The National tribune., 1884-09-25
rRr-x THE PLANS OF THE COMMANDER


night and the following day. McClernand
and Mcpherson had meantime been liySng
wholly upon the three days rations which
they had brought in haversacks from Bruins
burg. They now foraged vigorously. found
plenty of beef and mutton. and with the little
corn the enemy had left in the country sub
sisted comfortably. Before undertaking
other movement, however. moro liberal sup
plies were needed. The two corps were with
out camp equipage, wagons and ambulances
Field officers were on foot and every division
and corps commander was living, like the rest
Of Us,
FROM HAND TO MOUTH.
From the Sd TO the sth of May, while Nc
Clcrnand's Corps lay in the neighborhood of
Willow Springs, the horses, rations, ammuni-
ti0n and other necessaries continued TO arrive.
The ratiOns comprised only coffee, salt and
hard bread. but with these and what could be
gathered the troops could live. On the 9th
Mcrhersons Corps came from Hankinson's s
Ferry, passed McClernand, and encamped near
Rocky Springs. On the Sth Sherman's Corps
arrived, and on the following day the whole
army moved eastward toward Jackson. We of
McClernands Thirteenth) Corps We're lying
in the woods near Willow Springs when Sher-
mans Fiiteenth) Corps passed US on May 6, as
above stated.
MEMORABLE SCENE.
While the corps was passing a scene was en-
lasts Regiment after regiment marched by,
attracting no special attention and eliciting
nothing but the stereotyped question, Say,
bows what regimentp" But finally came the
sth Wis. a. The Live Eagle" regiment, with
"Old Abe" standing proudly on his perch
gazing with piercing eyes upon the marching
battalions. and listening, with hslfaverted
head, 10 the music of bands and the cheers of
the multitude The sight Of the bird of our
country" in real life, who had gone through
several campaigns with his regiment. made
the soldiers vii with enthusiasm. / have
seen "0ld Abe" several times since the war
but never did he impress me as he did on the
9Th OF May, 1868.
Mcpherson Is Corps took the hand road by
way of Raymond; McClernand had the right
while sherman brought up the rear with his
corps divided on both roads watching carefully
toward the left TO guard the ferries Of Black
River. from which Pemberton might emerge
and assail Grants rear.
A CHANGE OF DISPOSITION.
Soon after starting, Grant heard that the
enemy in force was iortifying Edwsrdss Sta
tion, on the Yicksburg & Jackson Railroad six
miles east OF where the railroad crosses the
Big Black. He therefore determined to
change the relative positions of his three corps.
Mcpherson, whose men had done omparatiFely
little fighting, was 10 continue on via Utica to
Raymond and jackson, at which latter place
Joe Johnston was reported to be gathering an
army. McCleTnand was TO cross from the right
20 the left. move directly n0rthward, demon
strating against Edwards's Station and striking
the railroad east Of that point somewhere near
Bolton.
This would cut Pemherton of from re-
enforcing Jackson, where Mcpherson, aided if
necessary, by Sherman, would capture and de-
stroy the railroads and public buildings. and
then return rapidly along the railroad and con-
front Edwards's Station and Ficksburg. From
Hankins0n's Ferry 10 Raymond was 50 miles;
10 jackson was 20 miles further From Bolton
10 Jackson was 20 miles; SO that by this bold
and mastery disposition Grant avoided fight
ing PembertOn on his own ground, divided
PembertOn and Johnston, protected McPher-
son from attack from the west. and above all
kept bis three corps within supporting distance
OF each other, no matter frcm what point they
might be assziied.
On the Oh Mcpherson marched to near Utica
on the road 10 Raymond, and McClernand
marched 20 Five Mill Creek where he came up
with the rear Of 4 rebel force and skirmished
with it itEithout any important result, the enemy
falling back without fight Sherman's Corps
was 70 the right Of Mcllernand, holding the
center OF the advance, with headquarters at
Gayuga, 10 which point Gen. Grant moved on
the 10th be had then il hand $1,000 Of
TIE FINEST TROOPS N THE SERVICE.
They were all veterans, ably commanded con-
fdent IN the ability Of their leader and ready
for anything. The important movements Of
sherman and NciheTsen from the Ilth TO the
10th must be briefly indicated. At 800 Oh the
morning of the 18th I.ogan's Division of the
Seventeenth Corps moved toward Raymond,
followed half an hour later by the division of
trocker. At II O'Clock IN the morning Logan's
leading brigade struck the enemy, 3 600 strong
rnder Gen Gregg two Diles west of Raymond
Ordering the trains ont Of the road L0gan's
re1naining brigade was brought up on trot,
II
1npetuGas fury that before Croker could ar
rive Logan had the enemy routed and fying
with battery, 5udiciously posted. raking the
retTeating column Encouragement lasted only
an hour and a half but Logan s loss vase killed
and 81 wounded. The enemy lost 100 killed,
800 wounded, and zl5 prisoners
nTeneh5DE rain came on that afternoon,
making The roads almost impossible and Nc
Pbers0n pursued Gregg only to Raymond,
where he encamped for the night. The road
70 jackson was now open, and Grant, learning
that Gen Joe Johnston was there expecting
heavy florcemenls from various points de-
termined to 60 there with the corps Of both
Sherman and Mcpherson. In order
TO DECEIVE PEARERroS,
who was in position in heavy force at Edwards's
Station waiting 10 be attacked, Acclcrnand
was directed 20 demonstrate strongly IN that
direction This was done the skirInish line Of
Dsterh2uss Division pushing 20 within two
miles o. E9wards's Station. and developing the
enemy IN forces. Behind this skirmish line
AeCleInaise obccieut TO 0r1erE, marched his
o.her divisions eastward by the flank and
pushed on % Raymond, 50 as 70 keep within
supporting distance OF Sherman and McPber-
son. who gefe hurTying TO complete the defeat
cf Johnston at Jackson Mcpherson struck tho
railroad at Clinton on the 13Eh cut the road
and telegraph, capturing some important Is
pazches golEg over the wires between Johnston
and PeiateEt0n, and then hurried on 10 Jack
son, which place was eaptgfed By the Fifteenth
aud Seventeenth Corps on the Isth. Johnston
led witt the wreck OF his army norfhward
toward Canton. and SheTEnan's Corps was set 10
BorL destroying the railr0ad% the arsenal
bridges, military stores, and everything Of
value to The lcEiCderaey. Resting but one night
Icfherson's two divisions, Logan in the ad-
vance. started back with al speed 10 the sup-
Iort Of Mctlernand, who was now facing west
ward Oh fhe line froIa Raymond north 10 Boil
ton Staten. IOvey's Division of the Thirteenth
Corps was further cast on the Clinton road but
8cPheraon came up with il and both came on
together. reaching Bolton about nightfall On
tho morning Ofthatday 0sterhaus's advance had
captured Bolton Station with number of pris-
oners, one Of whom, a negro, the servant of
brigade commander in PcDberton's army con-
trrned The report that the garrison Of Nicks-
burg was 1T LdEardss Station, marching east
ward
TO ATTACK MccLEREAHD-
Grants rear NcClernand accordingly faced
his line westward. and the rear Of the Federal