The National tribune., 1902-01-02

After entering Jackson Gen. Grant was
called upon by a scout sent out from Mem
phis by Gen. Burlbut, and who had. been
entrusted by Gen. Johnston with tripi-
cate copy of an order to be delivered to
Gen. Pemberton. This order was writ
ten during the night of May 49,. and
w!is rs follows: II have lately arrived, and
learn that Maj.-Gen. Sherman is between
us with four divisions at Clinton. 1t is
important to establish communication that
YOU may be reinforced. To beat such q
detachment would be of immense value.
All the troops yon can quickly assemble
should be brought; time is all important"
Gen. Grant met his corps commanders
at the State House between and 4
o'clock in the afternoon and gave them
their orders. To Sherman he assigned the
duty of utterly destroying the railroad and
all Confederate property. He directed
Mcpherson to move out early next morn
ing on the Clinton road to Bolton, about
20 miles west of jackson; he also wrote
Gen. McClernand informing him of the
capture of jackson, saying: 1T is evident
ly the design of the enemy to get north of
us and cross the Black River and beat
us into Vieksburg. We must not allow
them to do this Turn all your forces to-
ward Bolton Station, and make all dis
patch in getting there. Smiths Division
and any other troops now with you will
80 to the same place"
Gen. Johnston halted his retreating
army on the evening of May IA about six
miles north of Jackson. on the Canton
road, and remained there during the night.
He sent dispatch to Gen. Pemberton in
forming him of the loss of Jackson, and
said: .'As soon as the reinforcemenJs are
all up, they must be united to the rest of
the army. ] am anxious to see a force
assembled that may be able TO intiict
heavy blow on the enemy. Can Grant
supply himself from the Mississippi! Can
you not cut him off from it, and, above all,
should he be compelled TO fall back for
want of supplies, beat him."
On May II, at $40 p. m, Gen. Penn
bgrtOn at Edwards Station wrote to Gen.
Johnston: Il shall move as. early tOmor-
row morning as practicable a column of
1900 on Dill0n's. The object is to cut
the enemyS communications and force
him to attack me, rs | do not consider my
force sufficient to justify an attack on the
enemy in position, or to attempt to cut my
way to Jackson"
When these dispatches were passing be-
tween Johnston and PembertOn, Johnston
did not know that McClernand was in
strong force at Clinton, between him and
PembertOn. nor did Pemberton know. that
Grant had captured Jackson. that John
stOn was fleeing nOrthward with his
beaten army, and that Grant actually had
no line of communication TO break at Dill
lou.
THE VITAL MOVEMENTS.
The movements of troops of the CON
tending armies on May u was a matter
"a % L..
Johnston and Grant both aimed to con
centrate their forces for the impending
conflict. 1t is seen by Grants orders that
while, Sherman was TO remain at Jackson
On that day and destroy the railroad. Nc
FherSon and McClernand with the Seven
taerth and Thirteenth Corps were to con-
CRntFnte at Bolton, on the Eicksburg and
Jackson Railroad, 20 miles west of Jack
sdh. Pemherton was AT Edwards Station
west of Bolton, and johnson was ut Can
ton, on the railroad, six miles north of
Jackson. These Confederate forces We're
10 miles apart, with one division of Nc
Cternands Corps between them. The
Federal troOns started at daylight on their
march TO Bolton: at $50 o'clock OSter-
hRus's cavalry had reached the station. had
attacked and driven away "A rebel detach-
nleut. and had captured lot of prisoners.
Hovey soon arrived with his division. fol-
lowed closely by Carr and Ostrrhaus. Gen
Smith arrived early in the night. and in
turn was followed by Gen. Blair with his
division as an escort for 200 wagons load
ed with provisions brought from Milliken's
Bend. this being the only regular supplies
received by the army since cutting loose
from Grand Guf.
Logan marched out of Jackson at 5
o'clock in the morning. followed by
Crocker at O'Clock. They were directed TO
march toward Bolton until O'Clock in
the afternoon, and 20 into camp. Logan
came I'M with H0vey a mile and a half
from Bolton and went into camp hard by
ca Bakers Greek. Crocker biv0uackcd in
the rear of Logan. The two corps Were
u5w in close touch and ready for action
Pemberton broke eamD at Edwards Sta
ton at ! p. In. His objective point was
Dillon, some eight or 10 miles southeast
The march could not be made direct; he
I,iade detour TO the eastward, so as to
cross Raker's Greek. This line of march
IL continued would have taken him 10 Boil
ton by sundOwn, but before reaching there
he turned south to pursue his march to
Dillon. Thus the two armies were march
iug that day and camping that night in
close proximity without knowing it.
During the 18th Johnston marched
about 10 miles farther away from Jack
son. while Sherman. at Jackson, bent his
whole energies at destruction.
On May j. al $50 a. m. Gen Johnston
sent the following dispatch to Gen. Penn
Eerton: "Our being compelled to leave
Jackson makes your plan impracticable
Icy your moving directly 20 Clinton and
re. - l..