| From the Wilmington Journal |
| May 25, 1863 |
| |
| From the Charleston Courier |
| Places in Mississippi |
| |
| Editors Courier, |
| Herewith, should you choose to
publish, you will find some facts regarding points and places among
which a momentous struggle is to take place. These statements are, I
believe, mainly correct, and may be of interest to your readers. |
| A description of Vicksburg
would be repeating a tale already thrice told. Suffice it to say the
natural defences in its rear are fully equal to those in its front,
which look so sternly victorious upon the river. |
| The Southern {of
Mississippi} Rail Road running from Vicksburg to Meridian, a
distance of 140 miles, is conducted by gentlemen of energy and
ability, who have made every effort to furnish transportation for
troops and supplies, and keep the road and rolling stock in the best
possible condition. Going East the first station is Mount Albon, seven
miles from Vicksburg -- a place of twelve or fifteen scattered houses.
Next Bovina, ten miles from Vicksburg, three or four houses, two
stores, but is the depot of the neighborhood within fifteen miles. Two
miles from Bovina, and twelve miles from Vicksburg, is Big Black
Bridge, crossing that stream some fifteen {fifty}
miles from where it empties
into the Mississippi river. This stream is about one hundred yards
wide, and was formerly navigable for small vessels as high up as where
the rail road crosses, but the stream has become obstructed by trees
and the caving in of embankments, so that its navigation would be
difficult, if not impossible. |
| The topography of the country
through which the river runs, below the rail road, is generally
swampy; above, it gradually arises into undulating and heavily wooded
land. As may be supposed, the stream is fordable, but owing to the
nature of its banks, the passage of artillery and wagons are
difficult, and confined to few fords. The bridge which crosses the
river here is about half a mile long and eighty feet high. The pare of
it which is immediately over the river is supported by strong columns
of stone and brick; the rest is of strong wooden timbers. Of course
the destruction of this bridge, or the possession of it by the enemy,
would isolate Vicksburg from communication with other parts of the
Confederacy. Six miles from the bridge, eighteen miles from Vicksburg,
and twenty-eight miles from Jackson, is Edward's Depot. A few houses,
few stores, a blacksmith and carriage shop, make up the place. In the
season between eighteen and twenty-five thousand bales of cotton are
shipped from here. The wagon road to Jackson runs by here -- as, in
fact, it does all along the railroad. There seems to be no reason,
from its position, that it should be considered a strategic point,
other than to protect the rail road bridge, and to prevent the enemy
crossing the Big Black. But, at the same time, the possession of this
point, or, in fact, a point either side of it, would open to them the
Yazoo country. |
| Next through an undulating,
wooded country, we come to Bolton's Depot, eight miles from Edward's
Depot, twenty-six miles from Vicksburg and twenty miles from Jackson.
This place is like the last in point of size and importance. A rail
road extends from Bolton's to Raymond {the
Raymond RR}, a distance of some eight miles, but it is not now
in operation. Ten miles on is Clinton, of 1000 or 1500 population --
seat of an excellent College and was once one of the most flourishing
cities in the State. Another ten miles and you reach Jackson, the
junction of N. O. J. and G. N. Railroad {New
Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern RR} with So. Railroad,
forty-six miles from Vicksburg, 95 from Meridian and something over
two hundred miles above New Orleans. It is a city of 5000 or 6000
inhabitants, pleasantly situated and contains handsome State
buildings. The Southern Railroad crosses Pearl river here. This stream
is navigable for small craft to Jackson, but such is the risk of
navigation that it is never attempted but as an experiment. This
stream runs South and empties into or near Mississippi Bay. Canton,
where the Mississippi Central Rail Road and N. O. J. and G. N. Rail
Road connect, lies twenty-three miles North of Jackson. Brandon, a
place of 1500 inhabitants, and quite an enterprising town, is twelve
miles from Jackson. Going onward we pass Pelahatchie, Morton, Lake,
Forest, Newton Hickory, and so on to Meridian, where the So. Rail Road
connects with three different railroads running North, South and East {Mobile
& Ohio RR going north and south, Northeast & Southwest Alabama
RR going east for a few miles, the connecting with the Alabama &
Mississippi Rivers RR continuing east}. Meridian, in the hands
of the enemy, would give him command of our rail road transportation
between Mississippi and all other parts of the Confederacy. Meridian
is a low, sandy place, consisting of rail road buildings, two or three
"hotels" and a half dozen houses. The stations between
Brandon and Meridian are simply depots and not likely to be the scene
of a struggle. |
| W. H. J. |
|