Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/89

 Confederate Cavalry Around Port Hudson. 85

GRIERSON'S RAID

was undertaken, under direction of General Grant. The entire Confederate force in the State bordering on the Mississippi was then being gathered together to meet the terrific blow which Grant was preparing to strike at Vicksburg. Thus the way was open for one of those bold cavalry raids for which heretofore only the Confed- erates had distinguished themselves; Van Dorn, Forrest and Morgan had set the example which was to be followed by Colonel Grierson, in a bold movement from LaGrange, Tennessee, through the State of Mississippi to Baton Rouge, La. The forces placed under Col- onel Grierson consisted of a brigade 1,700 strong, composed of the Sixth and Seventh Illinois and second Iowa Cavalry. Colonel Gri- erson, after leaving LaGrange, Tenn., proceeded due south, be- tween the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad (now the Illinois Central Railroad) and the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, until he reached Raleigh, Miss.; turning then southwest to Gallatin, Miss., and within seven miles of Natchez, and then back to the New Or- leans and Jackson Railroad to Hazlehurst, down to Osyka, and from that point to Baton Rouge. The only serious- opposition this column met with occurred near Columbus, Miss. Colonel Hatch, with the Iowa regiment, having been detached with instructions to destroy the Mobile Railroad at Columbus, was attacked by a small Confederate force of home guards. In this fight Colonel Hatch was seriously wounded and his commmand dispersed.

The Confederate cavalry at Port Hudson, with some mounted in- fantry, received marching orders on the 22d day of April, 1863, and at once moved northward for the purpose of intercepting and capturing the command of Grierson. No soldiers were never more eager to meet an enemy, and riding night and day, not a word of complaint was heard. As the command struck the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad it was expected that the enemy would be en- countered at any moment. The column was only halted long enough to give the men and horses a few hours rest; and then it was "boots and saddles,'' and the command was away again at a swinging trot. On reaching Summit, Miss., scouts reported that Grierson had headed for Natchez. The command then headed in a northwestwardly direction, and crossed the Homochitto river at Davis' Plantation on the Woodville and Natchez road. As this river was up, and the facilities for crossing very poor, the command