CLOSING ON JACKSON

On this day, the 16th Ohio resumed its march at 5:00am. The rebels appeared to have withdrawn. Cpl. Wolbach, Company E, tells us:

It was surprising how quickly the earth dried and the roads became dusty after the heavy rains. The enemy had done many things to render our progress uncomfortable. They had driven off stock, destroyed forage, set fire to the fences along the road. These things combined with the scorching sun overhead, and thick dust kicked up by the many feet, made marching disagreeable and suffocating beyond the power of words to describe. Near a large tract of timber that extended a long distance to right and left, in our front, we paused. Near the edge of the timber was a pond of stagnant water. Of this some of the boys drank. While here we were greeted by a shell that came over the tops of the trees from beyond the woods. Two companies of the 16th were deployed and sent forward. Passing cautiously and steadily through to the farther edge of the dense woods, they came into a small field of scrubby corn on the left of the road. A hundred yards ahead was an open grove of dwarf oaks. Where the road struck them mounted men were seen moving about lively. Presently several shots were fired by these, at some object in the road, then galloped away. A nearer approach disclosed a young man in Federal uniform, mortally wounded and dying. He proved to be a German and an orderly belonging to Osterhaus' staff. Had been captured the day before by the rebel cavalry and was shot while attempting to escape when he saw the Federal skirmishers emerging from the woods. He had a captain's commission in his pocket but had not yet been mustered as such.

Reports indicate that Osterhaus' Ninth Division, including the 16th Ohio, marched through Clinton and to within four miles of Jackson, Mississippi. For the purposes of adjusting the webauthor's calculations, we will put the march at eight miles.

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Period map showing the approximate campsite of the 16th Ohio west of Jackson, Mississippi, July 9, 1863:

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Modern day map of the 16th Ohio's march eastward through Clinton and to within four miles of Jackson, Mississippi, on July 9, 1863

Blue pin - approximate position of 16th Ohio with Gen. Osterhaus' Ninth Division from June 24 to July 6, 1863, while guarding Grant's siege at Vicksburg from attack by Confederate General Joe Johnston.
Red pin - approximate campsite of 16th Ohio the night of July 6, 1863, after marching east from Bovina Station.
Green pin - Near Bolton Station, Mississippi, approximate campsite of 16th Ohio the night of July 7, 1863, after marching east from Edwards Depot.
Yellow pin - a point about four miles past Bolton, Mississippi, where the 16th Ohio camped the night of July 8, 1863.
Purple pin - a point about four miles east of Jackson, Mississippi, where the 16th Ohio camped the night of July 9, 1863.