The Real Horse Soldiers: Benjamin Grierson's Epic 1863 Civil War Raid Through Mississippi

A New Study Of Grierson's Raid

In April, 1863, Ulysses Grant planned a number of diversions to deflect Confederate attention from his planned crossing of the Mississippi River south of Vicksburg. The Vicksburg Campaign and the Mississippi crossing were extraordinarily complex, difficult military ventures. The most important and famous diversion was a cavalry raid led by Colonel Benjamin Grierson for 16 days from April 17 -- May 2, 1863. The raid began in La Grange, Tennessee, swept south through the entire length of Mississippi, and ended in Banton Rouge, Louisiana, which was under Federal control. Grierson's Raid succeeded in distracting the Confederate commander at Vicksburg, Lieutenant General John Pemberton, even though Pemberton was aware of Grant's ongoing efforts to cross the river. As a result of Pemberton's loss of focus, Grant was able to cross the Mississippi unopposed and would besiege and ultimately capture Vicksburg and the full length of the Mississippi River for the Union.

Grierson's Raid is studied in detail in Timothy Smith's new book, "The Real Horse Soldiers: Benjamin Grierson's Epic 1863 Civil War Raid Through Mississippi" (2018). Smith, a former Park Ranger at Shiloh, holds a PhD in history from Mississippi State University and has written a number of books on the Civil War in the West. I have learned a great deal from Smith's books about Shiloh. Smith's books on the Vicksburg Campaign include a new book about Grant's leadership, "The Decision was Always My Own" together with this book about Grierson.

Grierson's Raid has become the stuff of legend. It is, of course, discussed in broad studies of the Vicksburg Campaign and has been the subject of novels and of John Wayne's film, "The Horse Soldiers". Detailed book-length studies of Grierson's Raid are rare, however, and Smith's book fills the gap. Smith writes that his book has the three-fold goal of telling a good, fast-paced story, providing social context to the Raid, with discussions of Grierson and his comrades and of the inhabitants of Mississippi who came in contact with the Raid, and placing the Raid in the larger context of the Vicksburg Campaign while also focusing on the specific on-the-ground actions involved in the Raid itself. Smith's study admirably fulfills the three-fold goals he has set for the book.

A broader and more important goal is to show that Grierson's 16-day Raid deserves the degree of study it receives in this book. Smith's book succeeds in this aim as well. The book shows the importance of the Raid to the Vicksburg Campaign and the Civil War. It stresses the importance of human effort, character, and valor under the most trying conditions. It shows the value of commitment to the cause of the United States and of heroism by Grierson and his intrepid troopers. Tellingly, Grierson memoirs of the Campaign is titled, "A Just and Righteous Cause". Smith's book makes great use of it. Perhaps Smith's book is most valuable as a study of loyalty and commitment in a specific instance to the ideal of the United States. It shows how people of different backgrounds and interests, including a love for music, can join together at a time of need in support of a common, precious cause.

The book divides into three sections. The first section considers the planning and goals of the raid, the biography of Grierson and other participants, and the various components that participated in the raid. Grierson's earlier life had been largely undistinguished, but it had been marked by a passion for music. The second and longest part of the book covers the day-to-day activities of the Raid, including the various divisions Grierson made of his forces, and the long, risky march through Mississippi culminating in the destruction of a Confederate railroad at Newton Station. In addition to discussing the military maneuvers, Smith emphasizes the interactions between Grierson and his troopers and the civilian population of Mississippi, which the raiders treated with respect and leniency. The third part of the book discusses the end of the raid as Grierson sought unsuccessfully to link up with Grant and narrowly succeeded in avoiding capture and escaping to Louisiana. A brief epilogue emphasizes the importance of the Raid and the subsequent lives of the participants.

The book is clearly written and well-paced with a great deal of attention to the details of the Raid. Readers of Civil War military histories will be impressed by the many maps offering details of the progress and movements of the Raid. The book also includes many hard to find photographs of participants and of landmarks of the Raid. Near the end of his study, Smith beautifully ties in Grierson's love of music with the grand accomplishment of the Raid, using Grierson's own words. Smith writes describing the successful conclusion of the raid:

"While many of his troopers slept, Grierson relaxed in a very different way. The brigade commander rode to a nearby plantation house in search of his first love and what he needed most. 'I astonished the occupants by sitting down and playing upon a piano which I found in the parlor,' he recalled with deep satisfaction. 'In that manner, I managed to keep awake while my soldiers were enjoying themselves by relaxation, sleep, and quiet rest.' Reaching the outskirts of Banton Rouge after all he had accomplished and being able to play the piano were, he elaborated, a 'great relief to the overtaxed mind and nerves. I felt that we had nobly accomplished the work assigned to us, and no wonder that I felt musical. Who would not under like circumstances?'"

I enjoyed learning of Grierson's love for music and the piano and about the courage and valor of his Raid. Smith's fine book will have greatest appeal to readers with a strong passion for Civil War history. The publisher, Savas Beatie, kindly sent me a review copy of this book.

Robin Friedman