Battle of Raymond (1863)

The Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, during the Vicksburg Campaign. Union forces under James B. McPherson defeated John Gregg’s outnumbered Confederates near Fourteen Mile Creek. The victory convinced Ulysses S. Grant to turn toward Jackson, where he defeated Confederate forces two days later and prevented them from reinforcing Vicksburg.

Overview

The Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, during General Ulysses S. Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, which sought to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi. After crossing the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg on April 30, Grant defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Port Gibson (May 1, 1863). He then moved his army northeast toward Jackson, Mississippi, while General James B. McPherson’s 17th Corps advanced toward Raymond.

General John C. Pemberton responded by ordering General John Gregg to move his men from Jackson to Raymond. Gregg’s force arrived on May 11. The next morning, Confederate scouts encountered McPherson’s advance force and incorrectly reported that only 2,500–3,000 Union soldiers were approaching. Believing the forces were about equal, Gregg decided to attack. In reality, McPherson commanded roughly 12,000 soldiers.

Gregg positioned his troops near Fourteen Mile Creek and planned to surprise the Federals as they approached a wooden bridge. At about 10:00 a.m., concealed Confederate infantry opened fire on the approaching Union troops. The attack caused confusion, but General John A. Logan restored order and established a battle line. Gregg then tried to turn McPherson’s right flank.

For more than three hours, the Confederates fought the larger Union force to a stalemate. McPherson eventually placed artillery on a ridge overlooking the battlefield and bombarded Gregg’s positions. As Union reinforcements arrived, the Confederates withdrew across Fourteen Mile Creek. Federal troops pursued them, causing Gregg’s line to break and retreat through Raymond toward Jackson.

The Union victory changed Grant’s strategy. Concerned that Gregg might join forces with Joseph E. Johnston at Jackson, Grant turned east. He defeated Johnston at the Battle of Jackson (May 14, 1863), preventing Confederate forces there from providing assistance to Pemberton during the remainder of the campaign.

Essential Facts

Date: May 12, 1863.
Location: South of Raymond, in Hinds County, Mississippi, near Fourteen Mile Creek.
Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
USA Commanders: James B. McPherson.
CSA Commanders: John Gregg.
Who Won: The United States won the Battle of Raymond.
Campaign: Vicksburg Campaign.
Era: Civil War, January–June, 1863.

Statistics

United States of America

Casualties: 446, including 68 killed, 341 wounded, and 37 captured or missing.
Forces Engaged: 17th Corps, Army of the Tennessee.
Troop Strength: Roughly 12,000.

Confederate States of America

Casualties: 820, including 100 killed, 305 wounded, and 415 captured or missing. The total was disputed because local and state forces also participated.
Forces Engaged: Department of the Mississippi and East Louisiana.
Troop Strength: Roughly 4,400.

Significance

The Battle of Raymond is important to American History because the Union victory changed Ulysses S. Grant’s strategy during the Vicksburg Campaign. After defeating John Gregg’s Confederates, Grant learned that Gregg was retreating toward Jackson, where his troops could join an army Joseph E. Johnston was assembling. Grant recognized that he could be trapped between Confederate forces at Jackson and John C. Pemberton’s army at Vicksburg. Instead of withdrawing, Grant turned east and defeated Johnston at Jackson on May 14, preventing Johnston from providing support to Pemberton during the remainder of the Vicksburg Campaign.

History

Grant Crosses the Mississippi

On April 29, 1863, Major General Ulysses S. Grant launched his spring offensive aimed at capturing Vicksburg, the “Gibraltar of the Mississippi.” With the aid of Admiral Porter’s gunboats, Grant attempted to move Major General John A. McClernand’s 13th Army Corps across the Mississippi River at Grand Gulf, below Vicksburg. When the Confederate resistance proved too formidable, Grant bypassed the Confederate works and moved the crossing nine miles farther down the river. On the morning of April 30, 1863, roughly 23,000 Union soldiers disembarked from barges at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, during the largest amphibious offensive in American history prior to the invasion of Normandy, France, during World War II.

Federals Nearly Unchallenged

Despite the great number of Federals involved, the Confederate forces in the area were still larger. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, the commander of Confederate troops in and around Vicksburg, had roughly 30,000 soldiers at his disposal.

Fortunately for Grant, Pemberton took his orders to defend Vicksburg at all costs literally. Rather than moving forward to stem the Union invasion force at Bruinsburg, where it was most vulnerable, Pemberton kept most of his troops in the garrison at Vicksburg. As a result, the landing went unchallenged. The only Confederates nearby were Major General John S. Bowen’s force of 6,000-8,000 soldiers who had marched to Port Gibson after thwarting Grant’s landing at Grand Gulf the previous day.

Battle of Port Gibson

As the Union forces came ashore, they secured a beachhead and began marching toward Port Gibson, twenty miles to the east. The next day, the Federals defeated Bowen’s outnumbered Confederates at the Battle of Port Gibson (May 1, 1863).

Grant’s Options

After establishing his presence in Mississippi, Grant had three options.

He could move directly north and assault Vicksburg—his primary target. To do so, however, would expose his army to attack from the rear by the roughly 6,000 Confederate forces garrisoned at Jackson, Mississippi, fifty miles to the east of Vicksburg.
Alternatively, Grant could turn and face the Confederates at Jackson, commanded by Brigadier General John Gregg, and then assault Vicksburg.
Finally, Grant could follow his original orders and march his army south to combine with General Nathaniel P. Banks’ Army of the Gulf, capture the river town of Port Hudson, and then return to assault Vicksburg.

Grant Focuses on Jackson

If Grant merged forces with the Army of the Gulf, he would be under Banks’ command because of seniority—a situation that Grant probably did not find appetizing. When Banks informed Grant that he was not ready to assault Port Hudson, Grant focused on Jackson. On May 7, 1863, Grant’s force, which by then had swelled to 45,000 soldiers, began marching northeast toward the state capital in three columns, with each column comprising one corps.

Confederates React

When Grant moved toward Jackson, 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.”

On May 10, 1863, Pemberton ordered Gregg to march his brigade of 3,000 to 4,000 Confederate soldiers from Jackson to Raymond. Gregg’s men arrived in Raymond on the afternoon of May 11 and spent the night preparing for battle the next day.

Grant Advances toward Raymond, Mississippi

On May 7, 1863, Grant’s army of 45,000 soldiers began advancing on Raymond in three columns, with each column comprising one corps. Major General John A. McClernand’s 13th Corps was on the left, closest to the river; Major General William T. Sherman’s 15th Corps was in the middle; Major General James B. McPherson’s 17th Corps was on the right, Hampered by heat and a lack of drinking water, McPherson’s corps advanced slower than the other two columns and was still nine miles south of Raymond by the end of the day on May 11.

Confederates Move to Raymond

Meanwhile, Pemberton ordered Brigadier General John Gregg to march a brigade of 3,000 to 4,000 Confederate soldiers from Jackson to Raymond. Gregg’s men arrived in Raymond on the afternoon of May 11, and they spent the night preparing for battle the next day.

Gregg Receives Poor Intelligence Report

At Grant’s urging, McPherson resumed his advance toward Raymond before dawn on the morning of May 12. Confederate scouts encountered McPherson’s lead cavalry force early in the morning and, after exchanging fire, returned to Raymond and erroneously reported to Gregg that a federal brigade of about 2,500 to 3,000 soldiers was moving toward the town. Believing that the odds were fairly even, Gregg decided to stand and fight. Unfortunately for Gregg, his scouts had seen only the lead brigade of McPherson’s corps. Unbeknownst to Gregg, he was about to send his brigade into battle against an entire Union corps numbering 12,000 Union soldiers.

Gregg’s Surprise Attack

Gregg decided to surprise the Federals as they approached a wooden bridge over Fourteen Mile Creek. At 10:00 a.m., as the head of McPherson’s column approached the creek across open fields, Confederate infantrymen, concealed by trees along the stream, delivered a deadly volley. The ambush incited some panic among the Timeline

1861 — President Abraham Lincoln pressured Union commanders in the West to invade the South.
1862, February 16 — Ulysses S. Grant received promotion to Major General after his victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson.
1862, May 18 — Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans, cutting off a major Confederate connection to the Gulf of Mexico.
1862, June — Union forces captured Memphis, Tennessee, strengthening Federal control of the Mississippi River.
1862, July — President Abraham Lincoln called Henry Halleck to Washington, leaving Ulysses S. Grant in charge of operations in the Western Theater.
1862, December — Grant divided the Army of the Tennessee and launched his first attempt to capture Vicksburg.
1862, May 18 — Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans, cutting off a major Confederate connection to the Gulf of Mexico.
1862, June — Union forces captured Memphis, Tennessee, strengthening Federal control of the Mississippi River.
1862, December 26–29 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.
1963, January 9–11 — Union forces won the Battle of Arkansas Post.
1863, March 11–18 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Fort Pemberton.
1863, March 29 — Grant ordered his troops to construct bridges and roads and drain bayous along the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River.
1863, April — Grant’s men completed a route through Louisiana that allowed the Army of the Tennessee to move south of Vicksburg.
1863, April 16 — David Dixon Porter led seven gunboats and three supply vessels past the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg.
1863, April 22 — Six additional Union vessels passed Vicksburg.
1863, April 29 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Grand Gulf.
1863, April 30 — Roughly 23,000 Union soldiers crossed the Mississippi River and landed at Bruinsburg.
1863, May 1 — Union forces won the Battle of Port Gibson.
1863, May 7 — Grant’s army of roughly 45,000 soldiers moved northeast toward Jackson in three columns.
1863, May 10 — John C. Pemberton ordered John Gregg to move his Confederate brigade from Jackson to Raymond.
1863, May 11 — Gregg’s troops arrived at Raymond and prepared for battle, while McPherson’s corps remained about nine miles south of the town.
1863, May 12
- Confederate scouts incorrectly reported that only one Union brigade was approaching Raymond, leading Gregg to stand and fight.
- Gregg’s troops surprised McPherson’s advancing Federals near Fourteen Mile Creek.
- Union artillery and reinforcements broke the stalemate and forced Gregg’s Confederates to retreat through Raymond toward Jackson.
1863, May 14 — Grant defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Jackson and drove Joseph E. Johnston away from the Mississippi capital.

AP US History

Definition

Battle of Raymond (1863) — The Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, during the Vicksburg Campaign and resulted in a Union victory. Confederate commander John Gregg mistakenly believed he faced only one Union brigade and attacked James B. McPherson’s much larger 17th Corps near Fourteen Mile Creek. The Confederates initially surprised the Federals and fought them to a stalemate, but Union artillery and reinforcements forced Gregg to retreat. The victory persuaded Ulysses S. Grant to turn toward Jackson and attack Joseph E. Johnston’s forces before continuing toward Vicksburg.

Alignment

The Battle of Raymond is part of the following AP US History sections:

Furnace of Civil War (1865–1865), but Major General John A. Logan restored order and formed a battle line, buying time for reinforcements to arrive.

When the Federals stalled in front of the bridge, Gregg launched an attack across the creek, intending to turn McPherson’s right flank. The maneuver might have worked if the Confederates faced a Union brigade, but Gregg soon discovered that he had engaged an entire corps.

Confederates Retreat After McPherson’s Artillery Ends Stalemate

For over three hours, the outnumbered Confederates fought the Federals to a stalemate. McPherson ended the impasse by positioning his artillery on a ridge overlooking the battlefield and bombarding the Confederates. The Confederate assault faltered by early afternoon. As Union reinforcements arrived, they forced the Confederates to retreat across the creek. When the Federals pursued, the Confederate line broke, and the Confederates retreated through Raymond toward Jackson.

Outcome of the Battle

The official casualty count for the Confederacy was 569 men killed, wounded, and captured, but the actual total is unclear because some casualties were local citizens and state troops that took part in the battle. The Union suffered a little over 400 casualties.

Although the casualty numbers were not high by Civil War standards, the Battle of Raymond was significant because it altered Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign strategy. When Grant learned that Gregg was falling back to Jackson, where he might buttress an army that Confederate General Joseph Johnston was hastily trying to assemble, the Union commander realized that he risked being caught between two Confederate armies if he continued with his original plan.

A more cautious general might have withdrawn, but Grant boldly turned his back to Pemberton’s army in Vicksburg and attacked Johnston at the Mississippi capital. Grant’s victory at Jackson on May 14, 1863, drove Johnston away and deprived Pemberton of any hope for relief during the rest of the Vicksburg Campaign.

Timeline

1861 — President Abraham Lincoln pressured Union commanders in the West to invade the South.
1862, February 16 — Ulysses S. Grant received promotion to Major General after his victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson.
1862, May 18 — Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans, cutting off a major Confederate connection to the Gulf of Mexico.
1862, June — Union forces captured Memphis, Tennessee, strengthening Federal control of the Mississippi River.
1862, July — President Abraham Lincoln called Henry Halleck to Washington, leaving Ulysses S. Grant in charge of operations in the Western Theater.
1862, December — Grant divided the Army of the Tennessee and launched his first attempt to capture Vicksburg.
1862, May 18 — Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans, cutting off a major Confederate connection to the Gulf of Mexico.
1862, June — Union forces captured Memphis, Tennessee, strengthening Federal control of the Mississippi River.
1862, December 26–29 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.
1963, January 9–11 — Union forces won the Battle of Arkansas Post.
1863, March 11–18 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Fort Pemberton.
1863, March 29 — Grant ordered his troops to construct bridges and roads and drain bayous along the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River.
1863, April — Grant’s men completed a route through Louisiana that allowed the Army of the Tennessee to move south of Vicksburg.
1863, April 16 — David Dixon Porter led seven gunboats and three supply vessels past the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg.
1863, April 22 — Six additional Union vessels passed Vicksburg.
1863, April 29 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Grand Gulf.
1863, April 30 — Roughly 23,000 Union soldiers crossed the Mississippi River and landed at Bruinsburg.
1863, May 1 — Union forces won the Battle of Port Gibson.
1863, May 7 — Grant’s army of roughly 45,000 soldiers moved northeast toward Jackson in three columns.
1863, May 10 — John C. Pemberton ordered John Gregg to move his Confederate brigade from Jackson to Raymond.
1863, May 11 — Gregg’s troops arrived at Raymond and prepared for battle, while McPherson’s corps remained about nine miles south of the town.
1863, May 12
- Confederate scouts incorrectly reported that only one Union brigade was approaching Raymond, leading Gregg to stand and fight.
- Gregg’s troops surprised McPherson’s advancing Federals near Fourteen Mile Creek.
- Union artillery and reinforcements broke the stalemate and forced Gregg’s Confederates to retreat through Raymond toward Jackson.
1863, May 14 — Grant defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Jackson and drove Joseph E. Johnston away from the Mississippi capital.

AP US History

Definition

Alignment

The Battle of Raymond is part of the following AP US History sections:

Furnace of Civil War (1865–1865)

Written by Harry Searles