| Thick clouds of smoke and dust obscured the field and neither commander accurately
assessed the size of the force in his front. Gregg enjoyed initial success, but as
successive Confederate regiments attacked across the creek en echelon to the left,
resistance stiffened and it became clear that a much larger Federal force was on the
field. By early afternoon, the Confederate attack was checked and Union forces
counterattacked. Union brigades continued to arrive on the field and deploy in line of
battle on either side of the Utica road. In piecemeal fashion, McPherson's men pushed
forward at 1:30 p.m. and drove the Confederates back across Fourteenmile Creek. The
fighting which ensued was of the most confused nature for neither commander knew where
their units were or what they were doing.
Union strength of numbers, however, prevailed. The Confederate right flank along the
Utica road broke under renewed pressure, and Gregg had no alternative but to retire from
the field. His regiments retreated through Raymond and out the Jackson road bivouacking
for the night near Snake Creek. There was no Federal pursuit as McPherson's troops bedded
down for the night in and around the town.
The fight at Raymond cost Gregg 73 killed, 252 wounded, and 190 missing,
most of whom were from the 3rd Tennessee and the 7th Texas. McPherson's losses totaled 446 of whom 68 were
killed, 341 wounded, and 37 missing.
Map-Battle of Raymond, Vicksburg Campaign 105k, Large Format
Map-Battle of Raymond, Confederate Attack, 1200 hours 98k,
Map-Battle of Raymond, Union Counterattack, 1330 hours 104k, Large Format
Confederate Monument and Cemetery at Raymond, MS
|
