On the fourth Sunday of the last three months of March, April and May, the Drum Barracks Battle Group fought a large battle. It was for the Group's Vicksburg Campaign, and the battle was in the vicinity of Raymond, Miss. With seven divisions (two being very large) and 120 guns, the Confederates attempted to damage the Union army of eight divisions and 108 guns so severely that Major General U.S. Grant would abort his campaign and withdraw to Memphis.
Grant had divided his army into two parts. One part consisting of two divisions, was sent to Jackson, Miss. to disable the town as a supply base. The rest of the army assembled around Raymond to await the Confederate reaction.
It was not long in coming. Lt. Gen. Pemperton, citing ill-health, temporally turned the command of the army over to Maj. Gen. John Bowen. Bowen organized the army into two wings.
First wing was under Maj. Gen. Carter Stephenson, and consisted of three divisions his own, Smith's and Loring's. Second wing contained Bowen's own division, as well Fornev's, from Port Hudson, Gardner, and from the Army of Tennessee, J.P. McCown's division. Both wings crossed the Big Black, and pursued the Federals.
Grant fortified the open ground around Raymond, sent a message to Maj. Gen. J. MacPherson, commanding the Maj. force, to hurry up and return. It looked like the army was about to fight a battle. Bowen had the Union army where he wanted it, with numerical parity, and outgunned. True, the Feds stood on the defensive in front of Raymond, but Bowen planned to demonstrate against one part of the Union army, and deliver a knock-out blow to the other. This was the 13th Corps, consisting of four divisions of two brigades each. Raised from the midwest, by their commander, political individualist Maj. Gen. John McClernand, 13th Corps was distinguished by its poor training, inferior weapons, and mediocre leadership. There could not be a better target for Bowen's decisive thrust. The other Federal Corps was Sherman's 15th, three divisions, of three brigades each.
In reserve there was MacPherson's favorite division. with the best division commander in the Union army in command: Bg. Gen. John (Black Jack) Logan. The rest of 17th Corps was fighting at Jackson.
On the morning of May 17th Bowen's greybacks advanced to the attack., The following is one of Grant's adjutant's description of the battle:
Editor's Note: Rules used are the Drum Barracks "House Rules ". They are grand tactical in scope and use a card draw system to determine movement. They have been described as a cross between "Fire and Fury" and "On to Richmond, " rule sets. while I feel this is oversimplified, it gives an idea of the mechanisms that are used Ed..)
Sirs,
I have prepared this preliminary report of our recent engagement at Raymond, Mississippi by order of General Grant. To wit, our Army (Army of the Tennessee/Mississippi) after successfully turning the Rebel works at Widow's Creek (near Port Gibson) as described in my pervious report, was directed by General Grant to move East to cut the Rebels' line of supply. Ad. Porter's naval force had already successfully interdicted the Rebel supply line West of the Mississippi River. The expected result of this movement would be that the Rebel army would be wholly dependent on the fortress of Vicksburg for its sustenance. This would reduce its scope of maneuver and its ability to draw reinforcements from other parts of the Confederacy. Pursuant to this strategy, Gen. Grant moved the Army to the town of Raymond.
Raymond is a small town that is built on a ridge. A large plain of chaparral, bisected by several streams is to the west of the town, while a large forest of primary and secondary growth covers the flan of the town, north and south. The eastern part of the town is open with more chaparral. If one studies the map of the area, it will be apparent that the woods on north side would cover a movement onto the flank of Raymond, while any attack on the west, or the south of the town would have to cross the plain. On the evening of the 15th of M y the 13th Corps arrived at Raymond, and following his orders, Gen. MacClemand had his men clear brush and began to construct works to cover and protect the town. Gen. Sherman's Corps arrived at noon, the 16th and began foraging for additional supplies, while Logan who was guarding the army's trains arrived shortly after four. The Army's rear guard reported that heavy columns of the enemy were on the move. marching toward Raymond. Gen. Grant realized that he could avoid contact, but that would put Gen. MacPherson's expedition at risk, so he decided to stay at Raymond. It was a fair defensive position, and he believed he outnumbered the enemy. (He was unaware of McCowri and Gardner's divisions.)
Bowen arrived in the vicinity in the afternoon, but did not commence operations till the following morning. During the night the rebels could be seen moving units into position, and thousands of campfires twinkled, reminding one of galaxy of stars. The weather was warm, with a hint of a storm in the air.
Unknown to us, Gen. MacPherson was in battle, and at 6:00 PM had defeated the enemy at Jackson. Gen. Grant had sent messengers to recall the force, and the arrival of a courier at 7:00 PM with tidings of victory was good news. Gen. MacPherson promised to return his unengaged division (MacArthur's) to Grant as soon as possible. Gen. Grant, still under the impression that he outnumbered the Confederate army. thought this reinforcement was enough. He approved Gen. MacPherson's dispositions, and congratulated him warmly on his victory.
During the night Gen. Grant completed his defensive arrangements, preparing for the coming battle.
Gen. Logan's division was placed on the far right of the army's position in the wooded area North of Raymond. On Logan's left, Gen. Carr's division was placed. The purpose of this placement was that when the Rebels attacked the works to the west of the town, Logan and Carr could leave the protection of woods, and fall on the rebels flank. Gen. McClernand disposed his Corps as follows: Carr has already been discussed, Hovey's place was in the works directly west of the town, Osterhaus was in reserve in the town, Smith was next to Hovey connecting with Gen. Sherman's Corps. Sherman s dispositions were: next to Smith was Thalyer, next to him Tuttle, with Blair on the left flank. As this area was w Blair was recessed back 250 yards in the woods. The other brigades of Sherman were in a line 100 yards back in the woods, with three in reserve. In the front of Sherman's tine was a bald hill that commanded the whole area. On this hill was placed over 20 rifled pieces from 15th and 13th Corps' divisional artillery. This "grand battery" was to cause complications for the Confederates later.
Morning of the 17th was hot and humid. We breakfasted at 5:30 AM and were standing to arms by 7:00 AM. At 9:00 AM the first Rebel units could be seen approaching the area covered by Sherman's Corps. By 10:30 AM they, were deploying batteries and commenced to form column of brigades for the attack. Our artillery opened fire, and a spirited counterbattery duel continued for 45 min.
During this time the lead Rebel division Tilghman's (formally Loring's) pushed into the woods against Tuttle's division. Immediately fighting erupted. The fighting for this flank was characterized by grim push and shove, with neither side clearly dominant. Martin Smith's division, who was opposite the bald hill, attempted to capture the artillery position, as his batteries were inferior to ours, and he was exposed in the plain.
His charge was defeated with great loss, and he was forced to retreat. Tuttle having repulsed Tilghman's advance now left the woods but was in turn overthrown by Barton's fresh division. As the remnants of Tuttle's lead brigade retreated into the woods, Barton followed, only to be confronted by Sherman's reserve, Blair. After severe fighting Barton was ejected from the woods, but rallied in a ravine. Blair was too cut up to follow. At this point Smith left his protection of works and advanced with two brigades on Martin Smith. who was attempting to rally. After taking some loss. Smith forced Martin Smith back, capturing 10 cannon whereupon he returned to his works with his prizes. With Gen. Martin Smith wounded. his division fell back to the cover of a small stream. Tilghman likewise soon retreated, his withdrawal covered by Barton. Thus our efforts on this flank met with success.
On the other flank however, things did not go as well. As mentioned before a large tract of woods covered this flank, and was used by Gen. Bowen to approach the town, in cover. His main attack was to fall on 13th Corps. First McCown's small division turned the flank of Logan, and forced him to give ground. Carr's division was forced to confront the Rebel army unaided. As I was in these North Woods, on assignment, I saw that Carr defended his position well. Forney's division assaulted, was repulsed by Carr's steady volleys. Forney reformed and attacked again, and again was repulsed, Gen. Forney being killed. But with Logan no longer covering his flank, Can was now assailed by Green's large division, and driven back with loss. The Confederate army now held the woods and were beginning to invest the town.
Fortunately for us, they paused in order to regroup, allowing Logan and Can to do the same. I returned at this point to Gen. Grant. He expressed concern at the loss of the woods, and ordered Logan to reform at once. He also expressed bewilderment at MacArthur's failure to rejoin the army. He ordered Bush Jr's small cavalry brigade to protect the army's northern flank, and sent an courier to Gen. McClernand to ask for Osterhaus to be committed, Can's division was to take his place in the town.
Before Osterhaus could be put in motion, the Rebel artillery began to bombard the town. With Sherman's front stable, Gen. Grant asked that Smith's division be brought around and support Hovey. As Smith began to move the enemy began his main attack.
At 4:30 PM a large division crossed the stream to the West of town, and formed two brigades into assault columns. a third brigade advanced forward Smith as a flank guard. Gen. Smith led his movement toward n. Hovey, and prepared to repulse this attack by the single brigade
Gen. Green in command of Bowen's division swept out of the woods and overran part of our works on the North side of town. Osterhaus advanced to meet it, but was driven back. Can at last reached the town and rallied there. Hovey's flank was turned by a brigade of Green. and the remnants of McCown's division. It looked like all was lost and the Union army was about to be cut in two. However Gen. Grant's luck. and his refusal to admit defeat, saved us. The flanked brigade, McGuinness, changed front. and charged the astonished Confederates. McCown gave way. but Cockrell's Missourians checked McGuinness, and forced him to retreat. However this attack gave a breathing spell to Hove\ and Carr. Now artillery was quickly redeployed to face the large columns advancing to the west of the city Green's brigade in column of divisions assaulted the town of Raymond, but was halted b\ Carr's division, in vicious street to street fighting.
The large division on the west side, which was now identified as Gardner's from Port Hudson, began his final advance. Artillery batteries on the bald hill, refreshed with new caissons, , opened fire, raking the Rebel Columns. *They fell in disarray, but continued the advance. Ho 's last brigade, fell back from the works, buts artillery played upon the columns causing great casualties. It was during this tam that Gen. Bowen was thrown from his horse. He was knocked senseless and carried off. Command on this part of the field fell to Bg. Gen. Green. He ordered Grill's [Gregg] brigade to flank the eastern side of the town, together they planned to force Carr from the town.
At this point a message from Gen. MacArthur was received and announced his presence on the field. I believe this was 5:20 PM. Gen. Grant ordered him to fall on Grigg's flank, but since MacArthur was too far away to comply at once, he ordered Bush Jr's. cavalry brigade to charge Grigg's brigade at once, in order to slow down his advance. Bush Jr. formed up, and charged, 500 men, 3 regiments against 2,600! First he overthrew Grigg's flank cavalry guard, they ran away in confusion. Grigg ordered his men to refuse flank, which the flank regiment was just commencing to do when Bush dashed among them. The rest of Grigg's fell back to the ridge, leaving the entangled regiment to its fate. Bush, his job done, retired with 200 prisoners, for a loss of 30 men. Gen. Grant watching this achievement said it reminded him of the 2nd Dragoon's charge in Mexico.
Logan now got his revenge against Green's division for his earlier defeat. When Grip fell back, he fronted at right angles to Logan s artillery, still facing the possible cavalry charge. Logan s guns on ridge behind the town, opened, and caused great execution, enfilading the brigade. I saw rebels fall by the two score, until smoke from bursting charges hid all from view.
Gardner's brigades continued to advance during this time. They were badly cut up by artillery fire, and when Gen. Gardner himself was wounded, this was too much for the division. They huddled beneath the works refusing to cross them. Gen. Grant had now formed a new defensive line at the edge of the south woods. They were needed as the Rebs made they final advance of the day.
Forney's reformed division, now under the command of Gen. Hebert, overran the lower portion of works and tried to capture our 24# siege battery. Steady volleys from Osterhaus an Hovey repulsed him.
Gardner's men broke shortly after this, running back to the protection of the stream. Grigg soon followed. With Grigg broken, and Logan and MacArthur turning Green's flank. Green was forced to order a general withdrawal. Gen. MacArthur's men were exhausted and I do not believe they could do much fighting, but their appearance was splendid and I feel helped convince Gen. Green that Gen. Grant's reserves had arrived. With the retirement of Green's division followed by Fomy's, the battle came to an end. On the other wing. Gen. Stephenson begrudgingly withdrew, Barton's division covering the withdrawal. By 6:40 the roar of battle was replaced by pitiful cries of the wounded.
In Gen. Grant's opinion this was a Union victory. Our troops were outnumbered and outclassed, yet held on. The army could have disintegrated when Gardner and Green began their final advance against Raymond, but did not. Most of 13th Corps had never seen combat They were up against the veterans of Stones River and Corinth and yet never wavered. Even Carr who was forced from his position was able to rally and hold the town against Green's advanced troops. Several of the veteran Rebel brigades were sent packing, and no doubt they will not be so confident when we cross swords again. Our losses were about 4,000 killed and wounded. The Rebels' loss was twice as much with the addition of 10 guns captured. Gen. Grant's army stood a strong test and survived, it is inevitable that Vicksburg will fall. As one Confederate prisoner told me, "We had you beaten, yet God wouldn't grant us the victory." I think we all know now whose side God is on in this conflict.
- Respectively Submitted
Lt. Raymond Belknap USV.
(Ray Belknap is a Civil War Scholar and Wine Connoisseur While he was fairly new to miniature gaming, he has caught on to concepts in record time. Perhaps having an extensive background in The War of the Rebellion may have something to do with it. His ancestors fought in MacPherson `s 17th Corps during the Vicksburg Campaign. Ray fought the battle as Maj. Gen. Carr and it was his division's tenacious defense that /tilled Forney and held Raymond.
As wine expert, he is always welcome at our games because he brings such interesting vintages. Editor]
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