"William Wirt Adams rose before dawn – if he had slept at all – and peered over the small valley cradling Baker's Creek. Before the war, he had battled Natives and dabbled in politics, finding his knack in both. As the states were seceding, he became instrumental in wresting Louisiana from the Union. President Davis had offered him a position in his Cabinet, but Adams declined, opting instead to raise a regiment of his own. That was three years ago, and now here they were, a full brigade, but far too small to hold off 25,000 Yankees under William Tecumseh Sherman, slashing and burning their way east from Vicksburg.
Baker's Creek, a small tributary to the Big Black River, wound its way west, crossing the road to Jackson and the parallel railroad just north several times before passing through the blighted scene of Champion's Hill. Where it crossed the Jackson Road east of Bolton, there was a bridge. Adams had wanted to destroy the bridge the previous evening, but was driven hard by Northern cavalry and it was impossible. By dark, the Federals held it and all he could do through the night was silently watch as thousands of campfires flickered beyond the flow.
Able to see the bridge in the pre-dawn, Adams ordered an artillery captain to train his rifled pieces on the span. He placed two dismounted regiments on either side to contest the crossing. The remaining two units were held in reserve, one mounted, the other not…"
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Amicalement
Armand
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