Raymond Battlefield, part 1

  Following several failed attampts to attack Vicksburg, General Grant hit upon the idea of marching his army past Vicksburg on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River.  After crossing the river below Port Gibson and several fierce battle against small Confederate forces Grant's army was moving to the east of Vicksburg.  Grant had sent Maj. Gen. James McPherson and his troops on the Utica -- Raymond Road toward Jackson while the rest of his force moved north, west of Bolton and Edwards.
   Confederate  Brig. Gen. John Gregg had arrived in Raymond on May 11, 1863 with orders from  Pemberton to contain the right flank of the Union army and determine where it was heading.  Gregg devised a good plan of attack that probably would have worked if the Confederates had outnumbered the Union forces, as Gregg was led to believe.  He thought he was facing about 1600 troops rather than a Corps under Maj. Gen. McPherson.
   After a fierce all-day battle, Gregg was forced to withdraw to Jackson.  Although the Confederates lost the battle, it caused Grant to change his plans and move toward Jackson before attacking Vicksburg.  Grant concluded that he was facing two armies.  One in Jackson under the direction of Joseph Johnston and the other in Vicksburg, commanded by Pemberton.
   Efforts are continuing in Raymond today to preserve the battlefield.  A short walking trail has been constructed with interpretive signs at key locations.  Because the battle occurred in a rural area, much of the battlefield still looks much like it did on May 12, 1863.  And the preservation group, Friends of Raymond, have recently added another 66 acres of the original battlefield and are working to include this in the tour area.

The park is located a few hundred yards off Highway 18, south of Raymond, Mississippi.  Highway 18 actually runs through the orginal battlefield.

Gregg's Battle Plan

(Photo was taken from the interpretive sign at the entrance to the park)

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   A view of the battlefield look south toward Fourteen Mile Creek.  The creek is located in the tree-line in the distace.  The Confederates charged across this field led by the 7th Texas and 3rd Tennessee.

   A rebuilt carriage and smoothbore replica cannon guards the bridge of the old Utica Road today.
   An illustration by artist-journalist Theodore Davis is featured on the interpretive sign at this location.  The engraved illustration was published in Harper's Weekly newspaper, and shows the same view toward the bridge as we see today.  Of course, the bridge has been rebuilt since the battle and now sports more concrete than wood.
   The interpretive sign seen in the left center is where another cannon was placed.  In all, six guns of the 8th Michigan wer "unlimbered" and "went into battery."  Confederate artillery was shelling the Union column and DeGloyer's Battery opened fire on the confederate battery about a thousand yards to the north.