Grierson's Cavalry Raid: An Essential Element in the Vicksburg Campaign

Within the first five days of the raid, Grierson ordered a series of guerrilla missions, meaning he sent out small groups from his main body to distract and occupy enemy cavalry while the rest of his men carried out their orders. On April 22, day six of the mission, Grierson once again sent a small force to confuse the nearing Confederate force under Lt. Col. Clark Barteau. While this small force was doing its thing, Grierson and his men proceeded happily into Newton Station on April 24, 200 miles into enemy territory. What's more, they had reached the Southern Mississippi Railroad, their main objective.

After a short stay in Newton Station, which was roughly 100 miles east of Vicksburg, he ordered his men to continue wreaking havoc on enemy supply and communication lines. While this was going on, Confederate General Pemberton, who was in Jackson, dispatched a force of considerable size to crush Grierson's force. Grierson estimated at one point that he had roughly 20,000 men hunting his force. Meanwhile, a force previously sent out by Grierson under Col. Edward Hatch was riding to the north, and Capt. Henry Forbes' men were striking areas east and south of Grierson's main body. All of this was confusing Pemberton and his troops, and hunting Grierson's main force down was a difficult task.

Next article: Grierson's Raid Part II: Forced south and out of rations, Grierson and his troops wind up in a place no one expected them to be, 16 days after the raid began. Don't worry, it gets better!

Source Used: Korn, Jerry. War on the Mississippi: The Vicksburg Campaign, 1985.

MacPherson, James. Ordeal By Fire, 1992.

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