Mississippi Central Railroad Campaign--Holly Springs

On November 17, 1862 General John Pemberton reviewed his troops here. The next day the army withdrew to a defensive position behind the Tallahatchie river. Union general Grant's forces arrived on the 29th. After learning that Pemberton had withdrawn, Grant moved to Waterford, 8 miles south on December 1. Holly Springs became a union depot. On December 20, the depot was destroyed by Van Dorn's Confederate cavalry, while N.B. Forest's men hit the railroad in west Tennessee forcing Grant to abandon his campaign.