Sherman and his column arrived about the same time. That night, the 13th, Gen. Johnston, a soldier of genius and vigor, had arrived at Jackson to command the forces which were constantly forwarded there with all the energy of the leaders of the Rebellion. Before he slept, he sent orders to Pemberton to attack the Federal troops at Clinton, saying, "To beat such a detachment would be of immense value. Time is allimportant." Even Johnston did not understand that it was no "detachment" they would meet.

The same night, Grant ordered the army to move at early dawn upon Jackson. On the morning of the 14th, he sent word to Gen. Halleck of the battle at Raymond, and said, in closing his despatch, "I will attack the State capital to-day." Pemberton and his troops were busily strengthening Edward's Station, deceived by McClernand's pickets, and expecting an attack there; but Grant and Pemberton were planning campaigns for different armies.

It had rained hard during the night, increasing all the difficulties of the movement; but the soldiers felt that they were marching from one victory at Raymond to another at Jackson, and pushed on in fine spirits. It was nine o'clock on the morning of the 14th when the rebel pickets were met and driven in about five miles out from Jackson. The army advanced, and found the enemy in force nearly two miles and a half beyond.

Johnston was in command, with the flower of the Southern soldiery. Regiments were there from South Carolina and Georgia. Their batteries were posted on a semicircular ridge in the rear, and the infantry in front, in ravines traversed by a fence.

While the regiments were moving into position, the rain was so violent, that every cartridge-box opened was filled with water. It was eleven o'clock before the artillery commenced the battle. Our skirmishers were met by so heavy a fire, that they were called in; and Gen. Crocker was ordered to charge. At once, the whole line swept forward with muskets loaded, bayonets fixed. The loud cheers ring out. On they go, through the ravine, and up the hill, to the muzzles of the rebel guns. The enemy broke, and fled back to their defences, a mile and a half in the rear. Here an effective fire of artillery was opened; and officers were sent out to reconnoitre the works.

Sherman, who had advanced in another direction from McPherson, also found intrenchments to the left as far as could be seen, from which a sharp artillery-fire was maintained. Grant ordered an examination to the extreme right, the flanks of these intrenchments. Those sent not returning as soon as he desired, he started himself, followed only by his staff, and rode until he found that the enemy had evacuated the town. The route was open, and he rode on. His son, a boy of thirteen, who was with him as they neared the town, started his horse on a gallop, and was the first to enter the streets.

But McPherson also learned that the rebels had evacuated the works, and marched inside of them on one flank, while Sherman marched in on the other, meeting midway amid prolonged shouts of victory.

By three o'clock, the national ensign, raised by the Fifty-ninth Indiana, was waving from the dome of the capitol.

The leading secessionists of the place had left with the rebel army, including the State Treasurer with the funds, and Gov. Pettus with all the most valuable State papers except the copies of his proclamation. But history will preserve this.

Before four o'clock, Grant was issuing orders to his corps commanders in the governor's room at the capitol. Sherman was ordered to occupy the rifle-pits, and destroy the railroads, bridges, and telegraphs in all directions, except towards Vicksburg. Factories and arsenals were burned. A public house called the "Confederate Hotel" was fired by some of the soldiers before the guard could take possession of the city. On investigation, it appeared that some of the Union troops had been transported through Jackson, some months before, as prisoners on cattle-cars, which were stopped in front of this hotel. The captives, who had suffered long from thirst, asked for a little water, but were refused with brutal and insulting taunts by those in the hotel. They had been exchanged, and returned to the army in time to assist in the capture of Jackson, and exhibited in the first moments of victory a vivid recollection of the inhumanity of their former treatment. Tl. fficers regretted the unauthorized destruction of ri te property; but the soldiers probably thought that one burning wrong was in this case not unitly avenged by another.

That night, Grant occupied the elegant mansion of a althy rebel, which had been Johnston's headquarters. e indications were, that the rebel generals the night selebrated with a banquet the victory they expected to achieve over Grant; but their victory was in anticipation only.