Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 291 of our Civil War Podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

As you guys were recall, when we left off last time, it was the night of May 15th, 1863,

and the stage was set for what will turn out to be the climactic battle of the Vicksburg

campaign at Champion Hill.

As the first streaks of dawn appeared in the eastern sky on the morning of Saturday,

May 16th, a train on the southern railroad traveling east from Vicksburg to Jackson was

stopped by Union soldiers in Clinton.

Since Pemberton knew Clinton was an enemy hands, it's a bit of a mystery why exactly he

would have permitted an eastbound train to pass Edward Station.

But at any rate, at any rate, the crew of the captured train was escorted to Grance

headquarters and upon being questioned, they said that a rebel army of about 25,000

men was at Edward Station and ready to attack the federal rear.

This of course was actually a remarkably accurate assessment of Confederate strength and

intentions.

Well, Grant was happy as a dog rolling in the grass at this news because it meant that

for the first time in the long campaign, Pemberton was out in the open.

This was the opportunity Grant had been waiting for since the previous fall when he first

marched down into northern Mississippi.

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