The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-10-12

your utmost exertions to secure all the
subsistence stores that may be there.
| as we'll az In the vicinity. We must
fight the enemy before our rations fail,
and we are equally bound to make our
| rations last as long as possible. Upon
one occasion you made two days ra-
tions last seven. We may have to do
the same thing again. I look to you
your Division and Brigade Command
ers and through them upon the troops.
zone train of wagons Is now ar
irving, and another will come with
Blair, but withal there remains the
necessity Of economy in the use of the
rations we have and activity in getting
others from the country.
sherman is now moving out on the
Auburn and Raymond road. and will
reach Fourteen Mile Creek tonight.
When you arrive at Raymond he will
be in close supporting distance.
II shall move McClernand to Four
teen Mile Creek early tomorrow. so
that he will occupy a place on Sher-
| mans left. / will either see you my
self tomorrow at Raymond Or send you
further instructions to that place.
~. S. Grant"
Pemberton made another of his err
rors in sending Gregg with a brigade
to Raymond to cover Jackson and
strike Grant in the flank and rear when
he dItdChed StdtlOH. olneT
troops were sent to Gregg until he had
some 5000 men. Mcpherson moved
promptly at 4 o'clock on the morning
of May IL, with Logan's Division in the
lead and Crocker's following. Gen.
Gregg had taken up a strong position
Creek, which had now about two and
half feet of water in it. with steep
banks on the sides and the ravine
heavily wooded with dense under
growth. The enemy's pickets were
soon encountered, and about o'clock
considerable bodies of the enemy ap-
peared on the road to dispute the adj
vance. Logan formed Dennis's Bril-
gade across the road with the other
two brigades marching in support.
while Mcpherson went with the only
cavalry regiment to reconnoter the
country on the TANKS. About IL o'clock
Logan came in sight of Gregg's posi-
ton, and discovered that he had two
batteries SO posted as to enfilade the
road and the bridge.
Logans Second Brigade, which he
had placed across the road, was COM
manded by Brighten. Elias S. Dennis,
who had recently been assigned to It,
and consisted of the goth Ill. and the
goth, 68th and 18th Ohio. For the bat
tie Logan formed on the right of Den
mis- his First Brigade, commanded by
Brig Gen. John T.. Smith, who had sue
ceeded Brig.-Gen. /. N. Haynie. 1t con-
sisted of the goth, 31st, 45th and 124th
I'll. and the 23d Ind. Battery II, 1st
Mich. L. A., commanded by Capt. Sam
uel DeGolyer, took up it's position on
the road to engage the rebel battery
which commanded the bridge and the
road. Brighten. Stevensons Brigade
the 8th and S1st ILL.,, 7th Mo. and
32d Ohio. was deployed on the right of
Smith. The line advanced and gained
n q of on
the creek bank within range of the en-
envy, where a sharp fight opened, last
ing two or three hours, with the line
gradually working forward until in
the afternoon Crocker's leading brigade
arrived on the field and deployed to the
left in support of Dennis. This struck
the enemy's flank and Gregg had to
give way and retire, which he did in
good order and was pursued by Logan
through Raymond to some distance be-
yond the town, where night stopped
further advance. Logan lost 65 killed,
335 wounded and 80 missing out of his
division, total Of 432. Crocker's Bri-
gade lost but two men. Gregg report
ed his loss as 73 killed. 229 wounded
and 2O4 missing, total of sos, which
speaks we'll for the superiority of the
fire Of the Union troops, inasmuch as
the Confederates had greatly the adj
vantage Of position.
McPhefsOn Cuts the Railroad.
The sharpness of the fight induced
Grant to modify his plans somewhat,
and instead Of advancing directly upon
Jackson he ordered Mcpherson to turn
north and cut the railroad at Clinton,
SO as to make sure of no interference
by Pemberton. He therefore sent out
orders to Sherman to move to Ray
mond and thence by Mississippi Springs
directly upon Jackson, while McCler-
nand was to follow with three divisions
and send his Fourth Division back to
Auburn to guard the trains and to oc-
cupy Pemberton's mind and keep him
at Edwards Station.
After cutting the railroad at Clinton
Mcpherson was to turn eastward and
join with Sherman i'm the attack upon
Jackson.
On the morning of the 18th McPher-
son pushed forward briskly. as was his
wont. reached Clinton about O'clock
tore up the railroad and captured i'm
portant messages and letters giving val
liable information as to Pemberton's
movements and dispositions and that