Grierson's Raid

This was a Union cavalry operation in which Colonel Benjamin Grierson led roughly 1700 soldiers from Tennessee into Louisiana through Confederate-controlled lands. The troops destroyed railroad tracks, supplies, and communication lines belonging to the opposing forces as they traveled.

The operation took place from April to May in 1863 and served as part of a larger military strategy to weaken Confederate power in the Mississippi Valley. It pulled enemy forces away from other critical areas and gave the Union time to advance its objectives.

The 1959 film The Horse Soldiers, directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, captured this military campaign in cinema and shaped how people remember it. The movie brought the events into popular memory and shows how the public came to understand this period.

The operation spread across Mississippi and Louisiana, moving through rural landscape over the course of several weeks. Visitors interested in this campaign can explore historical sites and memorials located along the original route.

The commander was a former music teacher who actually disliked horses, yet he led a cavalry operation with remarkably few casualties. This unusual combination makes him a memorable figure in military history.

Part of: American Civil War

GPS coordinates: 32.86670,-88.82030

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:24