Battle of Jackson

Battle of Jackson
Part of the American Civil War
Union soldiers attacking at Jackson
Date May 14, 1863 (1863-05-14) Location Jackson, Mississippi 32°17′15″N 90°12′00″W / 32.28750°N 90.20000°W / 32.28750; -90.20000 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Ulysses S. Grant James B. McPherson William T. Sherman	Joseph E. Johnston John Gregg
Units involved
XV Corps XVII Corps	Jackson Garrison
Casualties and losses
286–332	c. 200–850
Jackson class=notpageimage| Location within Mississippi

The Battle of Jackson was fought on May 14, 1863, in Jackson, Mississippi, as part of the Vicksburg campaign during the American Civil War. After entering the state of Mississippi in late April 1863, Major General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army moved his force inland to strike at the strategic Mississippi River town of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Battle of Raymond, which was fought on May 12, convinced Grant that General Joseph E. Johnston's Confederate army was too strong to be safely bypassed, so he sent two corps, under major generals James B. McPherson and William T. Sherman, to capture Johnston's position at Jackson. Johnston did not believe the city was defensible and began withdrawing. Brigadier General John Gregg was tasked with commanding the Confederate rear guard, which fought Sherman's and McPherson's men at Jackson on May 14 before withdrawing. After taking the city, Union troops destroyed economic and military infrastructure and also plundered civilians' homes. Grant then moved against Vicksburg, which he placed under siege on May 18 and captured on July 4. Despite being reinforced, Johnston made only a weak effort to save the Vicksburg garrison, and was driven out of Jackson a second time in mid-July.