- Joined
- Mar 18, 2011
- Location
- Clinton, Mississippi
I found this article recently, and I thought it expresses very well the effect that Grierson's 1863 raid through Mississippi had on the local population:
"Grierson’s raid into Mississippi has taught the people along the line of his devastating march what they have to expect if they allow the state to be overrun. The highest accomplishment which graces the Yankee is his skill in stealing. In the raid of Grierson – horses, mules, wagons, and negroes were carried off. Every house they passed was entered, the trunks broken open, and all the money, watches, silver ware, and other valuables were carried off. The guns of our people were destroyed. The men were twitted with cowardice, while the ladies were constantly insulted. Nothing has ever equaled this raid in insolence and boldness. It is a mistake to say the Yankees rushed through the state with fear and trembling. They went through it as masters of the people – ordered the women to cook for them and if they refused turned loose their pack of greedy petty thieves into the several smoke houses. They pursued their way with quiet ease and patience, stopping wherever they pleased to feed their horses from the cribs, and their soldiers from the larders of Mississippi planters.
It makes our blood boil with intense indignation to listen to the stories of men who have been despoiled by this daring band of licensed robbers. To hear of the insults heaped upon our women – of their boastful threats and wanton destruction of property. Why Mississippi was made to suffer this deep humiliation – this damning disgrace – is a matter of inexplicable astonishment to us. But so it is. Fifteen hundred Yankees leisurely traversed the hitherto proud State of Mississippi, insulting and destroying as they went without having a gun fired at them! We deserve to bow our heads in lasting shame if we do not wipe out this stinging blot upon our fair escutcheon.
The Yankees threaten to come again, and they will come again if the people do not speedily place themselves in a condition for _____. If they do come and are not met with hospitable bands to bloody graves, it will be attributable to our own dastardly inaction. We have the power to prevent these raids. Gov. Pettus has pointed out the way. Let his suggestions be promptly followed, and we shall never suffer another humiliation of this kind."
- The Daily Mississippian, May 7, 1863
"Grierson’s raid into Mississippi has taught the people along the line of his devastating march what they have to expect if they allow the state to be overrun. The highest accomplishment which graces the Yankee is his skill in stealing. In the raid of Grierson – horses, mules, wagons, and negroes were carried off. Every house they passed was entered, the trunks broken open, and all the money, watches, silver ware, and other valuables were carried off. The guns of our people were destroyed. The men were twitted with cowardice, while the ladies were constantly insulted. Nothing has ever equaled this raid in insolence and boldness. It is a mistake to say the Yankees rushed through the state with fear and trembling. They went through it as masters of the people – ordered the women to cook for them and if they refused turned loose their pack of greedy petty thieves into the several smoke houses. They pursued their way with quiet ease and patience, stopping wherever they pleased to feed their horses from the cribs, and their soldiers from the larders of Mississippi planters.
It makes our blood boil with intense indignation to listen to the stories of men who have been despoiled by this daring band of licensed robbers. To hear of the insults heaped upon our women – of their boastful threats and wanton destruction of property. Why Mississippi was made to suffer this deep humiliation – this damning disgrace – is a matter of inexplicable astonishment to us. But so it is. Fifteen hundred Yankees leisurely traversed the hitherto proud State of Mississippi, insulting and destroying as they went without having a gun fired at them! We deserve to bow our heads in lasting shame if we do not wipe out this stinging blot upon our fair escutcheon.
The Yankees threaten to come again, and they will come again if the people do not speedily place themselves in a condition for _____. If they do come and are not met with hospitable bands to bloody graves, it will be attributable to our own dastardly inaction. We have the power to prevent these raids. Gov. Pettus has pointed out the way. Let his suggestions be promptly followed, and we shall never suffer another humiliation of this kind."
- The Daily Mississippian, May 7, 1863