Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/67

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ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 41 numbering about 52,000 men; the other by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at Jackson, 50 miles east of Vicksburg, who was being rapidly re-enforced. Gen. Sherman had been ordered to make a demon stration against Haines s Bluff, to compel the enemy to detach troops for its defence and with hold them from Grant s front; and this feint was successfully executed, April 30 and May 1, when Sherman received orders to retire and join the main army. Grant determined to move with celerity, place his force between the two armies of the enemy, and defeat them in detail before they could unite against him. He cut loose from his base, and ordered that the three days rations issued to the men should be made to last five days. Sherman s command reached Grand Gulf on the 6th. On the 12th, Grant s advance, near Raymond, encountered the enemy approaching from Jackson, and de feated and drove him from the field with a loss of 100 killed, 305 wounded, 415 prisoners, and 2 guns. Grant s loss was 66 killed, 339 wounded, and 37 missing. He pushed on to Jackson, and captured it on the 14th, with a loss of 42 killed, and 251 wounded and missing. The enemy lost 845 in killed, wounded, and missing, and 17 guns. Grant now moved rapidly toward Vicksburg, and attacked Pemberton in a strong position at Cham pion Hill. After a hotly contested battle, the enemy was completely routed, with a loss of be-