| From the Savannah Republican |
| |
| May 22, 1863 |
| |
| Letter from Jackson |
| (Correspondence of the Savannah Republican) |
| Jackson, Miss., May 12th, 1863 |
| The voyage from Savannah to
this point was truly a path filled with flowers. The grace and beauty of
womanhood enlivened our way, the fragrance of pinks and roses shed their
entrancing perfume around us, banishing for the nonce the memory of such
a thing as revolution, and smoothing "grim visaged war's wrinkled
front." The early days of the struggle seemed again to have come, the
women of the revolution, to whom history will give the palm of having
borne the brunt of the struggle, although it must say that not woman but
"niger fuit isterrima causa belli," met us everywhere. At
Columbus it was a feast, the soldier was feasted and gentle-hearted
woman was his servitor, and so to this place, which we leave in an hour
for the Big Black River. In passing from Meridian where the (Jackson or)
Southern {(of Mississippi)} Railroad
connects with the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, we passed through the section
of country lately visited by the Yankee cavalry raid, which, starting
from Corinth passed through Eastern Mississippi down to the Southern
Railroad, which they first struck in Lauderdale county, about twelve
miles from Meridian. In Newton county the palpable signs of the visit at
the station of the same name can still be seen, the carcasses of three
engines and forty cars destroyed by the abolition devils. They followed
the track of this railroad for twenty miles at least, the indelible
signs of their daring being visible every few miles. In one place for
several miles the road was fired, but their cowardice was to great to
allow them to complete their work. Communication was but slightly
interrupted, and is now again fully restored. From this line of road
they bent their course in a southwestern direction, passing through
Brookhaven, a station on the N. O., Jackson & Great Northern Railroad,
where they took some prisoners, and from thence to Baton Rouge. You no
doubt wonder how they could thus traverse the entire State from
Northeast to Southwest. It is easily accounted for. In the first place,
there is no cavalry in Mississippi that I can hear of, Van Dorn having
carried off all that he could find; 2d, they were pursued by Mississippi
militia under the command of Major Gen. Gohlson. (Mississippi militia
who was shot through the chest at Fort Doneldson. From his own
mouth I learn that the first time he met the enemy his men fled
precipitately; he brought them together again, but so demoralized, (a
word by the way much abused in its use, and by no means correctly
selected in this place,) were they, that he at last was compelled to
avoid capture by flight. The troops composing this party were entirely
from Ohio and Indiana, and were promised $600 bounty, with exemption
from military duty for the balance of the war. This is the statement of
prisoners, and if they can be believed, is the usual bribe offered by
the abolition leaders. Yesterday a party of 200 cavalry passed the
Jackson & New Orleans Railroad at Hazelhurst, and were expected to go to
Crystal Springs. |
| The train from below has not
yet arrived, and, it is supposed, it has been captured by the Yanks.
Crystal Springs are distant from Jackson, by common road, about 35
miles. |
| Gen. Walker's command is
ordered out to Raymond, 15 miles east {should be
west} of Jackson, to support Gen. Gregg -- they are moving now.
Neither Mangum's Regiment or Martin's Battery have yet arrived; they are
expected this day. The force of the enemy is variously reported from
80,000 to 120,000 the Confederate force is ----; 'twere wiser not to
say, as the line of road may be again cut, and should they ascertain our
strength they would, no doubt, commence their favorite dirt-digging. So
far this command is all right. A grand battle is expected daily no one
can tell how soon it will come off. Sat verborum, tem pus est abire. |
| I was surprised to find that
Georgia money was refused both in Alabama and this State. We arrived at
Mobile at 2 a. m., Sunday morning; the wharf is about 300 yards from the
Battle House, where we passed our unquiet Sabbath. We were charged one
dollar to ride up to the house, and fifty cents for every valise and
trunk that we had. O tempora, O mores. |
| As to attendance, we had none.
There may be some doubt as to the position of Eden, Homer may never have
lived nor Shakespeare written, but Shylock is a stubborn foe, and can be
found at the Battle House, Mobile, Ala. -- Walker has the entire
confidence of his brigade -- better never left Georgia. |
| Swallow |
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