Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s Correspondence from Oxford, Mississippi – December 19, 1862

December 19, 1862.

Union General US Grant was headquartered in Oxford, Mississippi with the Army of the Tennessee.

Grant was concerned about Confederate Cavalry movements in North Mississippi and he sent telegrams to Union Colonel Robert C. Murphy stationed in Holly Springs.

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Trivia Question:

Where was the now defunct town of Rocky Ford that General Grant mentions in his telegrams to Colonel Murphy?

Union General Ulysses S. Grant

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Oxford, Miss., December 19, 1862.
To Colonel Robert C. Murphy, Holly Springs :

Jackson is moving north with a large force of Cavalry. Will probably be at Rocky Ford to night. Send out all the Cavalry you can to watch their movements. I am sending Cavalry from the front to follow Jackson. Let the 2nd join them in pursuit.

U. S. Grant, Major-General.

Union Colonel Robert C. Murphy

Holly Springs, Miss., December 19, 1862.
General Grant:

Have ordered out all my cavalry as you order. Where is Rocky Ford you speak of? I found no map here and have none but what I have made of surrounding country that are reliable. Shall have cavalry on the New Albany and Pontotoc road. Will that be the course?

R. C. Murphy.

Union General Ulysses S. Grant

Oxford, Miss., December 19, 1862.
Col. R. C. Murphy, Holly Springs, Miss.:

Rocky Ford is on the Tallahatchie, about 20 miles above Abbeville, on railroad crossing. In the morning will be early enough for your cavalry to start, and then go due east from Holly Springs to watch the enemy. They must be on their guard not to be caught, and , if they can, retard the movements of Jackson until Mizner can get up.

U. S. Grant, Major-General.

Tags: Civil War, Confederate Cavalry, Holly Springs, Mississippi, Oxford, Robert C. Murphy, Rocky Ford, Ulysses S. Grant

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Newt Rayburn Newt Rayburn founded THE LOCAL VOICE in March of 2006. Previously, Newt was Editor of PROFANE EXISTENCE in Minneapolis, and Art Director for Ole Miss' LIVING BLUES magazine. Newt won a National Magazine Award in 1999 for his SOUTHERN MUSIC ISSUE with THE OXFORD AMERICAN. A seventh-generation Lafayette County, Mississippian, Newt Rayburn's alter ego—Neuter Cooter—lead the Mississippi band THE COOTERS to Rocknoll Glory across the USA from 1993-2018. Newt is a family man who also is a publisher, photographer, writer, musician, landlord, and Civil War enthusiast.