Movements to Clinton and Jackson

Movements to Clinton and Jackson. . After the Battle of Raymond on May 12, Gregg's Confederates retreated through town and encamped on a ridge almost three miles east of the town square. McPherson's 17th Corps Federals marched into Raymond and went into camp for the night. During the battle Grant was headquartered at the Dillon farm, seven and one-half miles southeast of Raymond. That night he changed his plan of concentrating his army at Edwards, deciding instead to march to Jackson. He ordered McPherson to march his corps from Raymond to Clinton on May 13; destroy the railroad there; then march east to Jackson on May 14. Sherman, whose 15th Corps was with Grant at Dillon's, was ordered to march through Raymond to Mississippi Springs on May 13, then east to Jackson in coordination with McPherson's march to Jackson on the 14th. McClernand's large 13th Corps consisted of four divisions and was located four miles south of Edwards. He was ordered to march three of his divisions to Raymond on May 13, while his fourth division was to march south to New Auburn to meet and escort one of Grant's extremely vital supply trains. This 200-wagon train left Grand Gulf early on May 12. On May 13, Gregg fell back to Jackson, where Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had arrived with reinforcements from the East. Pemberton, expecting Grant to strike the railroad at Edwards, massed his troops north of Mt. Moriah to block the expected thrust. However, on May 14, McPherson and Sherman marched east from Clinton and Mississippi Springs to Jackson. Johnston fought a brief delaying action and fled the capital city. The occupying Federals burned everything of military value, leaving much of the city a smoldering ruin.