54 



AKMY OPERATIONS. 



arrangements had been made to cut off his re- 

 treat. It was apparent now that his intention 

 was not to return, but to march through the 

 State. Preparations were therefore made at 

 Osyka to stop his progress. It was well known 

 that to advance any farther south it would be 

 necessary for him to cross several bridges. 

 Hence a regiment of Confederate cavalry was 

 so posted as to flank his force, while a body of 

 infantry was thrown in his front, to hold him 

 in check until the cavalry could make an at- 

 tack upon his flank and rear. Col. Grierson, 

 understanding his danger, at once ordered a 

 charge upon the infantry, and, with one dash, 

 broke through their lines, and soon left them 

 far in the rear. Fortunately he met with no 

 loss, and continued his inarch south to Greens- 

 burg, thence direct to Clinton. About ten miles 

 above that town he crossed the Amite river. 

 On the Big Sandy creek a camp of partisan 

 rangers was found, which he attacked, and de- 

 stroyed one* hundred and fifty tents, with the 

 camp equipage and private baggage. Several 

 horses were also captured. He then marched 

 on the Greenville Spring road toward Baton 

 Rouge. About ten miles from the latter place 

 he suddenly came upon a force of cavalry, 

 under Col. Stewart, and captured the entire 

 body. About four o'clock in the afternoon of 

 the 1st of May he entered the city of Baton 

 Rouge, Louisiana. In seventeen days the troops 

 had marched over eight hundred miles through 

 the heart of the State of Mississippi. A large 

 number of the enemy were killed and wound- 

 ed, and it was estimated that over four millions 

 of property were destroyed. On two important 

 railroads communications were cut off with 

 strong positions of the enemy. Over a thou- 

 sand prisoners and rriore than twelve hundred 

 horses were captured, and great excitement 

 was created throughout the State. 



Meantime, as the army of Gen. Grant lay at 

 Hawkinson's Ferry, waiting for supplies and the 

 arrival of Gen. Sherman's corps, demonstrations 

 were made to induce the enemy to think that 

 route and the one by Hall's Ferry, next above 

 on the Big Black river, were objects of much 

 solicitude to Gen. Grant. Reconnoissances were 

 made on the west side of the Big Black river, 

 extending within six miles of Warrenton. 



On the 7th of May an advance was ordered. 

 Gen. McPherson's corps were required to keep 

 the road nearest Black river to Rocky Springs. 



fGen. McClernand's corps moved on the ridge 

 road running from Willow Springs, and Gen. 

 Sherman followed, with his corps divided on 

 the two roads. All the ferries were closely 

 guarded until the troops were well advanced. 

 It was the intention of Gen. Grant here to hug 

 the Big Black river as closely as possible with 

 Gen. McClernand's and Gen. Sherman's corps, 

 and thus get them to the Jackson and Vicks- 

 burg railroad, at some point between Edwards's 

 Station and Bolton. Gen. McPherson was or- 

 dered to move by way of Utica to Raymond, 

 and from thence into Jackson, destroying the 



railroads, telegraph, public stores, &c., and then 

 push west to rejoin the main force. Gen. Sher- 

 man moved forward on the Edwards's Station 

 road, crossing Fourteen Mile creek at Dillon's 

 Plantation. Gen. McClernand moved across 

 the 'same creek farther west, sending one di- 

 vision of his corps by the Baldwin's Ferry road 

 as far as the river. At the crossing of Fourteen 

 Mile creek, both Gens. McClernand and Sher- 

 man had considerable skirmishing with the 

 enemy to get possession of the crossing. On the 

 evening of that day, May llth, Gen. Grant sent 

 the following despatch to Maj.-Gen. Halleck, 

 at Washington : 



My force will be this evening as far advanced along 

 Fourteen Mile creek, the left near Black river, and ex- 

 tending in a line nearly east and west, as they can get 

 without bringing on a general engagement. I shall 

 communicate with Grand Gulf no more, except it be- 

 comes necessary to send a train with a heavy escort. 

 You may not hear from me again for several weeks. 



That night Gen. McClernand's corps was 

 near Black river. Gen. Sherman, in the cen- 

 tre of the line, was at and beyond Auburn ; and 

 Gen. McPherson, about eight miles to the right, 

 with his corps, had advanced a few miles north 

 of Utica. Corn, salt meat, and live stock were 

 found abundant. 



On the next morning, Tuesday, May 12th, 

 Gen. McClernand's advance drove in the en- 

 emy's pickets, and brisk skirmishing ensued for 

 an hour or two, with little loss on either side. 

 By noon the enemy had disappeared from his 

 front. Gen. Sherman early set a division in 

 motion, which came upon the enemy at the 

 crossing of Fourteen Mile creek. The cavalry 

 advance was fired upon from the thick woods 

 that skirt the stream, and was unable, owing 

 to the nature of the ground, to make a charge 

 or clear the enemy from their position. A bat- 

 tery was brought forward, supported by two 

 regiments, and skirmishers thrown out, who 

 drove the enemy slowly until a brigade was 

 thrown upon their right and left flanks, when 

 they withdrew toward Raymond. The prin- 

 cipal resistance to the line of march was, how- 

 ever, in front of Gen. McPherson. At ten 

 o'clock his advance, under Gen. Logan, came 

 upon a Confederate force, estimated at ten 

 thousand, but which proved to be two brigades 

 under Gens. Gregg and Walker, posted on Fon- 

 dreu's creek, about two miles south of Ray- 

 mond. Brisk skirmishing began at once, which 

 soon brought on a general engagement. The 

 enemy was almost wholly concealed at first by 

 the woods bordering the stream, behind which 

 their forces were posted. Their artillery was 

 on an eminence, which commanded the Fed- 

 eral approach. The battle continued for three 

 hours, when the enemy, after heavy loss in kill- 

 ed, wounded, and missing, withdrew in two col- 

 umns, the principal one taking the road to Jack- 

 son. Gen. McPherson immediately occupied 

 Raymond. 



Gen. Grant was at this time with Gen. Sher- 

 man's corps, and had ordered that corps and also 

 Gen. McClernand's to move toward the rail- 



