13 May 1863 A.D. JACKSON, MS: GEN Grant’s advances and neutralizes Confederates
13 May 1863 A.D. JACKSON, MS: GEN Grant’s advances and
neutralizes Confederates
Editors. “1863 – Union General
Ulysses S. Grant advances toward the Mississippi capital of Jackson during his
bold and daring drive to take Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the
Mississippi River.”
This Day in U.S. Military History. N.d.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/may-13/. Accessed 12 May 2015.
1863 – Union General
Ulysses S. Grant advances toward the Mississippi capital of Jackson during his
bold and daring drive to take Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the
Mississippi River. In April, Grant had moved his troops down the
Mississippi River and around the Vicksburg defenses, landing south of the city
before moving east into the interior of Mississippi. He intended to approach
Vicksburg from the east to avoid the strong Confederate defenses on the
riverfront. Grant, however, had to contend with two Rebel forces. John C.
Pemberton had an army defending Vicksburg, and Joseph Johnston was mustering
troops in Jackson, 40 miles east of Vicksburg. Grant’s advance placed him
between the two Southern commands. He planned to strike Johnston in Jackson,
defeat him, and then focus on Vicksburg when the threat to his rear was
eliminated. On May 12, Grant’s troops encountered a Rebel force at Raymond,
Mississippi, which they easily defeated. The following day, he divided his
force at Raymond, just 15 miles from Jackson, and sent two corps under William
T. Sherman and James McPherson to drive the Confederates under Johnston out of
Jackson, which they did by May 14. Grant also sent John McClernand’s corps west
to close in on Pemberton in Vicksburg. A few days later, on May 16, Grant
defeated Pemberton at Champion’s Hill and drove the Rebels back into Vicksburg.
With the threat from the east neutralized, Grant sealed Vicksburg shut and laid
siege to the city. Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, and the Confederacy was
severed in two.
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