Steele's Greenville expedition

Steele's Greenville expedition
Part of the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War
Major General Frederick Steele, who commanded the expedition
Date April 2, 1863 (1863-04-02) – April 25, 1863 (1863-04-25) Location Greenville, Mississippi and the Deer Creek area 33°23′55″N 91°2′54″W / 33.39861°N 91.04833°W / 33.39861; -91.04833 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Steele	Samuel W. Ferguson Stephen Dill Lee
Strength
5,600	4,300

Steele's Greenville expedition took place from April 2 to 25, 1863, during the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War. Union forces commanded by Major General Frederick Steele occupied Greenville, Mississippi, and operated in the surrounding area, to divert Confederate attention from a more important movement made in Louisiana by Major General John A. McClernand's corps. Minor skirmishing between the two sides occurred, particularly in the early stages of the expedition. Over 1,000 slaves were freed during the operation, and large quantities of supplies and animals were destroyed or removed from the area. Along with other operations, including Grierson's Raid, Steele's Greenville expedition distracted Confederate attention from McClernand's movement. Some historians have suggested that the Greenville expedition represented Union war policy shifting more towards expanding the war to Confederate social and economic structures and the Confederate homefront.