AEMY OPEEATIONS. 



55 



road from Vicksburg to Jackson by parallel roads, 

 the latter in the direction of Edwards's Station, 

 and the former to a point on the railroad be- 

 tween Edwards's Station and Bolton. But he 

 afterward ordered these two corps to march to 

 Eaymond, in consequence of being informed 

 that the enemy had retreated to Jackson after 

 the defeat near Eaymond, and also that reen- 

 forcements were daily arriving at Jackson, and 

 that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was hourly ex- 

 pected there to take the command in person. 

 He says: "I therefore determined to make 

 sure of that place, and leave no enemy in my 

 rear." 



On the next day, the 13th, Gen. McPherson 

 moved to Clinton, and destroyed the railroads 

 and telegraph, and captured some important 

 despatches from Gen. Pemberton to Gen. Gregg, 

 who had command on the previous day in the 

 battle of Eaymond. Gen. Sherman moved to a 

 parallel position on the Mississippi Springs and 

 Jackson road, and Gen. McClernand moved to 

 a point near Eaymond. 



On the 14th, Gen. McPherson and Gen. 

 Sherman each advanced from his respective 

 position toward Jackson. The rain had fallen 

 in torrents during the night before, and it con- 

 tinued to fall until about noon, thus making 

 the roads at first slippery, and then miry. 

 Nevertheless, the troops marched in excellent 

 order and spirits about fourteen miles, when 

 they came upon the enemy. The main body of 

 their force in Jackson had marched out on the 

 Clinton road, and encountered Gen. McPher- 

 son about two and a half miles from the city. 

 A small force of artillery and infantry also took 

 a strong position in front of Gen. Sherman, 

 about the same distance out from Jackson. 



On the march of Gen. McPherson from Clin- 

 ton toward Jackson, Gen. Crocker's division 

 held the advance. All was quiet until he reach- 

 ed a hill overlooking a broad open field, through 

 the centre of which, and over the crest of the 

 hill beyond, the road to Jackson passed. On the 

 left of this latter hill the enemy had posted his 

 artillery, and along the crest his line of battle. 

 As the Federal force came within range, the 

 artillery of the enemy opened fire. The bat- 

 tery of the First Missouri was moved to the teft 

 of a cotton gin in the open field, and returned 

 the fire for nearly an hour, when the guns of 

 the enemy were withdrawn. Meantime, Gen. 

 Crocker had thrown out two brigades to the 

 right and left of his battery, supported by an- 

 other brigade at a proper distance, and had also 

 pushed forward a strong line of skirmishers, 

 and posted them in a ravine in front, which 

 protected them from the fire of the enemy. Af- 

 ter a little delay they were again advanced out 

 of cover, and a desultory fire ensued between 

 the opposite lines of skirmishers, in which the 

 enemy, owing to the nature of the ground, had 

 the advantage. At length Gen. Crocker, seeing 

 the necessity of driving the rebels from the 

 crest of the hill, ordered a charge along the 

 line, the execution of which has been thus 



described: "With colors flying, and with a 

 step as measured and unbroken as if on dress 

 parade, the movement was executed. Slowly 

 they advanced, crossed the narrow ravine, and, 

 with fixed bayonets, reached the crest of the hill 

 in easy range of the rebel line. Here they re- 

 ceived a tremendous volley, which caused pain- 

 ful gaps in their ranks. They held their fire un- 

 til they were within a distance of thirty paces, 

 when they delivered the returning volley with 

 fearful effect, and, without waiting to reload 

 their muskets, with a terrific yell, they rushed 

 upon the staggered foe. Over the fences, through 

 the brushwood, into the inclosure, they worked 

 their way, slaughtering on the right and left 

 without mercy. The enemy, astonished at their 

 impetuosity, wavered and fell back, rallied 

 again, and finally broke in wild confusion." 

 They finally retreated north, but without fur- 

 ther damage. 



"When Gen. Sherman encountered the en- 

 emy, he soon discovered the weakness of the 

 latter by sending a reconnoitering party to his 

 right, which had the effect of causing them to 

 retreat from that part of their line. A few 

 of the artillerists, however, remained in their 

 places, firing upon Gen. Sherman's troops until 

 the last moment, evidently having been in- 

 structed to do so with the expectation of being 

 captured in the end. 



At this time Gen. McClernand occupied Clin- 

 ton with one division, Mississippi Springs with 

 another, Eaymond with a third, and his fourth, 

 division and Gen. Blair's division of Gen. Sher- 

 man's corps were with a wagon train, still in 

 the rear near Auburn. At the same time Gen. 

 McArthur, with one brigade of his division of 

 Gen. McPherson's corps, was moving toward 

 Eaymond on the Utica road. It was not the 

 intention of Gen. Grant to move these forces 

 any nearer Jackson, but to have them in a po- 

 sition where they could be in supporting dis- 

 tance if the resistance at Jackson should prove 

 more obstinate than there seemed any reason 

 to expect. 



On the retreat of the enemy, Gen. McPher- 

 son followed directly into the city of Jackson. 

 A fine battery of six pieces was found, and 

 around the Deaf and Dumb Institute, which 

 was used as a hospital, tents enough were 

 seized to encamp an entire division. The com- 

 missary and quartermaster's stores were in 

 flames. The Governor and State Treasurer had 

 withdrawn, taking the State funds and papers. 

 All citizens officially connected with State or 

 Confederate Governments had also left. Many 

 soldiers remained, besides a large number in 

 the hospital. 



At night, Gen. Grant, who with Gen. Sher- 

 man's corps had arrived at Jackson, was in- 

 formed that Gen. Johnston, as soon as he had 

 satisfied himself that Jackson was to be at- 

 tacked, had ordered Gen. Pemberton peremp- 

 torily to march out from Vicksburg and attack 

 the Federal rear. Availing himself of this 

 information, he immediately issued orders to 



