the road to Canton. After destroying what they had no use for, disabling the railway, and burning bridges, the Union troops faced westward, and marched near the line of the railway in the direction of Vicksburg.
Meantime Pemberton, after disregarding Johnston's orders to move on Clinton, called a council of war of his officers; the majority of them favored moving as Johnston had directed, which would enable the column, in case of defeat, to connect with Johnston by making a detour to the north from Clinton. But Pemberton was opposed to any movement which would separate him from Vicksburg, which he considered his base, though it was obviously untenable in the then position of the Union army. He advised a movement towards Raymond to sever Grant's communications with his base at Grand Gulf, and was supported by a minority of the officers forming the council. He accordingly directed all his available forces, about 17,500, to move in the direction of Raymond on the afternoon of the 15th.
Under ordinary circumstances the movement was a good one, but Grant had foreseen the possibility of it, and on the 11th he telegraphed to General Halleck that he should communicate with Grand Gulf no more unless it became necessary to send a train with a heavy escort. "You may not hear from me again for several weeks," the despatch concluded, and thus the army had dropped its base and was moving en l'air. Therefore when Pemberton marched on the 15th to sever Grant's communications with Grand Gulf, there were none to sever. On the same day McClernand was ordered to move his corps to Edwards Station and continue the advance till he could feel the enemy, but not to bring on a general engagement unless he was confident of victory. General Blair's division of the 15th corps was moved with McClernand, and the rest of the 15th, together with McPherson's corps, was ordered to join McClernand as rapidly as possible.
