The Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, near Raymond, Mississippi, during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. After unsuccessful attempts to capture the strategic Mississippi River city of Vicksburg, Major General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army led another attempt, beginning in late April 1863. After crossing the river into Mississippi and winning the Battle of Port Gibson, Grant began moving east, with the intention of later turning west and attacking Vicksburg. As part of this movement, Major General James B. McPherson's 10,000 to 12,000-man XVII Corps moved towards Raymond. The Confederate commander of Vicksburg, Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton ordered Brigadier General John Gregg and his 3,000 to 4,000-strong brigade from Jackson to Raymond.