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34 - The Jackson Expedition
During the siege of Vicksburg, General Joseph E. Johnston had assembled a relief army in Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, to threaten the siege ring from the rear. By early July 1863 Johnston had gathered 28,400 men in four infantry divisions under John Breckinridge, William Loring, Samuel French and William Walker and a cavalry division under William Jackson. As Johnston carefully advanced against the rear of Grant's army, the latter ordered William T. Sherman to deal with the threat. On July 5, the day after the surrender of Vicksburg was made official, Sherman was free to move against Johnston. Johnston hastily withdrew his force across the Big Black River and Champion's Hill battlefields with Sherman in pursuit. Sherman had with him the IX Corps, XV. Corps, XIII. Corps and a detachment of the XVI. Corps, around 40,000 men.
On July 10, the Union Army had taken up position around Jackson. The events of 12 July were decisive for the expedition. Union General Jacob Lauman ordered a brigade under Colonel Isaac Pugh to attack the Confederate fortifications to the southwest, which were defended by Breckinridge's Division. The rebel brigades of Benjamin Helm and Daniel Weisiger Adams easily repelled the unsupported advance and more than half of Pugh's brigade subsequently covered the ground between the front lines. Encouraged by this success, Johnston decided to take the initiative before the ring around the city could close. Walker's 7,000-strong division and Jackson's 4,500 horsemen left the northern positions of the city, shielded by thick vegetation, and advanced against the flank of Smith's Division of Parke's Corps, which formed the far left of Sherman's line. Smith, who had been fixed in the front by parts of Loring, was almost completely worn down as Ector's, Gist's, Gregg's and Wilson's Brigades went forward westward like a steamroller. Only at the level of the Mississippi Central Railroad could a line hastily erected by Blair's Division intercept Walker's men and bring them to a halt. Meanwhile, Jackson had advanced far north and had overrun Parke's headquarters. The surprised Corps Commander himself was able to break away at the last second with parts of his personal escort.
Compared to Johnston's 1,500 losses, Sherman's forces lost 4,500 men that day. With this reduced strength it was logistically impossible to completely surround the state capital. The Union forces retreated grumbling to Edwards about halfway back to Vicksburg, where Sherman was waiting for further reinforcements until the complete takeover of the Vicksburg administration. For Johnston, Jackson's defense was a public relations success that boosted the morale of Mississippi citizens and reduced desertion to almost zero. Reclaiming Mississippi for the Union would require far more effort than the comparatively easy siege of Vicksburg would have suggested.
Chapter 34 - The Jackson Expedition
During the siege of Vicksburg, General Joseph E. Johnston had assembled a relief army in Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, to threaten the siege ring from the rear. By early July 1863 Johnston had gathered 28,400 men in four infantry divisions under John Breckinridge, William Loring, Samuel French and William Walker and a cavalry division under William Jackson. As Johnston carefully advanced against the rear of Grant's army, the latter ordered William T. Sherman to deal with the threat. On July 5, the day after the surrender of Vicksburg was made official, Sherman was free to move against Johnston. Johnston hastily withdrew his force across the Big Black River and Champion's Hill battlefields with Sherman in pursuit. Sherman had with him the IX Corps, XV. Corps, XIII. Corps and a detachment of the XVI. Corps, around 40,000 men.
On July 10, the Union Army had taken up position around Jackson. The events of 12 July were decisive for the expedition. Union General Jacob Lauman ordered a brigade under Colonel Isaac Pugh to attack the Confederate fortifications to the southwest, which were defended by Breckinridge's Division. The rebel brigades of Benjamin Helm and Daniel Weisiger Adams easily repelled the unsupported advance and more than half of Pugh's brigade subsequently covered the ground between the front lines. Encouraged by this success, Johnston decided to take the initiative before the ring around the city could close. Walker's 7,000-strong division and Jackson's 4,500 horsemen left the northern positions of the city, shielded by thick vegetation, and advanced against the flank of Smith's Division of Parke's Corps, which formed the far left of Sherman's line. Smith, who had been fixed in the front by parts of Loring, was almost completely worn down as Ector's, Gist's, Gregg's and Wilson's Brigades went forward westward like a steamroller. Only at the level of the Mississippi Central Railroad could a line hastily erected by Blair's Division intercept Walker's men and bring them to a halt. Meanwhile, Jackson had advanced far north and had overrun Parke's headquarters. The surprised Corps Commander himself was able to break away at the last second with parts of his personal escort.
Compared to Johnston's 1,500 losses, Sherman's forces lost 4,500 men that day. With this reduced strength it was logistically impossible to completely surround the state capital. The Union forces retreated grumbling to Edwards about halfway back to Vicksburg, where Sherman was waiting for further reinforcements until the complete takeover of the Vicksburg administration. For Johnston, Jackson's defense was a public relations success that boosted the morale of Mississippi citizens and reduced desertion to almost zero. Reclaiming Mississippi for the Union would require far more effort than the comparatively easy siege of Vicksburg would have suggested.
- Lothar
- Word Count: 470