Corinth- Mobile & Ohio Railroad Raid

Situation: On the 15th, Armstrong's cavalry moved into Tennessee. The troopers bypassed the small Federal garrison at Bethel Station and hit the Mobile & Ohio railroad several miles to the north, burning bridges and culverts. On the 16th the tracks between Jackson and Mount Pinson will be target. It is unknown if Jackson's cavalry brigade has been released by General Van Dorn to assist in the raid. Nearby Federal garrisons will surley be alerted by the time the raiders reach Jackson. It is important that the raiders accomplish their mission with a minimum of casualties so great care must be taken to avoid heavy fighting against a concentraded enemy.

Armstrong Arrives on the field. (0700 Sept 16th, 1862)

Brigadier General Armstrong's Cavalry Division is charged with distrupting the Federal Railroad lines between Jackson and Mount Pinson in order to deprive the enemy garrison at Corinth of vital supplies. General Armstrong arrvied on the field with 2,503 cavalry divided into Nine Regiments. Two detached Companies were sent out in advance of the main force as scouts, with orders to scout North-West along the pike up to the Mobile & Ohio Railroad to determine if any enemy forces were stationed at the junction between the railroad and the Deer River. The main force under Armstrong would follow behind to the junction and begin destroying the railroads.

Geographical Map of the Area of Operation (AO)

The target objective's (Junctions of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad) are marked by yellow boxes.