LaGrange in Fayette County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Grierson's Raid

Apr. 17, 1863

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

1. Grierson's Raid Marker

Inscription. From here, Col. Benjamin H. Grierson's task force (6th Ill., 7th Ill., 2nd Ind. Cav., Btry "K", 1st Ill. Art.) raided into the deep south. Using as advanced guard Federals in Confederate uniform and other stratagems, he cut the Mobile & Ohio RR at West Point, destroyed the Vicksburg RR at Newton Sta., and otherwise disrupted Pemberton's measures for defending Vicksburg. He arrived in Federal territory at Baton Rouge May 3, 1863.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 59.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 3, 1819.

Location. 35° 2.73′ N, 89° 14.631′ W. Marker is in LaGrange, Tennessee, in Fayette County. It is on 3rd Street (State Highway 57), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moscow TN 38057, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee

and in Greater Memphis.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: La Grange (a few steps from this marker); LaGrange (within shouting distance of this marker); Immanuel Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Home of Lucy Holcombe Pickens (about

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700 feet away); Lucy Petway Holcombe Pickens House (approx. ¼ mile away); The Gloster - Anderson Graveyard (approx. half a mile away); Woodlawn (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Bird Dog & Field Trial Capital of the World (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in LaGrange.

Also see . . . Grierson's Raid. Some have called the raid the most effective of the Civil War. (Submitted on May 24, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

2. Grierson's Raid Marker

West out of LaGrange image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

3. West out of LaGrange

Grierson's Raid, which distracted Confederate attention from movements made by General Grant against Vicksburg, started in LaGrange. This view looks west from the main intersection in town. The raiders actually left LaGrange using the wartime Holly Springs Road, which ran beside Twin Gables, the house of John R. Blake. A trace of that road is visible off 3rd Street. That site is about a half mile west of the marker, near the Gloster-Anderson Graveyard Marker.

<i>Colonel Grierson, Sixth Illinois Cavalry - From a Photo by Jacobs of New Orleans image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cover of Harpers Weekly, Vol. VII, No. 336, June 6, 1863

4. Colonel Grierson, Sixth Illinois Cavalry - From a Photo by Jacobs of New Orleans

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,624 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 24, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on May 16, 2013.