The last fight at Jackson.
A correspondent of the Mobile
Tribune writes that paper an account of the last fight that took place on the 12th, before
Gen. Johnston evacuated the city.
He says:
‘
The attack made on our left was only in tended as a reconnaissance on the part of the enemy, but
General Stovall kept his command secreted and led them to believe that they could take the work, and for this belief they paid dearly, losing 600 men in the attempt.--
General Breckinridge speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of our troops engaged, who were
Stovall's Florida brigade, the 32d Alabama,
Cobb's Kentucky battery, and the 5th company Washington Artillery.
The enemy came up in fine style, evidently thinking they had an easy task before them, but the gallant
Floridans and
Alabamans soon undeceived them, and save a few of the 3d Iowa and the "Bloody 53d,"
Illinois, who ran like sheep, the remainder were killed, wounded or captured, together with all their colors, save that of the 3d Iowa, the color-bearer of which ran away with it at the first shot that was fired.
Those captured belonged to the 28th, 41st, and 53d Illinois, and represented the spread eagle bird on a blue field, with the regimental inscription in gold.
They were sent around the entire line by
General Johnston, and received with three times three and a "siger" by the boys.
’
The enemy are throwing up redoubts on the
Insane Asyinm Hill, on the
Cannon road, and also beyond the residence of
Bishop Green, on the Clintoa road, and evidently preparing to mount siege pieces.
Our position is strengthened daily by means of cotton bales; and what were originally the poorest excuse for works of defence over seen have, by means of cotton bules and ten verses, been made very strong and our men are protected from the galling fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, who line the skirts of the wood and keep up a continual popping at every head that is seen above the parapot.
After the engagement was over and our infirmary corps was engaged in bringing in their wounded, who were literally pitted up on the field, the enemy's sharpshooters opened fire on them, killing three of the corps.
General Breckinridge immediately ordered there to the rear, and numbers of their wounded are still lying in front of our works, filling the air with cries for help, which their inhuman leaders refuse to allow to be given.
The citizens of
Jackson are all encamped near
Horseshoe Lake, in cypress swacap, undergoing all the privations of camp life yet them seem to be cheerful and hopeful.--A general prayer meeting is held daily, and amidst the sharp cracking of the rides and the sullen roar of the artillery, their prayers and supplications go up to him who hears the young ravens when they cry, that our gallant army may succeed in driving back the fiends who seek to desolate their homes and imbrue their hands in the blood of their fathers and brothers.
Gen. Pemberton and his Striff arrived last night.
The General looks quite feeble from excessive fatigues and privation.
The prisoners will reach
Brandon today.
From there they will go to the camp for paroled prisoners at
Demopolis, until exchanged.
