Meridian campaign

Meridian campaign
Part of the American Civil War
Date February 14, 1864 (1864-02-14)–February 20, 1864 (1864-02-20) Location Lauderdale County, Mississippi 32°21′55″N 88°42′15″W / 32.3654°N 88.7043°W / 32.3654; -88.7043 Result Union victory[1][2]
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
William T. Sherman	Leonidas Polk
Units involved
Army of the Tennessee	Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana
Strength
26,847	Unknown
Casualties and losses
170	Unknown

The Meridian campaign or Meridian expedition took place from February 3 – March 6, 1864, from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Meridian, Mississippi, by the Union Army of the Tennessee, led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman.^[3] Sherman captured Meridian, Mississippi, inflicting heavy damage to it.^[1] The campaign is viewed by historians as a prelude to Sherman's March to the Sea (Savannah campaign) in that a large swath of damage and destruction was inflicted on Central Mississippi as Sherman marched across the state and back.

Two supporting columns were under the command of Brigadier General William Sooy Smith and Colonel James Henry Coates. Smith's expedition was tasked to destroy a rebel cavalry commanded by Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest, maintain communications with Middle Tennessee and take men from the defense on the Mississippi River to the Atlanta campaign. To maintain communications, it was to protect the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Coates' expedition moved up the Yazoo River and for a while occupied Yazoo City, Mississippi.^[4]