The accounts received from
Vicksburg and the country adjacent, come to us in a shape so unintelligible that it is exceedingly difficult to form anything like a correct idea of the real condition of affairs in that department.
The fight preceding the fall of
Jackson commenced at an early hour on Thursday, the 14th inst., at a point some eight miles Southwest of the city, and was continued nearly the whole day. Our troops, numbering not more than 9,000 men, were commanded by
Gen. Johnston, and the enemy's force, amounting to between 20,000 and 30,000, was commanded by
Gen. Grant.
Overcome by superior numbers, our forces fell back on
Canton, 25 miles due North of
Jackson, situated on the wagon road connecting thence by
Vaiden with the road running due East to the
Yazoo river, and leading directly to
Vicksburg, some 70 miles from
Jackson by this route.
Gen. Johnston's arrival at
Jackson (which occurred on the day previous to the fight) left him no time to organize and prepare for the fight, so early precipitated upon him, and his stubborn and well-contested resistance was doubtless made under many and serious disadvantages.
On Friday, the day subsequent to the fight, the enemy's cavalry advanced as far as
Brandon, 20 miles this side of
Jackson, on the Southern railroad, near which point official statements represent we had a force for its protection.
Another, and perhaps more obstinate, engagement took place on Saturday, (
Gen. Johnston in his dispatch says Friday,) near
Edwards's Depot, in which, to use the language of the dispatch, "We whipped the enemy badly until he was reinforced from
Jackson;
Gen'l Pemberton then fell back to Big Black bridge." It will be remembered that
Gen. Johnston's dispatch stated that
Gen. Pemberton, after nine hours hard fighting, was compelled to fall back over the Big Black, but the statement above, from the
Adjutant of a regiment engaged in the battle, justifies the inference that he did not cross the river, but halted his forces at the bridge, where it is possible he may be able to make a successful stand.
From this information we should therefore conclude that
Gen. Pemberton is still on the east side of the Big Black, with the bridge undestroyed, over which, if compelled to do so, he can cross to the west side of the river and destroy the bridge after him. This would seem to place him in no very hazardous position, particularly as we are assured that
Vicksburg is well supplied with provisions.
The dispatch of
Gen. Johnston is dated Monday, May 18th, at camp between
Brownsville and
Livingston.
Brownsville is a village in
Hinds county, twenty miles northwest of
Jackson, and
Livingston is a village in
Madison county, twenty miles north by west from
Jackson.
Edwards's Depot, where the battle of Saturday was fought, is on the
Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad from twenty-two to twenty-five miles west of
Jackson, and nearly midway between the latter point and
Vicksburg.
The mention made of
Gen. Loring's position in the dispatch published yesterday is difficult to understand.
It says he was "on the left, (which we understand to be in the line of battle of Saturday,) was cut off, but cut his way through to
Crystal Springs, twenty-five miles south of
Jackson." What his loss was is unknown, or what damage he inflicted upon the enemy in forcing their lines is not stated.
Fully to understand the exact position, we must be content to wait further accounts, which may reach us at any moment.
In the meantime, as we have before stated, we see nothing to encourage the belief that our fortunes are at all desperate in that quarter, and, under the skillful direction of
Gen. Johnston, we have abundant reason to hope that the defence of
Vicksburg will not only be successful, but triumphant.
