Gen. Johnston's movements — his next stand.
The Atlanta Appeal has the following intelligence relative to the position of Gen. Johnston's army:Gen Johnston is falling back from Jackson towards Meridian. His position at Brandon was untenable on account of the deficiency of water, and in addition it afforded no natural advantages. He will, without doubt, take position on the Chunky river, fifteen miles west of Meridian, which many military men have for some time looked upon as a favorable point. If so, he will be in position to easily defend his front, or if necessary, by means of the railroad facilities in his rear, operate to prevent any raid against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad either north or south of Meridian.
Some of the paroled prisoners of the Vicksburg garrison inform the editor of the Mobile Tribune that, as far as they could discover from conversations with officers of Grant's army, no forward movement to any great extent is intended at present by the enemy. The march may be attempted as far as Meridian, unless the way is easy to come further. The army has been worn down by its labors in front of Vicksburg, and needs rest and recreation during the heat of the summer months. In the autumn, however, Mobile is to be the object of possession, and a movement will then be made toward it in some direction.
Capt. McManus, a gentleman well known on the Mississippi river, reached the city yesterday direct from the Yazoo country and Canton, Miss., which latter place he left on Thursday of last week. He informs us that all the river fleet of steamers left in the Yazoo and its tributaries had been burned, either by the Yankees or our own people. The last of the boats, numbering some fifteen or twenty, were lately destroyed at Yazoo city, when that point was last evacuated. The only exception to this wholesale destruction of the steamers, within his knowledge, was the Mears, which had been run up some of the small streams last spring, and could not be reached by the Yankees in their late raid on the river.
The Montgomery Mail, of the 21st, says:
‘ Brandon, the present headquarters of General Johnston, is in Rankin county, and about fifteen miles east of Jackson. We do not believe that Sherman and Burnside will cross the Pearl river, for they well know the defeat that awaits them if they march on Brandon. If our conjectures are correct, they will fortify Jackson and endeavor to establish a railroad communication between New Orleans and the Northwest, as well as by way of the Mississippi river.
’ We have conversed with an engineer who is one of the general railroad superintendents of the Government, who says that the loss of rolling stock is not so great as represented by the Appeal. He says that the Yankees have got the locomotives of the New Orleans and Jackson, and a portion belonging to the Central Mississippi road, comprising is all about eighteen engines; that the balance of the engines and the cars were brought away and are being distributed wherever they are most required in all portions of the country.
