I happened upon correspondence between Major-Generals' Dana and Halleck on page 999-1000, series 1 Volume 41, part 1 of the Official Records. This report states a summary of the immense destruction the Federal force inflicted upon the confederates in Mississippi between December 21, 1864 and January 5, 1865. I am calling attention to the summary, which I outline briefly below, because it shows a marked prosperity and industry occurring then in the south. At this point in time, Thomas had defeated Hood, and supplies were there in Mississippi for his troops. The confederates were once more in control of Corinth at this time. We are constantly assuming that the confederacy was on it's knees and in the throes of final doom. This expedition and raid was possibly one of the key factors in killing the southern ability to subsist and survive. I mainly wanted to highlight the industry and accomplishments up to this point in the south for making use with what means they had. Thank you.
CAVALRY EXPEDITION
Sent against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad from Memphis, Dec. 21, 1864 and returned to Vicksburg on Jan. 5, 1865, the force took 550 prisoners, 1,000 negroes, and 800 horses and mules.
Moving east toward Corinth to threaten it, detachments cut the telegraph lines from Grand Junction to Corinth, destroyed 4 bridges between Booneville and Guntown on the Ohio and Mobile Road. Moving rapidly onto Tupelo they captured and dispersed Forrest’s dismounted camp at Verona, made 6 officers and 20 men prisoners, destroyed two trains of sixteen cars, each loaded with new wagons, pontoons, supplies, &c., for Hood; burned 300 army wagons which had been captured from Sturgis, destroyed 4,000 new English carbines which were for Forrest’s command, large amounts of ordnance stores and ammunition, quartermaster stores, commissary stores for Hood’s army. The command then moved further south along the line of railroad, destroying it thoroughly to a point between Egypt and Prairie Stations.
The force attacked Egypt on the 28th capturing about 500 men and destroying another train of 14 cars. They then turned west toward Houston and Bellafontaine to the Mississippi Central Railroad, striking it at Winona and sending out detachments to Bankston and Grenada, destroying machine shops, valuable factories and large quantities of wool, cloth and leather. Another 35 miles of the road and telegraph were destroyed.
To sum it up, about 40 miles on each road was destroyed, a large number of bridges, telegraph depots, switches, turn-tables, and water-tanks, 4 serviceable locomotives, and 10 which were undergoing repairs, about 100 cars, a pile-driver and engine. Also 700 fat hogs, very large amounts of corn and wheat, 1,000 stand of new arms at Egypt, in addition to the 4,000 destroyed at Verona.
“I believe this expedition, in its damaging results to the enemy, is second in importance to none during the war.”
From Major-General N. J. T. Dana to Halleck January 8, 1865. page 999-1000, Series 1 Volume 41, part 1.
Lubliner.