[
415]
the fortunes of the strong and co-operating force assigned to
General Thomas for the defense of
Tennessee against
Hood.
Before doing so, let us take a brief glance at some operations by National troops, sent out from the
Lower Mississippi, to prevent the concentration of forces west of
Georgia against
Sherman during his march to the sea.
One of these expeditions, composed of mounted men, was led by
General Dana, who went out
from
Vicksburg, fought and vanquished Confederates on the
Big Black River, and destroyed several miles of the railway connecting New Orleans with
Tennessee, with its bridges and rolling stock, much cotton and valuable stores.
Another cavalry expedition, led by
General Davidson, was sent out from
Baton Rouge, and struck the same railway at Tangipaha,
laying waste its track and other property.
Then
Davidson pushed on eastward, in the direction of
Mobile, almost to the
Pascagoula River, causing much alarm for the safety of that city.
Still another expedition, and more important than the two just mentioned, went out from the
Mississippi three weeks later.
It was sent from
Memphis, and was led by
General Grierson.
His force consisted of thirty-five hundred well-mounted men, and their destination was the Mobile and Ohio railway.
Taking a nearly straight course through
Northern Mississippi, they struck that road at
Tupelo, and destroyed it to
Okolona.
On the way,
Colonel Karge surprised
and dispersed, at
Verona, a guard over ordnance and supplies destined for
Hood's army.
These were a-loading in two hundred wagons, which
Forrest took from
Sturgis in June.
1 Thirty-two cars, eight warehouses filled with supplies, and the wagons, were destroyed.
When he arrived at
Okolona,
Grierson discovered that the
Confederates were in considerable force and well intrenched at
Egypt Station, a few miles below; and intercepted dispatches from
General Dick Taylor, at
Mobile, informed him that re-enforcements were to be given to the garrison immediately.
lie resolved to attack before they should arrive.
He did so at day-break the next morning,
and while the struggle was going on, two trains of cars came up with fresh troops.
Grierson quickly repulsed these, and routed the body he at first assailed, numbering about sixteen hundred men.
Grierson captured a train, and made about five hundred prisoners. Among the
Confederates killed in this engagement was
General Gholson, of
Mississippi.
Grierson now moved southwestward, distracting his foe by feints.
He finally struck the Mississippi Central railroad at Winona Station, and tore up the track several miles each way, while the Fourth Iowa destroyed cloth and shoe factories at
Bankston.
This was followed by the defeat of Confederate cavalry under
Colonel Wood, at
Benton, by
Colonel Osband, and the speedy march of the expedition to
Vicksburg, with its trophies of five hundred prisoners, eight hundred beeves, and a thousand; liberated slaves.
It had been a destructive and alarming raid,
2 and effectually held back Confederate troops from
Sherman, in
Georgia.
