登陆注册
15512200000121

第121章 CHAPTER XXXIV.(3)

While the troops were awaiting the arrival of rations I ordered reconnoissances made by McClernand and McPherson, with the view of leading the enemy to believe that we intended to cross the Big Black and attack the city at once.

On the 6th Sherman arrived at Grand Gulf and crossed his command that night and the next day. Three days' rations had been brought up from Grand Gulf for the advanced troops and were issued. Orders were given for a forward movement the next day. Sherman was directed to order up Blair, who had been left behind to guard the road from Milliken's Bend to Hard Times with two brigades.

The quartermaster at Young's Point was ordered to send two hundred wagons with Blair, and the commissary was to load them with hard bread, coffee, sugar, salt and one hundred thousand pounds of salt meat.

On the 3d Hurlbut, who had been left at Memphis, was ordered to send four regiments from his command to Milliken's Bend to relieve Blair's division, and on the 5th he was ordered to send Lauman's division in addition, the latter to join the army in the field. The four regiments were to be taken from troops near the river so that there would be no delay.

During the night of the 6th McPherson drew in his troops north of the Big Black and was off at an early hour on the road to Jackson, via Rocky Springs, Utica and Raymond. That night he and McClernand were both at Rocky Springs ten miles from Hankinson's ferry. McPherson remained there during the 8th, while McClernand moved to Big Sandy and Sherman marched from Grand Gulf to Hankinson's ferry. The 9th, McPherson moved to a point within a few miles west of Utica; McClernand and Sherman remained where they were. On the 10th McPherson moved to Utica, Sherman to Big Sandy; McClernand was still at Big Sandy. The 11th, McClernand was at Five Mile Creek; Sherman at Auburn;

McPherson five miles advanced from Utica. May 12th, McClernand was at Fourteen Mile Creek; Sherman at Fourteen Mile Creek;

McPherson at Raymond after a battle.

After McPherson crossed the Big Black at Hankinson's ferry Vicksburg could have been approached and besieged by the south side. It is not probable, however, that Pemberton would have permitted a close besiegement. The broken nature of the ground would have enabled him to hold a strong defensible line from the river south of the city to the Big Black, retaining possession of the railroad back to that point. It was my plan, therefore, to get to the railroad east of Vicksburg, and approach from that direction. Accordingly, McPherson's troops that had crossed the Big Black were withdrawn and the movement east to Jackson commenced.

As has been stated before, the country is very much broken and the roads generally confined to the tops of the hills. The troops were moved one (sometimes two) corps at a time to reach designated points out parallel to the railroad and only from six to ten miles from it. McClernand's corps was kept with its left flank on the Big Black guarding all the crossings. Fourteen Mile Creek, a stream substantially parallel with the railroad, was reached and crossings effected by McClernand and Sherman with slight loss. McPherson was to the right of Sherman, extending to Raymond. The cavalry was used in this advance in reconnoitring to find the roads: to cover our advances and to find the most practicable routes from one command to another so they could support each other in case of an attack. In making this move I estimated Pemberton's movable force at Vicksburg at about eighteen thousand men, with smaller forces at Haines' Bluff and Jackson. It would not be possible for Pemberton to attack me with all his troops at one place, and I determined to throw my army between his and fight him in detail. This was done with success, but I found afterwards that I had entirely under-estimated Pemberton's strength.

Up to this point our movements had been made without serious opposition. My line was now nearly parallel with the Jackson and Vicksburg railroad and about seven miles south of it. The right was at Raymond eighteen miles from Jackson, McPherson commanding; Sherman in the centre on Fourteen Mile Creek, his advance thrown across; McClernand to the left, also on Fourteen Mile Creek, advance across, and his pickets within two miles of Edward's station, where the enemy had concentrated a considerable force and where they undoubtedly expected us to attack. McClernand's left was on the Big Black. In all our moves, up to this time, the left had hugged the Big Black closely, and all the ferries had been guarded to prevent the enemy throwing a force on our rear.

McPherson encountered the enemy, five thousand strong with two batteries under General Gregg, about two miles out of Raymond.

This was about two P.M. Logan was in advance with one of his brigades. He deployed and moved up to engage the enemy.

McPherson ordered the road in rear to be cleared of wagons, and the balance of Logan's division, and Crocker's, which was still farther in rear, to come forward with all dispatch. The order was obeyed with alacrity. Logan got his division in position for assault before Crocker could get up, and attacked with vigor, carrying the enemy's position easily, sending Gregg flying from the field not to appear against our front again until we met at Jackson.

In this battle McPherson lost 66 killed, 339 wounded, and 37 missing--nearly or quite all from Logan's division. The enemy's loss was 100 killed, 305 wounded, besides 415 taken prisoners.

I regarded Logan and Crocker as being as competent division commanders as could be found in or out of the army and both equal to a much higher command. Crocker, however, was dying of consumption when he volunteered. His weak condition never put him on the sick report when there was a battle in prospect, as long as he could keep on his feet. He died not long after the close of the rebellion.

同类推荐
  • 古夫于亭杂录

    古夫于亭杂录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 花部农谭

    花部农谭

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大驾北还录

    大驾北还录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 清珠集

    清珠集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 释闷

    释闷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 魔血小萝莉

    魔血小萝莉

    血族的她,年仅8岁,不知道从哪里来,不知道亲人是谁,不知道怎样生活下去。拥有魔法的她,孤独的她,仍然要顽强地生活下去。一个恶魔或者一个天使在她身边会怎样,一个全能的机器人在她身边会怎样,命中注定的事情会怎样。。。。。。选择这条路,继续走下去。。。。。。
  • 不朽战神之寂灭传

    不朽战神之寂灭传

    他本是豪门子弟,一夜之间风云骤变。血脉传承、守护秘密、救世责任压在了一个本可以悠闲一生的少年身上。正是这各种各样的责任成就了一支无敌的军队,促成了一段不朽的神话。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 我的年少没有你

    我的年少没有你

    有人说,青春有感觉就要挥霍;也有人说,青春就是要随心所欲的。但在她看来,青春这一个词就意味着应该简简单单的去爱一个人,没有所谓的勾引.出轨。虽然他们都深爱着对方,却因为某一些事情而不愿意去承认,就此错过。但是在她看来,只要曾经深爱的他能够幸福就好了,尽管自己还是很遗憾,不甘。
  • 新编科学育儿百科

    新编科学育儿百科

    本书以全新的视角,一方面详细诠释了宝宝出生前夫妻不仅需要做好物质上的充分准备,更要做好精神、心理上的准备,从而轻松、愉快地迎接小天使的到来。另一方面利用清晰的线条,全方位地指导年轻父母了解并掌握0~3岁宝宝各阶段的发育状况,学习科学的营养饮食、精心的日常护理、疾病的预防与护理、智能开发与训练、宝宝智能发育测试等方法。使父母轻松应对宝宝各阶段出现的养育难题,从而感受到育儿的快乐与自信。希望本书可以帮助每对父母培养出健康、聪明的小宝宝!
  • 御雷剑尊

    御雷剑尊

    修仙路漫漫,少年落星凡泪绝红尘,断俗世尘缘,毅然踏上仙途,若问:修仙为何?答曰:探寻世间因果,寻求天道长生!执剑为何?答曰:剑无情,人有情,若为情故,荡仙诛魔,又当何妨?紫曜现,群魔出,魔心入体,太初解厄,雷霆加身,执掌天地。少年狂笑:魔心入体又有何惧?魔入我体,我自御之!入魔何妨?若手中之剑无以守护吾之所爱,我自以仙魔之力,一剑斩之!
  • 如以天地为洪炉

    如以天地为洪炉

    如果说一个不想永生成仙的修士不是一个有理想的修士,那么一个不想自己创造出金手指的主角一定不是一个有理想的大魔王。
  • 乱了时光

    乱了时光

    有时候,感情就像一片羽毛,微痒了整个青春。那些细细的,轻轻的忧伤,忽然就变成了细碎的阳光,散落天涯,温柔了时光。————————————这是一本没有开头,也没有结尾的,写满了青春里那些莫名的忧伤与朦胧情感的书集。它也许不完美,一如我们的青春,但却是最靠近于心的地方。它也许不浓烈,一如我们的被作业堆满的夏天,但却是最怀念的季节。它也许在你们看过的所有的书中最没有色彩的书集,但却是作者最深处的记忆。————————————感谢所有粉宝儿们的支持,还有,请尊重作者,文明评论!谢谢大家!*^_^*
  • 这个皇妃很欠扁

    这个皇妃很欠扁

    身为孤儿的小巧没有好好念书,很早就混迹于市井之间,吃喝嫖赌抽五毒俱全,这样的她就是一个市井小混混。小巧虽然痞子气十足,但是心地却十分善良,经常帮助其他的一些孩子,她以为自己的一生就是这样浑浑噩噩而过,没想到却遭遇了一场忽如其来的意外而死亡。身处于社会最下层的小巧一觉醒来,竟然成了相国的千金,而且还面临着进宫的命运,她会甘心于这样的命运安排吗?整个皇宫因为她的介入而鸡犬不宁,抢劫相国、殴打妃子、劫持皇上······这样的一个胆大妄为的女子要怎样玩转皇宫?那什么都不怕的性格,几乎让那个冷血的男人对她动手。
  • 跨出银河

    跨出银河

    地球,一个渺小的生命星球,宇宙,一个无比宽广的空间。地球人类在宇宙中是无比渺小的存在,但是地球人类却有无限的潜力。他们跑不过猎豹,于是他们制造了汽车,他们看见天上的飞鸟,于是他们制造了飞机,他们看见无比遥远的星空,于是他们开始征服宇宙。而在宇宙中不仅只有地球人类一个高智慧种族,想要征服宇宙变得不可能,反而有被侵略危机,银河系宇宙文明想要保持自己文明在宇宙中的地位,姿态强势是必不可少,而这其中也发生了很多的故事,他们将怎么样在这大宇宙的时代崛起?