The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-09-20

W tNtilAuENG GlApbEiOH4 ATTY :
ing at jackson they marched to-
wards Port Gibson, but were met
| by the advance line of Grant s
army not far from Raymond, and
forced to fall back TO Jackson
where they met Joseph E. john
ston, who, with the two brigades
and Dan Adam S cavalry, moved
to the neighborhood Of Calhoun
Station. | was serving on Gen.
Walkers staff and was about the
only officer who knew the country
in and around jackson. When
we reached a point an the Canton
road, near the Yellowly place,
was ordered to take a detail and
cross Pearl River, descend the
east side of the river and APP
lproach as close to jackson as |
could safely, and establish line
of couriers so that the movements
of the enemy could be reported
as promptly as possible. cross
ed at the old ferry and descended
to Whites place and recrossed
| the Pearl. When the enemy be-
gan to move out from Jackson
towards Vicksburg l received an
order from Gen. Joseph e. john
ston to take command of the Post
at jackson, and report to the gen.
eral commanding. / remained
in command of the Post until il
was evacuated by Johnston's ar
my in July 1868.
"During this time ! received as
my first special order instructions
to send Grant 8 medical director,
who had been left in charge oi
the sick and wounded in jackson
| was directed TO treat him with
all courtesy and make him as
comfortable as possible. but
charged to see that he reached
; headquarters. ! afterwards learn.
ed that be was wanted to secure
the safety of Dr.. NJ. w. Boyd
surgeon of Wither's artillery, who
: had been arrested on charge oI
: describing TO courier from
Johnston the Federal works a.
Snyder's Bluff. DR.. Boyd was
taken to Vicksburg at the close
of the siege, confined in the city
Jail and threatened with courl
) martial proceedings. Through
the efforts OF Col. Withers he was
exchanged for Federal cnaplai,
: then confined at Richmond.
While | was in command Of thu
the Post the old Bowman Hous'
was buraed on June 27, 1863
1t was Understood at the time tina
! the house was set on fire by Con
fedcrate soldiers. who thus re
sented the discrimination mad,
by the hotel lessee, who, the boy
claimed. had taken green back
t from Federal soldiers at a mucl
t lower rate than the Confederate
s promises to pay, the proportion
: being about 16 to l..
!. "Post headquarters were in
0 frame building just below wher
the Capital State Bank now stand
8 and | slept in the northwest cor
Y ner room in the third story abov
(. the basement of the Bowman
e House. About 2 a. m. | wa
a aroused by the noise and founi
1 the window curtain a flame. Oh
: opening the door | found the hall
: way on fire. / ran to the wes
: window which opened out jus
e opposite the generals s headquar
4 ters and saw a great crowd belo'
but they did not appear TO see me
The only person | could recogniz
was Lieut.. W. F. Fitzgerald (nol
a Federal judge in California;
the then provost marshal. | call
ed to him and threw my clothin
d to him, grabbed the bed clothe
. and threw them out. In the bun
K die was a double blanket. TIL
III boys held the blanket under tn
n window and jumped into it.
y have never been able to recall th
It persons who held the blanket ex
q cept j. B. CadwalIader, Jerr
: Garrain and Capt. W. @. Lowd
a most Of them belonged to the oil
y consolidated 18th Louisiana. =
Very truly yours,
JOHN M. SMYLIE,
2 Major Commanding Post.
Ell ANOTHER OLD NEWSPAPER.