Rousseau's Opelika Raid

Rousseau's Opelika Raid
Part of the American Civil War

Lovell Rousseau
DateJuly 10–22, 1864
(1 week and 5 days)
Location
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Lovell Rousseau James Holt Clanton
Strength
2,700, 2 guns 300
Casualties and losses
50 men, 1 gun 62 men, 30 miles of railroad infrastructure

Rousseau's Opelika Raid (July 10–22, 1864) saw 2,700 Union cavalry led by Major General Lovell Rousseau raid deep into Alabama in the Atlanta Campaign during the American Civil War. The successful raid began at Decatur, Alabama, and was only opposed by minimal forces of the Confederate States Army. The Union raiders rode south-southeast across the state destroying Confederate supplies and public property. They wrecked as much as 30 mi (48.3 km) of the Montgomery and West Point Railroad near Opelika, Alabama. The Union cavalry then turned northeast and joined the army of Major General William Tecumseh Sherman near Marietta, Georgia, while sustaining few casualties.