general sherman appointed brig. gen. joseph a. mower to the position of military governor of jackson and ordered him to destroy all facilities that could benefit the war effort. with the discovery of a large supply of rum, it was impossible for mower's brigade to keep order among the mass of soldiers and camp followers, and many acts of pillage took place. grant left jackson on the afternoon of may 15 and proceeded to clinton, mississippi. on the morning of may 16 he sent orders for sherman to move out of jackson as soon as the destruction was complete. sherman marched almost immediately, clearing the city by 10 a.m.. by nightfall on may 16, sherman's corps reached bolton, mississippi, and the confederacy had reoccupied what remained of jackson. jackson had been destroyed as a transportation center and the war industries were crushed. but more importantly the confederate concentration of men and materials aimed at saving vicksburg were scattered. sherman would later lead an expedition against jackson following the fall of vicksburg to clear johnston's relief force from the area.