Battle of Jackson Facts

May 14, 1863

Key facts about the Battle of Jackson.

Portrait of Ulysses S. Grant

Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s victory at the Battle of Jackson paved the way for subsequent victories at the Battle of Champion Hill, the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, and the surrender of Vicksburg following a prolonged siege. [Wikimedia Commons]

Date and Location

  • May 14, 1863
  • Hinds County and Jackson County

Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union Forces Engaged

  • Army of the Tennessee (15th and 17th Corps)

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Jackson Garrison

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • 28,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • 6,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 300 (42 killed, 251 wounded, and 7 missing).

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 845 (killed, wounded, and missing).

Result

  • Union victory

Significance

  • On May 7, 1863, Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s force, which by then had swelled to 45,000 soldiers, began marching northeast toward Jackson, Mississippi in three columns, with each column consisting of one corps.
  • On May 9, 1863, Confederate Secretary of War, James A. Seddon, telegraphed General Joseph E. Johnston, commander of the Department of the West, to “Proceed at once to Mississippi and take chief command of the forces, giving to those in the field, as far as practicable, the encouragement and benefit of your personal direction.”
  • May 12, 1863, Union Major General James B. McPherson’s 17th Corps defeated Confederate Brigadier General John Gregg’s brigade at the Battle of Raymond.
  • On May 13, 1863, General Joseph E. Johnston ordered the evacuation of Jackson, Mississippi.
  • Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston charged Brigadier General John Gregg’s brigade with delaying approaching Union forces during the evacuation of Jackson, Mississippi.
  • After being delayed by a morning cloudburst on May 14, 1863, Major General James B. McPherson’s 17th Army Corps easily overpowered 900 Confederate soldiers attempting to impede their march toward Jackson, Mississippi.
  • On May 14, 1863, 1,000 Confederate soldiers temporarily impeded the progress of Major General William T. Sherman’s 15th Army Corps along Lynch Creek, as it moved toward Jackson, Mississippi..
  • On May 14, 1863, General Joseph E. Johnston successfully evacuated his forces from Jackson, Mississippi.
  • On May 14, 1863, Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee occupied Jackson, Mississippi.
  • After occupying Jackson, Mississippi on May 14, 1863, Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee destroyed anything that might be of use to the Confederacy before departing on May 16.
  • The Union victory at the Battle of Jackson paved the way for subsequent victories at the Battle of Champion Hill (May 16, 1863), the Battle of Big Black River Bridge (May 17, 1863), and the surrender of Vicksburg (July 4, 1863) following a prolonged siege.

Timeline of the Vicksburg Campaign

These are the main battles and events of the Vicksburg Campaign in order.