leftyhunter
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Location
- los angeles ca
Interesting that Pemberon tried to salvage his reputation.As I continue to try and understand the events leading to the fall of Vicksburg, I ran across this, in the book I am currently reading. I think it sums up the importance of Grierson's activities nicely.
"Grant created two major diversions to continue befuddling Pemberton once the transports had run the batteries. He kept Sherman in place in front of Hayne's Bluff; even though the Union General had now discounted a frontal assault, his counterpart, Pemberton, could not. More importantly, he sent an obscure cavalry colonel, Benjamin Greirson, on a raid that set up the entire forthcoming campaign.
Grierson's orders were to prey on the railroad system in Mississippi and disrupt Pemberton's communications. A successful raid would also tie up vital forces in the interior of the state. Pemberton would argue after the fact that Johnston's stripping his department of cavalry forced him to react to Grierson's raid by deploying infantry, which hampered his ability to concentrate forces once Grant crossed the Mississippi.
Geierson left La Grange, Tennessee, on April 17, the day after the transports ran the batteries at Vicksburg. He commanded 1,700 men in his attacking column. At best, 1,500 Confederate troopers were available to contest his advance. Four-days into the raid and some 70 miles south of La Grange, Grierson used the 2nd Iowa Cavalry to create a diversion that would spring him deeper into the heart of Mississippi. The 2nd Iowa moved to the east, drew off pursuit, and worked its way north towards the Tennessee border.
The 2nd Iowa's efforts were a success, and the regiment retreated back to La Grange, arriving there on April 26. The chase to La Grange did the task intended, drawing off most of the Confederate cavalry in the area.
Grierson continued to ride south after the Iowa detachment left on April 21. The next day saw another flurry of activity from Pemberton. who was trying to manage the entire state of Mississippi. Keep an eye on Grant, and deal with Grierson from his headquarters in Jackson. He dispatched Loring to Meridian and complained to Johnston that his lack of cavalry was hampering his ability to react to Grierson's raid. And, more ominously, a dispatch from Brigadier General John Bowen commanding at Grand Gulf, warned that the Federal fleet had anchored at Judge Perkins'.
On April 24, Grierson struck the Southern Mississippi Railroad at Newton Station some 40 miles east of Jackson. The Southern Mississippi was the east-west rail line connecting Vicksburg and Jackson with points east. Railroad track was ripped up, and several locomotives and supply trains destroyed; Grierson continued on. At one point, he swung within 30 miles of Grand Gulf before moving south in a desperate run for the Union Lines at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He arrived there safely on May 2, having kept Pemberton's attention focused on the interior of the state of Mississippi. Grierson later claimed to have kept as many as 20,000 troopers tied up during his raid."
I'd say Grierson's raid had a major impact on the events taking place at Vicksburg, and most importantly, diverted Pemberton's attention and resources at the time Grant and Porter were making their historically successful run down the Mississippi past the defenses of the intimidating batteries of Vicksburg to land at Grand Gulf.
Source: Compelled to Appear in Print, The Vicksburg Manuscript of General John C. Pemberton
Pages 34 and 35.
An excellent gift from a good friend
General Pemberton was,trully the "Rodney Dangerfield of Confederate General's ".
Leftyhunter