gist and
his staff TO which also was invited.
Shortly afterwards | was given seat IN
a curious little vehicle belonging to Lieut.
MARITIME. a Spaniards in the Confederate
army This vehicle caused conSIderaele
merriment amongst the soldiers, VINO
called il a chicken WAGON.
We left jackson with the leading troops
amidst a great waving OF handkeIchlefS
and showers OF flowers, thrown by the ie"
remaining ladies WHO were Stlll lett Ia
that dilapidated place.
The corps under Gen. Gist consisted OF
three weak hTic2dcS. the leading ere con-
posed 81 Gcorciars aEd South tarclnlanSi
the next were Texans. under Gen. hcioIj
and the last were Arkansans. under Gen
AlcNair.
Gen. Gist had - Good looking NAPOLEON
guns with him y pvUndcrsl. TIC horses
were fine animals. ard were IN WondeI'u!
good condition. considering that thcy had
been 10 days on the railroad coming from
South Carolina.
The troops were roughly hat efficiently
clothed; their boots were in good order,
and ali were armed with Enfield rites.
The weather vas very hot. and we were
halted to biyouac for the night at a spot
about seventeen miles from Jackson, on
the road towards NiclISburg.
The struggling of the GeOrcians was on
the grandest scale conceivable; the men
fell out by dozens and seemed to suit their
own convenience in that respect, without
interference on the part Of the officers.
But | was told that these REGIMENTS had
never done any marching before. having
hitherto been chartered in forts and trans
ported by railroad.
The country is much covered with woods,
and is sandy. with very little water.
did not consider that the troops were
marched iudiciously; they were halted too
long at a time ard not often enough
The BAGGAGE was carried on country carts
pressed into the service.
We bivouaclled in the woods near a very
pretty house belonging to planter called
Col. Robinson. These immense woods
make admirable bivouacs.
Gen. State Rights Gist is South Caro-
finian only - years OF age. and although
not educated as a soldier. he seems easily