the north and west. This work of destruction was so well performed, that the utility of Jackson as a railroad or military centre, or as a dépôt of stores or military supplies, was completely destroyed for the time being. The roads were laid waste for at least four miles to the east of Jackson, three miles south, three miles north, and nearly ten miles west. Cavalry raids were also sent along the road running towards Meridian, and cut the railroad at Brandon and elsewhere.

In the city itself, the arsenal building, government foundery, a gun carriage establishment, including the carriages for two complete batteries of artillery, military carpenter's shop, stables and paint shops were at once destroyed. Some convicts who had broken loose succeeded in setting fire to the penitentiary during the time the military were thus engaged. A valuable cotton factory was also demolished. General Sherman, in speaking of the destruction of this establishment, says: "This factory was the property of the Messrs. Greene, who made strong ap peals, based on the fact that it gave employment to very many females and poor families; and that, although it had woven cloth for the enemy, its principal use was in weav ing cloth for the people. But I decided that machinery of that kind could so easily be converted into hostile uses, that the United States could better afford to compensate the Messrs. Greene for their property, and for the poor families thus thrown out of employment, than to spare the property. I therefore assured all such families that if want should force them, they might come to the river, where we would feed them until they could find employment or seek refuge in some more peaceful land.”

The following letter from an army correspondent con tains incidents of interest concerning the march to and occupation of the city of Jackson:

The Union army have undisturbed possession of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, and the head-quarters of the Rebel Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. The Federal flag floats gracefully from the dome of the State House, Yankee soldiers are patroling the streets, prisoners are gathering at the guardhouse, the sick in the hospitals are being paroled, negroes are grinning from. the sidewalks, citizens look silently and sullenly at us from behind screens and closed windowblinds, and all the details of military government are in full operation.

We encamped at Raymond on Tuesday night, and early Wednesday morning started for Clinton, a small town on the Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad. It was considered indispensably necessary for the suc cess of our movement upon Vicksburg, that we should have possession of the railroad and the city of Jackson. We reached Clinton at night fall, and went into camp.

During the night, a regiment, under the command of Captain Tresilian, of General Logan's staff, moved out on the railroad east and west of Clinton, and destroyed it, tearing up the rails and burning every bridge and the timbers across every cattle guard for four miles each side of the village. The telegraph office and the post office were seized and rified of their precious contents. From this source most valuable information of the enemy's future movements was obtained. In the express packages left by the train of cars which steamed out of town just as our advance came in sight, several orders from General Johnston were discovered, and a package of Confederate scrip.

At Clinton a hundred prisoners were found, occupants of rebel hospitals. These were paroled, and taken in charge by the citizens.

At daylight Thursday morning, the army was on the road to Jackson, moving in line of battle. A strong advance guard was thrown out, and a heavy line of skirmishers on the right and left flank, and thus we moved in the direction of the city,

All was quiet for the first five or six miles, until we reached a hill overlooking a broad open field, through the centre of which, and over the crest of the hill beyond which the road to Jackson passes. On the left of this hill the enemy had posted his artillery, and along the crest his line of battle. From the foot of the acclivity, and not a mile removed, we could see the long line of rebel infantry awaiting in silence our onset. Slowly and cautiously we moved up the hill until we came within range, when all at once, upon the heights to the right, we discovered a puff of white smoke and heard the report of booming cannon, followed by the shrill scream of an exploding shell. One of our batte

ries was moved to the left of a cotton gin in the open field, midway be
tween the enemy's line of battle and the foot of the hill, and played
upon the rebel battery with telling effect. The duel was kept up with
great spirit on both sides for nearly an hour, when all at once it ceased
by the withdrawal of the enemy's guns. Two brigades were thrown
out to the right and left of this battery, supported by another brigade at
proper distance.
A strong line of skirmishers had been pushed forward
and posted in a ravine just in frout, which protected them from rebel
fire. After a little delay, they were again advanced out of cover, and
for several minutes a desultory fire was kept up between both lines of
skirmishers, in which, owing to the topographical nature of the ground,
the enemy had the advantage.

At last General Crocker, who was on the field and had personally inspected the position, saw that, unless the enemy could be driven from his occupation of the crest of the hill, he would be forced to retire. He therefore ordered a charge along the line. With colors flying, and with a step as measured and unbroken as if on dress parade, the movement was executed. Slowly they advanced, crossed the narrow ravine, and, with fixed bayonets, rose the crest of the hill in easy range of the rebel line. Here they received a tremendous volley, which caused painful gaps in their ranks. They held their fire until they were within a distance of thirty paces, when they delivered the returning volley with fearful effect, and, without waiting to reload their muskets, with a terrific yell they rushed upon the staggered foe.

Over the fences, through the brushwood, into the enclosure, they worked their way, and slaughtered right and left without mercy. The enemy, astonished at their impetuosity, wavered and fell back, rallied again, and finally broke in wild confusion. The brave Union soldiers gained the crest of the hill, and the rebels fled in utter terror. Our boys reloaded their muskets and sent the terrible missiles after the fleeing rebels, adding haste to their terrified flight. They cast muskets and blankets to the ground, unslung their knapsacks, and ran like greyhounds, nor stopped to look back until they reached the intrenchments just within the city.

Meantime General Sherman, who had left Raymond the day before, and taken the road to the right just beyond the town, came up with the left wing of the enemy's forces and engaged them with artillery. They made a feeble resistance, and they, too, broke and ran.

After a delay of half an hour, to enable our wearied soldiers to take breath, our column moved forward again.

1

We reached the fort, and found a magnificent battery of six pieces, which the enemy had left behind him, and a hundred new tents, awaiting appropriation.

The hospital flag was flying from the Deaf and Dumb Institute, and this was crowded with sick and wounded soldiers, who, of course, fell into our hands as prisoners of war. Opposite and all around this building were tents enough to encamp an entire division, and just in front of it, hauled out by the roadside, were two small breech-loading two-pounder rifles, which had been used to pick off officers.

Further down the street we found a pile of burning caissons, and on the opposite side of the street, directly in front of the Confederate House, the stores, filled with commissary and quartermaster's supplies, were briskly consuming.

Directly in front of us the State House loomed up in ample proportions. Two officers, taking possession of the flag of one of the regiments, gal. loped rapidly forward, and hoisted it from the flag-staff surmounting its broad dome. The beautiful flag was seen in the distance by the advanc ing column, and with cheers and congratulations it was greeted.

We had captured Jackson, the hotbed of the rebellion. Guards were established, a provost-marshal appointed, and the city placed under martial law. The citizens, particularly those who sustained official re lations to the State and rebel governments, had left the city the evening before; but there were many soldiers left behind, and a large number in hospital, who fell into our hands.

The State Treasurer and Governor Pettus* were gone, taking the funds and State papers with them. A large amount of government and military property fell into our hands; but private property was altogether unmolested. The offices of the Memphis Appeal and Jackson Mississippian were removed the preceding night-the former to Brandon and the latter to Mobile.

We now have quiet and undisturbed possession of Jackson.

One portion of the rebel force has moved out on the Canton road, and the other on the road south of the city, whence they will both doubtless make a detour around Jackson, outside of our lines, and unite at Edwards's Station, on the Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad, where the citi zens say they will give us battle.+

* See Proclamation in Chapter XXXII., pages 228, 229. Army Correspondence. May 14, 1863.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE ADVANCE RENEWED.-CHAMPION'S HILL.

GENERAL GRANT, after he had taken possession of the State capital of Mississippi on May 14th, obtained some very important information relative to the plans of the rebel army, and among other things ascertained that General Johnston had ordered General Pemberton peremptorily to move out of Vicksburg and attack the United States forces in the rear. As soon as General Grant was satisfied of the correctness of this information, he at once ordered the Thirteenth Army Corps and General Blair's Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps to face their troops toward Bolton, with a view of marching upon Edwards's Station. These troops being admirably located for such a move, marched along different roads converging near Bolton, and the move ment resulted in a complete success. The Seventeenth Army Corps was ordered to retrace its steps to Clinton, and commenced its march early on the morning of the 15th of May. The balance of the Fifteenth Army Corps was left at Jackson to destroy every thing that might have been or was capable of being used in a hostile manner by the enemy.

At half past nine o'clock on the morning of the 15th of May, a division of the Thirteenth Army Corps occupied Bolton, capturing a number of prisoners, and driving away the rebel pickets from the post.

On the afternoon of the same day, General Grant re