Overview
General William T. Sherman returned to Vicksburg, Mississippi, after Union forces broke out of Chattanooga in November 1863. He planned to destroy Confederate transportation networks, supplies, and other infrastructure in Mississippi. Sherman hoped this operation would free Union troops for operations farther east, including the upcoming Atlanta Campaign.
Sherman left Vicksburg on February 3, 1864, with about 20,000 soldiers and marched toward Meridian, Mississippi, an important Confederate railroad center and military outpost. Sherman also ordered General William Sooy Smith to lead about 7,000 cavalrymen south from Memphis, Tennessee, and join him at Meridian.
As Sherman approached, Confederate General Leonidas Polk gathered troops to defend Meridian. Polk eventually decided that his forces could not stop a Union attack and evacuated the city on February 14. Sherman entered Meridian that same day and waited for Smith.
Smith never arrived. He had delayed his departure for 10 days beyond Sherman’s ordered date. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked Smith’s cavalry and defeated it at the Battle of Okolona (February 22). Forrest forced Smith to retreat into Tennessee, preventing him from joining Sherman.
Sherman waited at Meridian from February 14 through February 20 without knowing about Smith’s difficulties. During the occupation, he ordered his troops “to wipe the appointed meeting place off the map.” Union soldiers destroyed more than 100 miles of railroad and burned buildings, supplies, and equipment that could support the Confederate war effort.
Sherman eventually left Meridian and returned toward Vicksburg. The operation ended as a Union victory without major combat or confirmed casualties. Although Confederate workers restored railroad service in less than a month, the campaign gave Sherman an opportunity to develop the destructive strategy he later used during the Atlanta Campaign, his “March to the Sea,” and the Carolinas Campaign.
Essential Facts
- Date: February 14–20, 1864.
- Location: Lauderdale County, in and near Meridian, Mississippi.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: William T. Sherman.
- CSA Commanders: Leonidas Polk.
- Who Won: The United States won the Battle of Meridian.
- Campaign: Meridian Campaign.
- Era: Civil War, January–April, 1864.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: Undetermined.
- Forces Engaged: Department of the Tennessee.
- Troop Strength: Approximately 26,847.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: Undetermined.
- Forces Engaged: Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana.
- Troop Strength: Undetermined.
Significance
The Battle of Meridian is important to American history because it gave General William T. Sherman an opportunity to develop the destructive strategy he later used against Confederate resources in Georgia and the Carolinas. His soldiers destroyed more than 100 miles of railroad and burned buildings, supplies, and equipment that could support the Confederate war effort. Although Confederate workers restored railroad service in less than a month, Sherman later applied similar methods during the Atlanta Campaign, his “March to the Sea,” and the Carolinas Campaign.
History
Sherman Returns to Mississippi
Following the Federal breakout from Chattanooga in November 1863, Major General William T. Sherman returned to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Sherman intended to destroy Southern infrastructure in the area, freeing up troops to move east and to take part in his upcoming Atlanta Campaign.
Sherman Strikes Out for Meridian
Sherman left Vicksburg on February 3, 1864, with 20,000 soldiers headed for Meridian, Mississippi, an important Confederate rail center and military outpost. To augment his force, Sherman ordered Brigadier General William Sooy Smith to lead a cavalry force of 7,000 troopers from Memphis, Tennessee, and to join him at Meridian.
Polk Abandons Meridian
As Sherman’s main force of 20,000 soldiers moved toward Meridian, the Confederate commander in the area, Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk, began concentrating troops for the city’s defense. Ultimately, however, Polk decided that he could not hold off a federal assault, so he evacuated Meridian on February 14. Sherman entered the city on the same day and settled in to await Smith’s cavalry.
Smith Fails to Show
As events unfolded, Smith never reached Meridian. After delaying the start of his advance ten days beyond Sherman’s ordered date of departure, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry defeated Smith and his force at the Battle of Okolona on February 22. Forrest forced Smith to retreat into Tennessee, preventing his merger with Sherman.
Wipe the Appointed Meeting Place Off the Map
Unaware of Smith’s troubles, Sherman waited at Meridian for his arrival from February 14 through February 20. During that period, Sherman ordered his troops “to wipe the appointed meeting place off the map.” His soldiers responded by destroying over 100 miles of railroad and burning anything that might be of value to the Southern cause. When Sherman left Meridian to return to Vicksburg, he reportedly stated that “Meridian, with its depots, storehouses, arsenal, hospitals, offices, hotels, and cantonments no longer exists.”
Outcome of the Battle of Meridian
The outcome of the Battle of Meridian was a Union victory that had no recorded casualties. The casualties are either unknown or nonexistent, because there was no real combat. Sherman succeeded in temporarily destroying some significant Southern transportation facilities, but in less than one month, the Confederates restored railroad traffic.
Aftermath
The Battle of Meridian was significant because it presented Sherman with the opportunity to implement and perfect the concept of “total war,” which he would later use in Georgia and the Carolinas in the Atlanta Campaign, his “March to the Sea”, and the Carolinas Campaign.
Timeline
- 1863, November — William T. Sherman returned to Vicksburg after Union forces broke out of Chattanooga.
- 1864, February 3 — Sherman left Vicksburg with about 20,000 soldiers and marched toward Meridian.
- 1864, February 14 — Leonidas Polk evacuated Meridian after deciding his forces could not stop Sherman’s advance.
- 1864, February 14 — Sherman entered Meridian and waited for William Sooy Smith’s cavalry.
- 1864, February 14–20 — Sherman occupied Meridian while his troops destroyed more than 100 miles of railroad and other Confederate resources.
- 1864, February 20 — Sherman ended his wait for Smith at Meridian and returned toward Vicksburg.
- 1864, February 22 — Nathan Bedford Forrest defeated Smith’s cavalry at the Battle of Okolona and forced it to retreat into Tennessee.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Meridian (1864) — The Battle of Meridian was a Union victory during the Meridian Campaign in February 1864. William T. Sherman marched from Vicksburg toward Meridian, forcing Leonidas Polk to evacuate the city. William Sooy Smith failed to join Sherman after Nathan Bedford Forrest defeated his cavalry at the Battle of Okolona. Sherman occupied Meridian and ordered his troops to destroy railroads, supplies, and other resources before returning to Vicksburg.
Alignment
The Battle of Meridian is part of the following AP US History sections:
