June 24, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
LATEST NEWS FROM THE WEST.
JACKSON, MISS., June 23. – Col. WIRT ADAMS’ cavalry attacked 400 of the enemy’s cavalry at Bear Creek, near Mechanicsburg, yesterday, routing them, capturing their artillery, and killing or wounding 100 of their number. Our loss was 25 killed and wounded. Amongst the latter was Capt. W. YERGER, who distinguished himself in the action.
While the Yankees were at Panola on Friday, CHALMERS attacked the 2d Illinois Cavalry four miles south of Hernando, at daylight, killing, wounding or capturing all of them except one company. Gen. GEORGE, with the State troops, and McCULLOCH, are four miles in the rear of the Yankees, who are now marching northward.
JACKSON, June 23. – A bearer of despatches, who left Vicksburg on Wednesday, reports that the enemy on that day made a desperate assault on our centre. The engagement lasted our hours, and the courier escaped through the enemy’s lines during the melee of the battle. He knows that the Yankees were repulsed with heavy loss. At the time he left there had been no loss on our side. The assault was more vigorous than any of those which had preceded it. The rout of the enemy was complete. We have no further official details in regard to Saturday’s fight.
OSYKA, June 23. – Heavy firing was heard this morning near Clinton, La. It is supposed to be a conflict between LYONS and a portion of BANKS’ army.
Our forces have fallen back from Milliken’s Bend, being unable to take all the enemy’s stockades. The enemy are burning all the small water craft in the neighborhood of Natchez. Persons from Memphis say that many are taking the oath for want of means to come away.