| The winter of 1862-63 was harsh on the soldiers encamped along the Tennessee-Mississippi border. Alternate freezing temperatures and cold rain found the Union soldiers stationed at La Grange, miserably mired in a sea of mud. As a consequence of their misery, the fences surrounding the grand homes, along with many of the smaller houses, had disappeared into the campfires to provide warmth for the men garrisoned there. Dozing before one of these fires, on New Year's Day, Colonel Benjamin Henry Grierson was despondent over more than just the foul weather. His wife, Alice and his two small sons had left Memphis for their home in Jacksonville on December 23d, his men were suffering from illnesses due to the weather and were short on supplies and equipment, and his pay was two months in arrears. In addition to the inactivity that winter brings to armies, Grierson had received no word on his expected promotion to brigadier general; though Grant and Sherman had both written strong recommendations. Suddenly, his reverie was broken by the smell of something burning -- he had accidentally let the fire burn off the soles of his boots, which would result in a cost of fifteen dollars for a new pair. Little could Benjamin know what good things the New Year would bring for him. On April 13, while on a long awaited leave home, Grierson received a telegraph from Maj. Gen. Stephen Hurlbut, now the Federal commander at Memphis, "Return Immediately." Grierson boarded the train from Memphis to La Grange on April 16, writing to his wife; "My command is ordered to leave...you must not be alarmed should you not hear from me inside a month..." Traveling more than 600 miles in 16 days, with little rest or sleep, Grierson's raiders had captured 500 Confederates, killed or wounded another 100, destroyed more than 50 miles of railroad and telegraph, 3,000 stands of arms and thousands of dollars worth of supplies and property. Over 1,000 mules and horses were captured, in addition to tying up all of Pemberton's cavalry, one-third of his infantry and several regiments of artillery. Grierson suffered, including Hatch's losses, total casualties of 36. A most unlikely warrior, and music teacher turned soldier, suddenly found himself thrust into the role of a hero, writing to his wife; "I, like Byron, have had to wake up one morning and find myself famous." (CW) Grierson's picture was featured on the covers of Harper's Weekly and Leslie's Illustrated. He was breveted to brigadier general and later major general of volunteers. |