Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

In these operations, McPherson had occupied nearly three hours; and Sherman, meanwhile, advancing on the Mississippi Springs road, had forced a rebel battery from its position, where it commanded the road, as well as a bridge and stream over which he was obliged to pass. A determined advance of his skirmishers soon drove the small infantry force in his front into a skirt of woods, in front of the intrenchments at Jackson. Tuttle's division followed, and the enemy took refuge behind his rifle-pits, not attempting to destroy the bridge. The Fifteenth corps at once emerged from the woods, and occupied the ground beyond the stream, and of both sides of the road. In front, and as far to the left as could be seen, appeared a line of intrenchments; and the enemy kept up a brisk fire of artillery from the points enfilading Sherman's road.

Grant had been with Sherman all the morning, and finding the obstacles important, he now ordered that commander to send a force to the extreme right, as far as the Pearl river, and reconnoitre the flanks of this line of entrenchments. The party not returning promptly, and Sherman being still detained, Grant rode to the right himself, escorted only by his staff, and found a clear road into Jackson. The enemy had evacuated the town, and Grant, with his party of about a dozen officers, was the first to enter the works. His son, a lad of thirteen years, accompanied him on this campaign, and as they rode up to the limits of the town, the boy spurred on his horse, and galloped, ahead of the army, into the capital of Mis-