Crucible of Command by William C. Davis

Author:William C. Davis [Davis, William C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780306822469
Publisher: Da Capo Press

When he decided to go for Jackson, Grant had sent McClernand’s corps to Edwards’ Station on the Vicksburg & Jackson Railroad, about twenty-eight miles west of Jackson and eighteen miles east of Vicksburg. He did it in part to get McClernand out of the way, expecting no action, but also as a feint to distract Pemberton.95 Less than forty-eight hours after taking the capital, however, Grant learned that Pemberton had moved much of his army out of its defenses and was approaching the station.96 After destroying anything of military use to the Confederates, Grant prepared to move west, buoyed by the prospect of catching Pemberton in the open field. His sense of urgency was evident when he sent a note to Sherman at five-thirty on the morning of May 16 to get every man in the field immediately, saying “the fight may be brought on at any moment.”97 Grant told McClernand to wait. He did not want him to bring on an engagement he could not handle. Before Sherman reached the field, other elements of McPherson’s Corps came up with McClernand and found the Confederates in line across the road to Vicksburg, their center planted atop Champion Hill.

Grant arrived and ordered an attack. Hours of severe combat followed before overwhelming Union numbers put the Confederates to flight. In fact, Grant came close to destroying Pemberton on the spot. The Confederates lost almost 4,000 of 25,000 engaged, and made a scramble to get back to Vicksburg before the Federals cut off their retreat. “I am of the opinion that the battle of Vicksburg has been fought,” Grant told Sherman. “We must be prepared however for whatever turns up.” Pursuing as far as Edwards’ Station that evening, he gave orders to advance again at dawn.98 Speed, always speed.

The next day the Federal advance came upon Pemberton in line just east of the bridge over the Big Black River and put them to flight with another 1,800 casualties. In two days the Confederates had lost more than a fifth of their army, and Grant felt confident enough to tell Sherman to push into Vicksburg if he thought he could do so, and if not then to extend his lines facing its defenses, thinking he might still take it the following day.99 On the morning of May 19, Grant gave orders for his entire line to move as close as they could to the defenses east of the city by two o’clock when, at a signal, they were to launch a general assault. At the same time, he asked Porter to commence a bombardment from his fleet on the river.100 Only Sherman advanced at the signal, dooming the assault to failure, yet he did achieve one thing. With his lines reaching almost to the Mississippi north of town, he could now open a supply line via the Yazoo River. On May 11 Grant had hoped to be in front of Vicksburg within a week with his supply link renewed. It took him eight days, and but for hardtack and coffee his men never went hungry.

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