Streight' Raid: The Mule Brigade

In the Spring of 1863, Union commanders in Mississippi conceived a plan to strike the Confederate railroads and war industry plants in Alabama and Georgia. This was to force Confederate forces to withdraw out of Tennessee to allow Grant to attack Vicksburg and to prevent reinforcements from reaching Mississippi. However, the Union forces were using mules instead of horse's and the brilliant Nathan Bedford Forrest was able to capture the Union force before any damage was done.

Further Reading

Webb Garrison, Jr., Strange Battles of the Civil War

Ronald Domer, "Rebel Rout of Streight's Raiders", America's Civil War (September 1996)