What do you think?
Rate this book
Osprey Raid #12
Roughshod Through Dixie: Grierson’s Raid 1863
On April 17, 1863 Benjamin Grierson led a force of 1,700 Union cavalrymen across enemy lines into the Confederate-held Tennessee in a bold diversionary raid. Over the next seventeen days, Grierson's horsemen caused havoc by destroying railroad lines, attacking outposts, burning military stores and fighting numerous small actions, before breaking back through the lines at Baton Rouge.
The raid was a tremendous success, not only by virtue of the destruction it caused, but also because the Confederates were forced to divert thousands of troops away from the front lines during General Grant's critical Vicksburg offensive. This book tells the complete story of one of the most daring Union raids of the war.
The raid was a tremendous success, not only by virtue of the destruction it caused, but also because the Confederates were forced to divert thousands of troops away from the front lines during General Grant's critical Vicksburg offensive. This book tells the complete story of one of the most daring Union raids of the war.
80 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2006
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Mark Lardas
64 books9 followersMark Lardas holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, but spent his early career at the Johnson Space Center doing Space Shuttle structural analysis, and space navigation. An amateur historian and a long-time ship modeller, Mark Lardas is currently a freelance writer in Palestine, Texas. He has written extensively about modelling as well as naval, maritime, and military history.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 23, 2019
In April 1863 General Benjamin J. Grierson launched a cavalry raid deep into Mississippi. His mission: to distract the Confederates from General Grant's end run near Vicksburg (which would lead to its capture a few weeks later) and to destroy vital railroad track and stock needed to rush reinforcements to oppose the Federal landing once it was recognized for what it was. Grierson's Raid had all the elements to make it a success: it's own deception operation to make the Confederates believe the raid was still ongoing, light artillery for shock value, veteran troops and good weapons. This Osprey book does an excellent job of laying out the planning of the raid, the progress of the operation, its successes, its failures and its conclusion. Illustrated with photographs, original artwork and maps, this book is a great supplement to histories which only lightly touch on the subject while discussing the Vicksburg campaign in its own right or as a stand-alone book retelling this story of courage, fortitude and leadership.
December 13, 2017
Only 80 pages, but written in a concise factual style that put everything in an orderly easy to understand fashion. It is the Civil War cavalry raid that inspired the John Wayne movie "The Horse Soldiers". These boys were a lot busier than the Dukes were. Nearly three weeks of insomnia while cutting off the Souths supplies and communications while Grant was isolating a besieged Vicksburg. All while being one step ahead of a frenzied Rebel pursuit. It would make a far better movie and that's saying something.
August 28, 2019
My first experience of the new Osprey Raid series has been positive. Roughshod Through Dixie about Grierson's raid through Mississippi in April 1863 is well written, well presented and a useful tool for wargamers. I hadn't read anything by the author, Mark Lardas before and so assumed he was new to Osprey, but it turns out he's done lots of naval and Civil War stuff , especially in the duel series. I had just not run into him because I don't focus on those subjects.
The book takes ample time explaining the strategic situation and planning for the raid, showing how the raid was to divert confederate commander Pemberton's mind and resources from Grant's proposed outflanking of Vicksburg and was supported by other diversionary raids. These helped to conceal the real intentions of the raid from the enemy for five days.
Lardas shows also that careful attention was paid to the composition of the force and its equipment so as to balance speed and fighting power. This meant for example that six light guns were added that would have been easily overpowered on a Civil War battlefield but proved their value against local scratch forces encountered on the raid.
The description of the raid itself focuses on the tactical decisions made by Grierson. He successfully kept the confederates of his tail by speed (around 40 miles on a good day), diversions and active disinformation. This for example involved a section of troops disguised as southern soldiers, the detachment of several hundred less mobile troopers (the 'Quinine brigade') early on to suggest he was returning to Tennessee and releasing southern troops on parole after overhearing planted information.
This part also shows how hard it was for confederate troops to catch these highly mobile troops. All the information reaching Pemberton was outdated, and local commanders had to deal with Grierson's methods of disinformation. And yet they almost managed to ensnare the raiding force.
A few other fine points I took away were the great care taken by the Union troops to treat the local civilians well, the importance of rivers as obstacles for movement and the use of parole to deal with confederate prisoners. I have no idea how well parole was observed over time, but in a society with high emphasis on personal honour as in the South, this may have been effective after the campaign.
In the final part Lardas draws up the balance sheet which is almost exclusively positive for the Union force. Great damage had been done to the Mississippi railroads, telegraph and war materials. A significant number of troops had been tied down that could not be used against Grant. Also a number of slaves had been freed and a great moral victory had been scored, showing that Union cavalry could score achievements similar to their southern counterparts.
The illustrations are overall very effective, reinforcing the narrative by mixing contemporary engravings and photographs with new paintings. The high point for me was the photographs taken of the brigade at their arrival in Baton Rouge by a southern spy. That kind of attention to detail sets this book apart.
The conclusion must be that not only was Grierson´s raid a massive success, but also that the quality of this book does it all the credit it deserves.
The book takes ample time explaining the strategic situation and planning for the raid, showing how the raid was to divert confederate commander Pemberton's mind and resources from Grant's proposed outflanking of Vicksburg and was supported by other diversionary raids. These helped to conceal the real intentions of the raid from the enemy for five days.
Lardas shows also that careful attention was paid to the composition of the force and its equipment so as to balance speed and fighting power. This meant for example that six light guns were added that would have been easily overpowered on a Civil War battlefield but proved their value against local scratch forces encountered on the raid.
The description of the raid itself focuses on the tactical decisions made by Grierson. He successfully kept the confederates of his tail by speed (around 40 miles on a good day), diversions and active disinformation. This for example involved a section of troops disguised as southern soldiers, the detachment of several hundred less mobile troopers (the 'Quinine brigade') early on to suggest he was returning to Tennessee and releasing southern troops on parole after overhearing planted information.
This part also shows how hard it was for confederate troops to catch these highly mobile troops. All the information reaching Pemberton was outdated, and local commanders had to deal with Grierson's methods of disinformation. And yet they almost managed to ensnare the raiding force.
A few other fine points I took away were the great care taken by the Union troops to treat the local civilians well, the importance of rivers as obstacles for movement and the use of parole to deal with confederate prisoners. I have no idea how well parole was observed over time, but in a society with high emphasis on personal honour as in the South, this may have been effective after the campaign.
In the final part Lardas draws up the balance sheet which is almost exclusively positive for the Union force. Great damage had been done to the Mississippi railroads, telegraph and war materials. A significant number of troops had been tied down that could not be used against Grant. Also a number of slaves had been freed and a great moral victory had been scored, showing that Union cavalry could score achievements similar to their southern counterparts.
The illustrations are overall very effective, reinforcing the narrative by mixing contemporary engravings and photographs with new paintings. The high point for me was the photographs taken of the brigade at their arrival in Baton Rouge by a southern spy. That kind of attention to detail sets this book apart.
The conclusion must be that not only was Grierson´s raid a massive success, but also that the quality of this book does it all the credit it deserves.
October 28, 2010
A retelling of the Grierson Raid as Ulysses Grant was beginning the process of investing Vicksburg during the Civil War.... This 1863 adventure sent Benjamin Grierson and his cavalry on a raid into Mississippi to baffle and bedevil Confederate forces and obscure Grant's movements.
Starting the raid from LaGrange, Tennessee, Grierson (a former music teacher from Illinois), led his brigade on a movement to the south. His aim was to disrupt Confederate communications (including tearing up railroad tracks) and create consternation that would help disguise Grant's movements by focusing Confederate attention on the raid.
This book looks at the plan of action and how it was i9mplemented. For instance, at one point, Grierson sent some of his troops back to LaGrange, hopefully to induce the southern forces to think that his force had retreated while, in fact, his main body continued its southern march. Pages 18-23 outline the various Confederate forces that Grierson's men would have to contend with.
The heart of the book, though, is the day-by-day description of the raid. Pages 36 through 39 outline the action taking place during the sixteen day raid. Some helpful maps give a sense of the geography of the raid.
All in all, a nice, albeit slender, volume on one of the most famous cavalry raids of the Civil War.
Starting the raid from LaGrange, Tennessee, Grierson (a former music teacher from Illinois), led his brigade on a movement to the south. His aim was to disrupt Confederate communications (including tearing up railroad tracks) and create consternation that would help disguise Grant's movements by focusing Confederate attention on the raid.
This book looks at the plan of action and how it was i9mplemented. For instance, at one point, Grierson sent some of his troops back to LaGrange, hopefully to induce the southern forces to think that his force had retreated while, in fact, his main body continued its southern march. Pages 18-23 outline the various Confederate forces that Grierson's men would have to contend with.
The heart of the book, though, is the day-by-day description of the raid. Pages 36 through 39 outline the action taking place during the sixteen day raid. Some helpful maps give a sense of the geography of the raid.
All in all, a nice, albeit slender, volume on one of the most famous cavalry raids of the Civil War.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews