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The Real Horse Soldiers: Benjamin Grierson's Epic 1863 Civil War Raid Through Mississippi
Benjamin Grierson's Union cavalry thrust through Mississippi is one of the most well-known operations of the Civil War. The last serious study was published more than six decades ago. Since then other accounts have appeared, but none are deeply researched full-length studies of the raid and its more than substantial (and yet often overlooked) results. The publication of Timothy B. Smith's The Real Horse Soldiers: Benjamin Grierson's Epic 1863 Civil War Raid through Mississippi rectifies this oversight. There were other simultaneous operations to distract Confederate attention from the real threat posed by U. S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee. Grierson's operation, however, mainly conducted with two Illinois cavalry regiments, has become the most famous, and for good reason: For 16 days (April 17 to May 2) Grierson led Confederate pursuers on a high-stakes chase through the entire state of Mississippi, entering the northern border with Tennessee and exiting its southern border with Louisiana. The daily rides were long, the rest stops short, and the tension high. Ironically, the man who led the raid was a former music teacher who some say disliked horses. Throughout, he displayed outstanding leadership and cunning, destroyed railroad tracks, burned trestles and bridges, freed slaves, and created as much damage and chaos as possible. Grierson's Raid broke a vital Confederate rail line at Newton Station that supplied Vicksburg and, perhaps most importantly, consumed the attention of the Confederate high command. While Confederate Lt. Gen. John Pemberton at Vicksburg and other Southern leaders looked in the wrong directions, Grant moved his entire Army of the Tennessee across the Mississippi River below Vicksburg, spelling the doom of that city, the Confederate chances of holding the river, and perhaps the Confederacy itself. Novelists have attempted to capture the large-than-life cavalry raid in the popular imagination, and Hollywood reproduced the daring cavalry action in The Horse Soldiers, a 1959 major motion picture starring John Wayne and William Holden. Although the film replicates the raid's drama and high-stakes gamble, cinematic license chipped away at its accuracy. Based upon years of research and presented in gripping, fast-paced prose, Timothy B. Smith's The Real Horse Soldiers captures the high drama and tension of the 1863 horse soldiers in a modern, comprehensive, academic study. Readers will find it fills a wide void in Civil War literature.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2018
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133 people want to read
About the author
Timothy B. Smith
37 books22 followersA former NPS ranger at Shiloh, Timothy B. Smith teaches history at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 4, 2025
A New Study Of Grierson's Raid
In Louisiana in April, 1863, Union Major General 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
In Louisiana in April, 1863, Union Major General 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
January 6, 2019
Many have heard of Grierson's Raid--through Mississippi, wreaking havoc on Confederate targets, ending up returning to Union lines at Baton Rouge. This book does an excellent job of describing the raid--but also of placing it in a strategic context at this critical stage in the Civil War.
Larger picture. General Ulysses Grant chose an unorthodox--and dangerous--strategy to invest Vicksburg. He would send his Union forces down the Mississippi below Vicksburg. Then, have his troops cross the river from west to the eastern side to get on dry land south of Vicksburg. Again, a fraught option. To try to deceive the Confederates and confuse them as to Grant's actual moves, several raids and other actions were taken. One of these was for Colonel Grierson to take a brigade (3 regiments) of cavalry on a long raid through Mississippi.
This volume uses archived resources and provides the reader with a rich telling of this tale. A real threat to the raid was that the further south it went, the more Confederates were determined to catch up with them. Some very helpful maps illustrate the various efforts by southern forces to thwart the raid--as well as Grierson's efforts to avoid those forces.
There is much good detail on key actions, such as the attack on Newton Station and damage done to the southern cause. There were some close calls for the raiders, but Grierson developed clever ploys to throw their pursuers off.
All in all, a fine book about a raid that well served larger purposes. . . .
Larger picture. General Ulysses Grant chose an unorthodox--and dangerous--strategy to invest Vicksburg. He would send his Union forces down the Mississippi below Vicksburg. Then, have his troops cross the river from west to the eastern side to get on dry land south of Vicksburg. Again, a fraught option. To try to deceive the Confederates and confuse them as to Grant's actual moves, several raids and other actions were taken. One of these was for Colonel Grierson to take a brigade (3 regiments) of cavalry on a long raid through Mississippi.
This volume uses archived resources and provides the reader with a rich telling of this tale. A real threat to the raid was that the further south it went, the more Confederates were determined to catch up with them. Some very helpful maps illustrate the various efforts by southern forces to thwart the raid--as well as Grierson's efforts to avoid those forces.
There is much good detail on key actions, such as the attack on Newton Station and damage done to the southern cause. There were some close calls for the raiders, but Grierson developed clever ploys to throw their pursuers off.
All in all, a fine book about a raid that well served larger purposes. . . .
January 18, 2023
Many students of the American Civil War (1861-65) unfairly regard U.S`. Grant as a 'butcher” willing to sacrifice lives for victory especially when unfairly compared to Robert E. Lee. The truth is that Grant was a master commander who saw the “big picture” and devised appropriate strategies to defeat his enemy. The Vicksburg campaign is an excellent example of his creative genius as a military commander as he maintained the offensive despite his “seven failures" in his grand campaign strategy that included a series of diversionary advances by other subordinate units. The most successful of these diversionary advances was the raid commanded by Colonel Benjamin Grierson that inspired the Hollywood version starring John Wayne and William Holden. Historian and author Timothy Smith accurately and clearly describes in detail the 600 mile 17 day raid that destroyed Confederate supply lines and created a diversion that confused Vicksburg’s Confederate commander Pemberton to redeploy his forces allowing Grant to successfully cross the Mississippi River downstream of Vicksburg. Grierson’s incredible ability to direct his troops deep in enemy territory while “in the saddle” is a testimony to his leadership skills. This is a book every student of military history should read.
July 20, 2022
Super informative! I loved it! Many resources are also provided for readers who are interested in either Grierson's Raid or the Civil War. He may seem like an unlikely candidate for the raids, considering that he was a musician before he became a soldier. I enjoyed the maps and detail on strategy. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in the US Cavalry or US Civil War history.
February 24, 2019
Terrific story of the raid that made the Victory at Vicksburg possible.
Grant had to get on the east bank of the Mississippi river below Vicksburg. He knew his opponent, Pemberton, from Mexico. He set three groups in motion in late April, early May in three different places, the most ambitious group led by Grierson which would raise Cain in the interior of Mississippi all of which where were to confuse and bother Pemberton. It worked like a charm. He had soldiers chasing Griersin for a month, and Grant got across the river and Pemberton's confusion was absolute.
This is the story of Grierson's raid. Grierson, like Grant, was a failure in Civilian life. He was a military genius.
Grant had to get on the east bank of the Mississippi river below Vicksburg. He knew his opponent, Pemberton, from Mexico. He set three groups in motion in late April, early May in three different places, the most ambitious group led by Grierson which would raise Cain in the interior of Mississippi all of which where were to confuse and bother Pemberton. It worked like a charm. He had soldiers chasing Griersin for a month, and Grant got across the river and Pemberton's confusion was absolute.
This is the story of Grierson's raid. Grierson, like Grant, was a failure in Civilian life. He was a military genius.
January 11, 2020
This is the best account of Colonel Benjamin Grierson's famous raid that I have yet read. The research is excellent, and the account of the events rolls out like a story! This book is a delight to read, and I highly recommend it - especially for those interested in the Vicksburg Campaign and the Civil War in the West.
February 10, 2024
An excellent and thorough history of Benjamin Grierson's 1863 raid through Mississippi which turned Confederate eyes away from Grant's crossing of the Mississippi River in his Vicksburg campaign (the raid was Grant's idea and succeeded dramatically). The true story is far more interesting and dramatic than the fictional one made famous in the John Ford film.
Smith's book is full of detail and highly readable. It has fine maps and photos and very nice bios of the various military and political figures throughout. Highly recommended...
The book is published by Savas Beatie, and I have to mention the high quality of their books. The bindings are strong (even the paperbacks) and they use a fine quality of paper. Their subjects are interesting and they seem to cover areas in history other publishers do not. I have a number of their books and I am always very satisfied with my purchase.
Smith's book is full of detail and highly readable. It has fine maps and photos and very nice bios of the various military and political figures throughout. Highly recommended...
The book is published by Savas Beatie, and I have to mention the high quality of their books. The bindings are strong (even the paperbacks) and they use a fine quality of paper. Their subjects are interesting and they seem to cover areas in history other publishers do not. I have a number of their books and I am always very satisfied with my purchase.
July 14, 2019
Move over, Dee Brown. There is a new definitive work on Grierson’s Raid. Dr. Smith has produced an extremely readable and gripping history of one of the most important diversions in history. This is a clear concise narrative of how the Union managed to keep the Confederate leadership in Mississippi distracted at the critical moment when Grant made his move south through Louisiana. Smith has become one of the preeminent authors on the Western theater and this book is just the latest in a string of fantastic history stories. Highly recommended!
September 22, 2022
Every other Tim Smith book I have reviewed I gave either four or five stars. This was quite a shock.
Smith basically issues a glorification of every aspect of the Union side of the raid. He relied on the romanticized post war writings of Grierson and the other Yankee participants who were writing for an adoring audience, without seemingly any correction of their obvious exaggerations.
Smith even joins Grierson in mocking southern plantation owners for being upset as their homes are plundered and their lives destroyed. Basically, “ha ha and we’re stealing your horses, too”. He disbelieves every southerner story of depredations committed by the Yankees and tells ridiculous tales about Southern civilians being relieved that Grierson supposedly didn’t harm them. It’s nauseating, I had to skim through most of the second half of the book.
The historian Smith makes small notice of the basic problem that let Grierson make his over-rated raid: Pemberton’s almost complete lack of cavalry, which had been foolishly stripped by Joe Johnston and sent to Bragg. With no Confederate cavalry opposition, Grierson’s raid was a cake walk. But Smith, with special pleading and almost breathless adoration of Grierson, acts as if the raid was one of the most astonishing of the war. Ask Sturgis and Streight what happened when there was actually Confederate cavalry available to defend against their raids.
The only useful information I got from the book was some knowledge of how cavalry organizations functioned and what I was most interested in, details of how the raid fit in with the Vicksburg Campaign as a whole.
Smith basically issues a glorification of every aspect of the Union side of the raid. He relied on the romanticized post war writings of Grierson and the other Yankee participants who were writing for an adoring audience, without seemingly any correction of their obvious exaggerations.
Smith even joins Grierson in mocking southern plantation owners for being upset as their homes are plundered and their lives destroyed. Basically, “ha ha and we’re stealing your horses, too”. He disbelieves every southerner story of depredations committed by the Yankees and tells ridiculous tales about Southern civilians being relieved that Grierson supposedly didn’t harm them. It’s nauseating, I had to skim through most of the second half of the book.
The historian Smith makes small notice of the basic problem that let Grierson make his over-rated raid: Pemberton’s almost complete lack of cavalry, which had been foolishly stripped by Joe Johnston and sent to Bragg. With no Confederate cavalry opposition, Grierson’s raid was a cake walk. But Smith, with special pleading and almost breathless adoration of Grierson, acts as if the raid was one of the most astonishing of the war. Ask Sturgis and Streight what happened when there was actually Confederate cavalry available to defend against their raids.
The only useful information I got from the book was some knowledge of how cavalry organizations functioned and what I was most interested in, details of how the raid fit in with the Vicksburg Campaign as a whole.
May 3, 2021
This book is a comprehensive view of the raid through Mississippi by Col. Benjamin Grierson in 1863. It is interesting and well written. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Unlike other raiders during the Civil War Grierson destroyed military and government property leaving the civilian population relatively unmolested. It is true that he looted their smokehouses, took their horses and mules and freed some of the slaves he encountered, but when compared to other raids the Mississippians were treated relatively well. It is also important to look at the raid within the context of the Vicksburg campaign rather than as a separate event. Smith has done a good job of this.
I recommend this book to people who are interested in the Civil war, in particular the Vicksburg Campaign. Be forewarned, this book is not mere light reading about a Civil War raid. This is a scholarly book with a lot of detail to it.
I recommend this book to people who are interested in the Civil war, in particular the Vicksburg Campaign. Be forewarned, this book is not mere light reading about a Civil War raid. This is a scholarly book with a lot of detail to it.
July 9, 2021
Great Feat of narrative history
Smith provides a comprehensive yet compelling account of one of the greatest feats of American military history. The Grierson raid remains one of the most interesting and important episodes of the war, primarily because of its role in distracting the Confederate command from Grant's impending campaign against Vicksburg. Grierson himself emerges as a deeply impressive commander, one of those rare leaders who balances boldness, caution, tactical and strategic smarts, ability to delegate, and a rare degree of good sense and common decency. He is one of those figures, like Grant himself, who seem somewhat inept in civilian life, yet have an unexpected talent, a hidden gift, for military leadership. Smith's book does full justice to the man, his soldiers, and their extraordinary acheivement.
Smith provides a comprehensive yet compelling account of one of the greatest feats of American military history. The Grierson raid remains one of the most interesting and important episodes of the war, primarily because of its role in distracting the Confederate command from Grant's impending campaign against Vicksburg. Grierson himself emerges as a deeply impressive commander, one of those rare leaders who balances boldness, caution, tactical and strategic smarts, ability to delegate, and a rare degree of good sense and common decency. He is one of those figures, like Grant himself, who seem somewhat inept in civilian life, yet have an unexpected talent, a hidden gift, for military leadership. Smith's book does full justice to the man, his soldiers, and their extraordinary acheivement.
June 30, 2023
Smith Nailed It
The Real Horse Soldiers: Grierson's amazing journey through Mississippi is an incredible story. While I heard and read the tale in many side stories in numerous novels, I never read the definitive account. Smith did an amazing job with this book. It was a page turner until the end. I looked forward to picking up where I left off. No longer a diversion to Grant's Vicksburg, this calvary u it was masterfully led through a gauntlet of danger. Smith brought it alive for me and I am grateful.
The Real Horse Soldiers: Grierson's amazing journey through Mississippi is an incredible story. While I heard and read the tale in many side stories in numerous novels, I never read the definitive account. Smith did an amazing job with this book. It was a page turner until the end. I looked forward to picking up where I left off. No longer a diversion to Grant's Vicksburg, this calvary u it was masterfully led through a gauntlet of danger. Smith brought it alive for me and I am grateful.
April 9, 2019
John Wayne' couldn't have done it better
This a well researched, excitingly written history of an improbably successful campaign. A true page turner with on the run decision making, last minute escapes, and an unlikely pianist. Thankful, the author avoided any hint of the bogus "it wasn't about protecting slavery, it was about state's rights" argument put forth by Shelby Foote/Ken Burns.
This a well researched, excitingly written history of an improbably successful campaign. A true page turner with on the run decision making, last minute escapes, and an unlikely pianist. Thankful, the author avoided any hint of the bogus "it wasn't about protecting slavery, it was about state's rights" argument put forth by Shelby Foote/Ken Burns.
April 2, 2022
A solid account of a notable cavalry raid. It drags at times and would have benefitted from tighter editing: with less time spend on the valuation of plantations visited and more on vignettes from personal accounts. The author spends more time describing the typical camp at a plantation then any of the railroad destruction that was the focus of the raid.
Maps are excellent, but located in the text too early and spoil the upcoming prose.
Maps are excellent, but located in the text too early and spoil the upcoming prose.
February 4, 2021
This book was part of my research for a historical novel on the Civil War. It is an exciting tale and an interesting look as some things the soldiers experienced and dealt with. Smith manages to tone it down by listing every unit and every senior officer involved in any way. He also repeats himself too much.
But if you can get past the flaws, the book is worth a read or in my case a listen
But if you can get past the flaws, the book is worth a read or in my case a listen
July 31, 2024
Exceptional History Telling in Timothy Smith fashion.Give me the facts and let the amazement come from what I’m reading about. Truly one of those great stories from Civil War that more people should know about! Grierson is a guy I have to admire, especially for his stances later on in the Indian Wars of the West.
January 22, 2020
A very fine Civil War history. I had a great grandfather in General Loring’s Confederate Division, and it was rather ‘cool’ to imagine his days being part of the unsuccessful chase after the Union Raiders.
February 12, 2020
Wow! Great book. The author promises that the real story of the horse soldiers is better than the John Wayne movie. He delivers. The story flows easily and is quite readable. It is well researched from primary sources.
August 25, 2021
This is an enjoyable account of Grierson's raid, which was perhaps the most consequential cavalry raid of the Civil War, since it enabled Grant to position his troops for the capture of Vicksburg. I hadn't realised just how near run a thing it was, and how beautifully executed it was.
August 6, 2019
Great read!
Well researched this outstanding book reads like an action novel. A must read for any Civil War enthusiast, especially I interested in the Vicksburg campaign.
Well researched this outstanding book reads like an action novel. A must read for any Civil War enthusiast, especially I interested in the Vicksburg campaign.
December 22, 2022
A wonderful and thrilling story.
May 7, 2025
This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. The author did meticulous research on an overlooked but crucial raid during the Civil War. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
January 16, 2019
I have been enjoying much of the coverage the Western Theater of the American Civil War has been gaining as of late. With the plethora of works coming out that are paying attention to this conflict, there has been little of that attention paid to Benjamin Grierson’s Raid. Most of those mentions come within the body of larger works and it is not fully described as much as I wanted it to be. The Real Horse Soldiers, by Timothy B. Smith is such a work that I have been waiting for. This book details everything about this raid and even more so, it gives the reader a deeper understanding of the Western Theater as a whole during the year of 1863.
Timothy B. Smith is a professor at the University of Tennessee and has authored many articles and essays. He also has a number of previous works under his belt including Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg, Rethinking Shiloh, and Corinth 1862. He received the Fletcher Pratt Award for and the McLemore Prize for Shiloh: Conquer or Perish. He also won the Tennessee History Book Award for Grant Invades Tennessee: The 1862 Battles for Fort Henry and Donelson. Timothy B. Smith has also served for the National Park Service.
To fully understand Grierson’s Raid, there must be a study wholly devoted to it, something Civil War Academia hasn’t had for some time. This book not only gives us an insight into how the plan was formulated, and how it all began, it is laid out for the reader in an interesting way. While reading this book, it almost felt like a thriller in many ways. There were even points where I felt that it read like a heist novel. It is that type of engaging writing that makes me glad that a book like this exists. It is informative without being too dry. But the book is not just about the exciting narrative, though it does help. This book gives us what we needed: a study on the raid itself. It was interesting to see the mindset of the man as he reached difficulties throughout the plan. But I would be remiss if I did not mention the attention to detail that Smith gave to the Confederate side as well. There were frustrations on Grierson’s part of not completely finding out where the enemy’s position was in certain portions of the book, and it is shown when describing the opposition here. Pemberton seemed like a force to be reckoned with, but in the end, Grierson overcame them all.
When I finished reading this book, one thought immediately came into my mind. Why are there not more works about this raid? It seems like an event in the Civil War that should be talked about more often, but it is glossed over. In other books about the Western Theater during the year of 1863, there are only mere mentions of how it aided in the cause, but a serious work was always lacking. That is one of the reasons that I recommend this book one hundred percent. I don’t only recommend it for the readers of the Western Theater, I recommend it all Civil War enthusiasts. This is a part of the war that should not be forgotten and I thank Timothy B. Smith for writing this work. I am glad to say that there is a well researched work on Grierson’s Raid that we can go to and I can see this becoming a classic.
Matthew Bartlett
Timothy B. Smith is a professor at the University of Tennessee and has authored many articles and essays. He also has a number of previous works under his belt including Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg, Rethinking Shiloh, and Corinth 1862. He received the Fletcher Pratt Award for and the McLemore Prize for Shiloh: Conquer or Perish. He also won the Tennessee History Book Award for Grant Invades Tennessee: The 1862 Battles for Fort Henry and Donelson. Timothy B. Smith has also served for the National Park Service.
To fully understand Grierson’s Raid, there must be a study wholly devoted to it, something Civil War Academia hasn’t had for some time. This book not only gives us an insight into how the plan was formulated, and how it all began, it is laid out for the reader in an interesting way. While reading this book, it almost felt like a thriller in many ways. There were even points where I felt that it read like a heist novel. It is that type of engaging writing that makes me glad that a book like this exists. It is informative without being too dry. But the book is not just about the exciting narrative, though it does help. This book gives us what we needed: a study on the raid itself. It was interesting to see the mindset of the man as he reached difficulties throughout the plan. But I would be remiss if I did not mention the attention to detail that Smith gave to the Confederate side as well. There were frustrations on Grierson’s part of not completely finding out where the enemy’s position was in certain portions of the book, and it is shown when describing the opposition here. Pemberton seemed like a force to be reckoned with, but in the end, Grierson overcame them all.
When I finished reading this book, one thought immediately came into my mind. Why are there not more works about this raid? It seems like an event in the Civil War that should be talked about more often, but it is glossed over. In other books about the Western Theater during the year of 1863, there are only mere mentions of how it aided in the cause, but a serious work was always lacking. That is one of the reasons that I recommend this book one hundred percent. I don’t only recommend it for the readers of the Western Theater, I recommend it all Civil War enthusiasts. This is a part of the war that should not be forgotten and I thank Timothy B. Smith for writing this work. I am glad to say that there is a well researched work on Grierson’s Raid that we can go to and I can see this becoming a classic.
Matthew Bartlett
August 30, 2025
An excellent study of Grierson's Raid during the Vicksburg Campaign. The first third of the book puts the raid in context and gives background on Benjamin Grierson and the regiments and other prominent officers involved. The next third covers the first half of the raid, up to the primary objective of Newton's Station on the railroad linking Vicksburg to the rest of the Confederacy. The final third covers the rest of the raid and aftermath. The wrap-up covers both Union and Confederate opinions of the raid, and a more objective analysis of its accomplishments.
Smith's writing is good, as usual. Maps are placed throughout the book, each covering a few days of progress. Several of the principal Union officers, including Grierson himself, left written accounts of the raid. These are fleshed out with details of people and places encountered.
I was loosely failure with the raid beforehand, but this book filled it out in a lot more detail. A few things in particularly stood out. The raiders were pushed to exhaustion and traded out most of their horses and mules during the raid for captured animals. The weather (namely, rain) was a serious impediment to the raiders. Grierson made excellent use of scouts.
Grierson's Raid seems like a textbook example of using reconnaissance and misdirection. Much like Nathan Forrest and Wade Hampton, Grierson seemed to have a surprising natural talent for mounted operations.
A must read for Civil War buffs, especially those interested in the Vicksburg Campaign and/or cavalry.
Smith's writing is good, as usual. Maps are placed throughout the book, each covering a few days of progress. Several of the principal Union officers, including Grierson himself, left written accounts of the raid. These are fleshed out with details of people and places encountered.
I was loosely failure with the raid beforehand, but this book filled it out in a lot more detail. A few things in particularly stood out. The raiders were pushed to exhaustion and traded out most of their horses and mules during the raid for captured animals. The weather (namely, rain) was a serious impediment to the raiders. Grierson made excellent use of scouts.
Grierson's Raid seems like a textbook example of using reconnaissance and misdirection. Much like Nathan Forrest and Wade Hampton, Grierson seemed to have a surprising natural talent for mounted operations.
A must read for Civil War buffs, especially those interested in the Vicksburg Campaign and/or cavalry.
February 13, 2023
When I was a history major at a university, I took a Civil War course. We had to write a research paper, and I chose the Vicksburg Campaign. I wrote a bit about Benjamin Grierson's raid across Mississippi during the campaign because of its importance, but I did not go into great detail. I found a book about it and purchased it on my Kindle. What a great and exciting read! I think Timothy Smith is one of the best Civil War writers today. I also enjoy reading about Civil War articles and books that cover events or people that we don't hear much about. This was definitely a refreshing read because it was about an extraordinary feat. We hear about John Mosby and Nathan Bedford Forrest, but Grierson's Raid was just as impressive than anything those two men that I just mentioned did. Grierson destroyed miles of railroad, burned arsenals and munitions and took or killed live stock. The most impressive thing is he lost very few men.
One of the best Civil War books ever about a great cavalry officer and his accomplishment in Mississippi.
One of the best Civil War books ever about a great cavalry officer and his accomplishment in Mississippi.
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