登陆注册
15512200000123

第123章 CHAPTER XXXV.(2)

Sherman also came upon the rebel pickets some distance out from the town, but speedily drove them in. He was now on the south and south-west of Jackson confronting the Confederates behind their breastworks, while McPherson's right was nearly two miles north, occupying a line running north and south across the Vicksburg railroad. Artillery was brought up and reconnoissances made preparatory to an assault. McPherson brought up Logan's division while he deployed Crocker's for the assault. Sherman made similar dispositions on the right. By eleven A.M. both were ready to attack. Crocker moved his division forward, preceded by a strong skirmish line. These troops at once encountered the enemy's advance and drove it back on the main body, when they returned to their proper regiment and the whole division charged, routing the enemy completely and driving him into this main line. This stand by the enemy was made more than two miles outside of his main fortifications.

McPherson followed up with his command until within range of the guns of the enemy from their intrenchments, when he halted to bring his troops into line and reconnoitre to determine the next move. It was now about noon.

While this was going on Sherman was confronting a rebel battery which enfiladed the road on which he was marching--the Mississippi Springs road--and commanded a bridge spanning a stream over which he had to pass. By detaching right and left the stream was forced and the enemy flanked and speedily driven within the main line. This brought our whole line in front of the enemy's line of works, which was continuous on the north, west and south sides from the Pearl River north of the city to the same river south. I was with Sherman. He was confronted by a force sufficient to hold us back. Appearances did not justify an assault where we were. I had directed Sherman to send a force to the right, and to reconnoitre as far as to the Pearl River. This force, Tuttle's division, not returning I rode to the right with my staff, and soon found that the enemy had left that part of the line. Tuttle's movement or McPherson's pressure had no doubt led Johnston to order a retreat, leaving only the men at the guns to retard us while he was getting away. Tuttle had seen this and, passing through the lines without resistance, came up in the rear of the artillerists confronting Sherman and captured them with ten pieces of artillery. I rode immediately to the State House, where I was soon followed by Sherman. About the same time McPherson discovered that the enemy was leaving his front, and advanced Crocker, who was so close upon the enemy that they could not move their guns or destroy them. He captured seven guns and, moving on, hoisted the National flag over the rebel capital of Mississippi. Stevenson's brigade was sent to cut off the rebel retreat, but was too late or not expeditious enough.

Our loss in this engagement was: McPherson, 37 killed, 228 wounded; Sherman, 4 killed and 21 wounded and missing. The enemy lost 845 killed, wounded and captured. Seventeen guns fell into our hands, and the enemy destroyed by fire their store-houses, containing a large amount of commissary stores.

On this day Blair reached New Auburn and joined McClernand's 4th division. He had with him two hundred wagons loaded with rations, the only commissary supplies received during the entire campaign.

I slept that night in the room that Johnston was said to have occupied the night before.

About four in the afternoon I sent for the corps commanders and directed the dispositions to be made of their troops. Sherman was to remain in Jackson until he destroyed that place as a railroad centre, and manufacturing city of military supplies. He did the work most effectually. Sherman and I went together into a manufactory which had not ceased work on account of the battle nor for the entrance of Yankee troops. Our presence did not seem to attract the attention of either the manager or the operatives, most of whom were girls. We looked on for a while to see the tent cloth which they were making roll out of the looms, with "C. S. A." woven in each bolt. There was an immense amount of cotton, in bales, stacked outside. Finally I told Sherman I thought they had done work enough. The operatives were told they could leave and take with them what cloth they could carry. In a few minutes cotton and factory were in a blaze.

The proprietor visited Washington while I was President to get his pay for this property, claiming that it was private. He asked me to give him a statement of the fact that his property had been destroyed by National troops, so that he might use it with Congress where he was pressing, or proposed to press, his claim. I declined.

On the night of the 13th Johnston sent the following dispatch to Pemberton at Edward's station: "I have lately arrived, and learn that Major-General Sherman is between us with four divisions at Clinton. It is important to establish communication, that you may be reinforced. If practicable, come up in his rear at once. To beat such a detachment would be of immense value. All the troops you can quickly assemble should be brought. Time is all-important." This dispatch was sent in triplicate, by different messengers. One of the messengers happened to be a loyal man who had been expelled from Memphis some months before by Hurlbut for uttering disloyal and threatening sentiments.

There was a good deal of parade about his expulsion, ostensibly as a warning to those who entertained the sentiments he expressed; but Hurlbut and the expelled man understood each other. He delivered his copy of Johnston's dispatch to McPherson who forwarded it to me.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 掌灵之魂

    掌灵之魂

    佛、道、星占、方术、魔法、斗气……天下万法始于掌灵,天下万道终为掌灵。这是一个众人逐梦的大世,这是一片众生逐位的战场。天,开始崩了。地,已经裂了。生灵又将再次涂炭。天地又将陷入混沌之中。还是失败了吗?修罗又将再次灭世?难道这一纪元终究还是无法诞生掌灵帝君?“不”忽然一道仿若开天般的声音响彻整个世界,传入每个人的灵魂……
  • 公主们的恋爱复仇之路

    公主们的恋爱复仇之路

    她们身上背负着很多,她们有着血海深仇,她们从小就经历了很多,有谁比她门经历的多,她们那是还是孩子,小小年纪的她们竟遭遇了那么多,她们就因复仇而成为好姐妹。十几年后,她们回来了,她们回来复仇了,那些曾经杀害她们亲人的人/陷害她们的人的死期到了,而那些人却以为她们已经死了,不,她们没死,她们变强大了,不再是当年的柔柔弱弱的小女孩了。但她们的出现扰乱了他们的生活,她们叶也一样。他们会发什么样的事情呢?尽请期待。
  • 始变劫

    始变劫

    “欲生者不活,当死者不死,离魂依依,奈何人间不舍?《霍·乱》有言:衣食不舍,乃生狂徒,钱权不舍,乃生战乱,情欲不舍,乃动天地,人心不舍,乃始变劫。君问前路,不如归途。”——问路石碑文注意:本作世界观较为复杂,请耐心梳理。
  • 辰汐之恋

    辰汐之恋

    从开始的针锋相对,到后来的刻骨铭心……不知不觉中彼此都爱上了对方……①某妖孽戏谑的说道“我知道我长得帅,怎么?爱上我了?不如以身相许怎么样?”本来只是玩笑的一番话,可他却真的鬼使神差的爱上了她。②某妖孽媚眼微弯,薄薄的嘴唇勾起一丝若有若无的笑意,低身吻上了她的双唇。“你疯了?”她惊慌失措的推开他,条件反射般的给了他一个耳光……
  • 莫离孤帆远影

    莫离孤帆远影

    兔崽子他爹最怕他家兔崽子祸害好人家的姑娘,所以兔崽子他爹在兔崽子救下小兔崽子的时候对他说:“这小子比你还美,你长大娶他吧!”兔崽子拍拍胸脯,拇指朝天:“老兔子,包在我身上。”然而,毕竟有句俗话,兔子不吃窝边草,青梅竹马的另一种说法是窝边草。兔崽子失落地对他兔老爹说:“老头子,你儿子这辈子算是完了。”那时候,兔崽子确实是认为这辈子完了。世事毕竟难料。逆cp警报。
  • 恋爱81天

    恋爱81天

    本书讲的是一个小女生的恋爱故事,酸甜苦辣,所有小心思都包含在这81天里,烦恼着大多数女生烦恼事情,任性,无畏。
  • 词综偶评

    词综偶评

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 青冥鬼校

    青冥鬼校

    妾在深宫塑青花,何来幽火灼年华。由记初见飞雪时,时光流转魅影杀。
  • 候鸟南回

    候鸟南回

    我最爱你的时刻,在我最无助的时刻我最想爱你的时刻,在你离我最远的时刻
  • 网游之风紫龙决

    网游之风紫龙决

    神飘渺巅峰、人逍遥四海,虚拟世界,有血有肉,有情、有义。神器算什么,兄弟尽管拿。神兽算什么给小弟做打手。人不犯我、我不犯人。人若犯必百倍奉还。