Speaking of irrefutable problems with the Bearss story ... Bearss infers that the federal troops at Raymond were feeling lucky just to come away with a win, and failed to follow up the victory with a pursuit of any kind.

A few problems with this story. The first is in the O.R. where Wirt Adams reports showing up at the tail end of the battle with 800 cavalrymen and, together with 300 mounted infantry from Walker's brigade (McPherson had 200 cavalry with him at the time), providing cover for Gregg's retreating forces. Wirt Adams' report mysteriously escapes mention in any of the Battle of Raymond tellings.

The next is a passage actually quoted by Bearss, Winschel, Ballard, Grabau, Hills, etc. that shows the Confederates retreating in disarray through the city of Raymond (over fences and through yards), too harried to stop and eat the dinner set out for them by the ladies of Raymond. This doesn't support the story told by the usual suspects, of Gregg marching his men through town and bivouacing on Snake Creek within earshot of town. In fact, despite having endured a 20 mile forced march the night before followed by an early-morning mobilization and a fight in blistering heat that lasted most of a day, the Confederates retreated to Mississippi Springs, 7 miles from the battlefield, in just a couple of hours.

This wasn't a retreat. This was a full-scale bugout that left Gregg's brigade too battle-weary to contribute effectively in the looming battle for McPherson's primary target: the Mississippi capital.