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Sherman left Vicksburg with 20,000 troops and with a wagon train so small it would have been an open invitation to disaster only a year before. But Sherman had learned to live off the country during the march on Vicksburg, and this time, moving east, his train carried nothing but ammunition, hardtack, salt, and coffee.
Opposing him was Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk, former Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, whose headquarters were at Meridian. Polk had taken command of Gen. Johnston?s Dept, of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, when the latter was given responsibility for Confederate operations in northern Georgia and command of the Army of Tennessee. Southern forces at Polk?s command numbered roughly 14,000 effectives, with Loring?s division of 6,000 representing the largest organized unit.
The moment Polk?s scouts and spies learned of Sherman?s move, Baxter?s relatively comfortable routine in the Canton winter quarters was suddenly ended. Loring?s division was ordered nearer Polk?s headquarters at Meridian and preparations for the move got under way. A good description of the operation is contained in a letter written to his cousin by Maj. Rorer of the 20th Mississippi. Rorer writes from Canton on February 4: "We are in a sad state of confusion in our camp today. We are just breaking up our winter quarters. Last night we received orders to pack up and send off all heavy baggage . . . Sitting in my comfortable cabin tonight and listening to the terrible storm of wind that is raging without, it makes me shiver to think of the exposure that it seems must now follow."
Sherman?s troops entered Jackson on February 5, after what Sherman later described as "18 miles of constant skirmishing." Pvt. Baxter, it seems, was fighting in the thick of a continuing rearguard action as the Federals pressed on toward Meridian and Polk?s forces continued a slow retreat to the east. Maj. Rorer writes of the effective use of the 20th Mississippi Regiment posted as rear guard during the retreat. Skirmishing was almost constant, but no pitched engagements developed. Sherman appears to have been more interested in destroying Meridian and its railroads than in engaging Polk?s forces. Polk, on the other
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