WHY GEN. GRANT WAS NOT RE-ENFORCED BY BANKS. 271 received a letter from General Banks, giving his position west of the Mississippi River, and stating that he could return to Baton Rouge by the 10th of May; that, by the reduction of Port Hudson, he could join me with twelve thousand men. "I learned about the same time, that troops were expected at Jackson from the Southern cities, with General Beauregard in command. To delay until the 10th of May, and for the reduction of Port Hudson after that, the accession of twelve thousand men would not leave me relatively so strong as to move promptly with what I had. Information received from day to day, of the movements of the enemy, also impelled me to the course I pursued." CHAPTER XIV. THE ARMY APPROACH VICKSBURG. General Grant's Head-Quarters moved forward to Hawkinson's Ferry.-The Rebel Governor Alarmed.-General Grant's Congratulatory Order.-He Telegraphs to Washington.-Fall of Jackson.-The Army at Bolton.-Clinton.-Champion's Hill.-Crossing the River.-The Investment of the City. GENERAL GRANT secured a sufficient amount of supplies for his columns, and arranged the order of march while at Grand Gulf. May 7th he removed his head-quarters to Hawkinson's Ferry, on the Black River, leaving Sherman to guard the captured post, during the few hours it would be of service for the landing of the remainder of the supplies. While lying at Hawkinson's Ferry, waiting for the wagons, supplies, and Sherman's corps to come up, demonstrations were made to make the enemy believe that the routes to Vicksburg by that ferry, and the one by Hall's Ferry, which was a short distance higher up the river, were very desirable to General Grant. To impress this idea still further upon the minds of the rebel generals, reconnoitering parties were sent out along the roads, on the west side of the Big Black River, to within six miles of Warrenton. The artifice was completely successful. In the mean time, Mississippi was called to arms to resist the advance of General Grant. General Grant's plans had been too carefully studied to be thwarted by any suddenly improvised forces that the Governor could then raise. On the morning of the 7th of May, a general advance was ordered. The Thirteenth Army Corps was directed to move along the ridge road from Wilton Springs; the Seventeenth was to keep the road nearest the Black River to Rocky Springs; and the Fifteenth was to divide in two parts, and follow. All the ferries were closely guarded GENERAL GRANT'S CONGRATULATORY ORDER. 273 until the troops were well advanced, to prevent surprise on the flanks, and also to mislead the enemy as to the intention of the movement. Before the troops were started on this march, the following congratulatory order was read at the head of every regiment: HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, IN THE FIELD, Soldiers of the Army of Tennessee: Once more I thank you for adding another victory to the long list of those previously won by your valor and endurance. The triumph gained over the enemy near Port Gibson, on the 1st, was one of the most important of the war. The capture of five cannon and more than one thousand prisoners, the possession of Grand Gulf, and a firm foothold on the highlands between the Big Black and Bayou Pierre, from whence we threaten the whole line of the enemy, are among the fruits of this brilliant achievement. The march from Milliken's Bend to the point opposite Grand Gulf was made in stormy weather, over the worst of roads. Bridges and ferries had to be constructed. Moving by night, as well as by day, with labor incessant, and extraordinary privations endured by men and officers, such as have been rarely paralleled in any campaign, not a murmur of complaint has been uttered. A few days' continuance of the same zeal and constancy will secure to this army crowning victories over the rebellion. More difficulties and privations are before us; let us endure them manfully. Other battles are to be fought; let us fight them bravely. A grateful country will rejoice at our success, and history will record it with immortal honor. U. S. GRANT, Major-General Commanding. It seems that General Grant had intended, while at Hawkinson's Ferry, to have moved the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Army Corps in such a manner as to hug the Black River as closely as possible, that they might be able to strike the Jackson and Vicksburg Railroad at some point between Edwards's Station and Bolton. The Seventeenth Army Corps was to move by way of Utica to Raymond, thence to Jackson, at which place, and in its vicinity, the railroad, telegraph, and public stores were to be destroyed, after which, the corps was to move west, and rejoin the main army. The commander-in-chief was not behind his troops; but, as they advanced, he continually changed his head quarters and his line of communications, keeping with the center of the army, that he might the better direct the movements of his three columns. When he had advanced far enough to be sure of his position, he sent the following telegraphic message to the Government at Washington: To Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief: IN THE FIELD, May 11, 1863. My force will be this evening as far advanced along Fourteen Mile Creek, the left near Black River, and extending 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 becomes necessary to send a train with a heavy escort. You may not hear from me again for several days. U. S. GRANT, Major-General. The dispatch clearly intimates that General Grant had intended to cut an opening through the enemy's lines, and communicate with the general-in-chief by a more northern route. When the dispatch was sent, he foresaw the success of this plan, and as he personally superintended all the movements of his army, and had not to depend upon any other outside co-operation than that of the fleet, he doubtless felt sure he could not fail through lack of proper combination at the right time. He also, in breaking up this line of communication, by way of Grand Gulf, prevented the enemy from cutting off his supplies; and he had taken the precaution to have with him all that was needed, until he was ready to open up the new line by the Yazoo. The Fifteenth Army Corps moved forward on the Edwards's Station road, and crossed the Fourteen Mile Creek at Dillon's plantation. The Thirteenth Army Corps crossed the same creek a short distance further west, making a demonstration along the road toward Baldwin's Ferry, as if to advance upon Vicksburg or Warrenton by that route. While crossing the creek, both corps had to skirmish considerably with the enemy to gain possession of the right of way; but, under the persistent attacks of the Union THE BATTLE NEAR RAYMOND. 275 troops, the rebels gave way, and the army moved toward the railroad in splendid order. In the mean time, the Seventeenth Army Corps was steadily advancing upon Raymond, but met with resolute opposition from the rebels, who were stationed in two brigades, under Generals Gregg and Walker, at a point in the road about two miles southwest of that village. General Logan's division came upon the troops, estimated at about ten thousand, posted on Fondren's Creek, at ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, May 12th, and brisk skirmishing began at once, followed by a general engagement. The enemy (as in front of General Sherman) was almost wholly concealed at first by the woods bordering the stream, behind which their forces were posted. Their artillery was on an eminence that commanded the approach, and the Union troops had to cross an open field, exposed to a terrible fire. The First and Second Brigades were in the thickest of the contest, and suffered most. After three hours' hard fighting, the enemy withdrew sullenly in two columns-the principal one taking the road to Jackson. General Grant, in his report of this action, states that the fighting was very hard; that the enemy were driven, with heavy loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners; and that many of the rebels threw down their arms and deserted their cause. When he discovered that the enemy had retreated from Raymond to Jackson, he, on the night of May 12th, diverted the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Army Corps from their intended route, and ordered them both to move toward Raymond, at which place he established his head-quarters on the evening of May 13th. The next day, General Grant sent the following dispatch by way of Memphis: Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief: RAYMOND, MIBS., May 14, 1868. McPherson took this place on the 12th inst., after a brisk fight of more than two hours. Our loss was fifty-one killed, and one hundred and eighty wounded. The enemy's loss was seventy-five killed (buried by us), and one hundred and eighty-six prisoners captured, besides the wounded. |