Grierson's Raid-Starkville Traditional Cache
$nowman: This one is done the vacant lot it was on has been cleared off, all trees gone including the one which held the cache.
Grierson's Raid-Starkville
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This series of Caches are all on the trail of a historic route of a Civil war Cavalry Raid called “Grierson’s Raid” It was called by General U.S Grant the most successful cavalry raid of the war, as it played a direct role in the success of the Vicksburg campaign. It tied up the majority of the Confederate cavalry in Mississippi. It was also the only Cavalry raid to carry a large cavalry force through 600 miles of hostile territory in the Heart of the Confederacy.
The raid started in LaGrange TN April 17, 1863 with 1700 horse troops and a battery of (6) 2 pound cannons. Their goal was to destroy the Southern Railroad’s Meridian- Vicksburg line at Newton Station in Central Mississippi. This he did successfully with only a Mississippi map and a Compass for navigation.
I think they may have been some of our GeoCacher ancestors, as twice They crossed large waist deep swamps. They were probably going in a straight line toward their destination, and they did return via other routes missing the swamps. Hard in easy out.
After destruction of the rail line and Depot Col. Grierson was to return to Union lines the best way he could. As Confederates were north of him, Grierson left Newton going south east to misdirect followers. He actually planned to go to Port Gibson to Help Grant with the Vicksburg Campaign. At Union Church his scouts determined the majority of the Confederate Cavalry were west of Union Church waiting to ambush Grierson’s troops. Grierson then decided to go south to Baton Rouge, which was in Union hands. He completed his raid in 16 days, on May 2 1863, in Baton Rouge, LA with 5000 Confederate troops all across Mississippi trying to capture him. Some were only 2 hours behind as He crossed last River Bridge over the Comite River into Baton Rouge.
Grierson lost 3 dead, 7 wounded and 9 men reported as missing on the Raid. The Raiders killed and wounded Over 100 Confederates, captured 500 most were paroled. The raiders destroyed over 50 miles of railroad line, destroyed 3 Railroad Depots and captured 1000 horses and mules.
The raiders arrived in Starkville about 4 pm April 21 encountering no resistance. They captured the Confederate mail and some supplies. The mail was read and military supplies destroyed. A slave told them of a tannery 5 miles west of down at Longview. A detachment was sent to destroy it. The troop then left for Louisville Cutting through swamps in a Thunderstorm. At camp that night Grierson dispatched 8 Volunteers from the 7th Illinois, in captured Confederate uniforms carrying Confederate weapons, to Range ahead of Grierson's lines. In the camp they were dubbed the "Butternut Guerrillas" This intelligence unit gave Grierson a badly needed edge to operate deep in enemy territory.
This trail will have various size and type caches at sites on the route covered by the raiders. For history buff note it will also include some diversionary trails used by the Raiders to misdirect those following them. The posting for each will highlight the historic nature of each site. This will be a trail in process, so watch for new caches as I place them. Some locations mentioned in the history are not on most maps and may or may not get caches. Join me as we learn some History of Civil War together. $nowman.
The John Wayne movie “Horse Soldiers” was loosely based on this raid. For more information Google “Grierson’s Raid”
References used “A Just and Righteous Cause Benjamin H Grierson’s Civil War Memoir” and “Grierson’s Raid” by Tom Lalicki
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)