. History of the American Civil War . ubjects—I shall add a brief statement of some minor military af-fairs, thus clearing the way for an unobstructed view of thegreat and decisive campaigns. The Meridian expedition, on the description of which weThe Meridiau expe- now enter, is essentially connected with Sher-mans campaigns in the Atlantic States, towhich it was the prelude. Its bearing on those campaignsis shown by the fact that it greatly aided Thomas in ob-taining his victory at Nashville. The breaking up of theMeridian roads compelled Hood to linger long at Florence,waiting to obtain supp
. History of the American Civil War . ubjects—I shall add a brief statement of some minor military af-fairs, thus clearing the way for an unobstructed view of thegreat and decisive campaigns. The Meridian expedition, on the description of which weThe Meridiau expe- now enter, is essentially connected with Sher-mans campaigns in the Atlantic States, towhich it was the prelude. Its bearing on those campaignsis shown by the fact that it greatly aided Thomas in ob-taining his victory at Nashville. The breaking up of theMeridian roads compelled Hood to linger long at Florence,waiting to obtain supplies for his men. Until the rail-roads were repaired, these could reach him only by wag-its military conse- oning. The delay thus arising gave an op-queDces. portunity to prepare the army at Nashville, and, when Hood did advance, to deliver against him a de-cisive blow. By the destruction of Meridian and its railroads, notonly were the interior communications of the Confederacyseriously damaged, but it became possible to strip with. C-*^S\.^ o * \L Y, *3L ^ £ Q> THE KAILKOADS OF MISSISSIPPI. Chap. LXXIV.] THE MERIDIAN EXPEDITION. 207 impunity the garrisoned places on the Mississippi, and tomake 15,000 national troops available elsewhere. After the capture ofVicksburg it was intended to carrythe Meridian expedition into execution, but the intenseheat of the season, the drought, and the condition of themen, caused it for the time to be deferred. In Septemberit was necessary for Shermans forces to march to the reliefof Chattanooga, and subsequently to that of objects accomplished, the original intention was re-sumed. No one can peruse a narrative of the Meridian expedi-tion and of the collateral Confederate inove-oftheEmaudpaUon ments without perceiving that an importantepoch of the war had been reached. The mil-itary object of the expedition was sufficiently great, butsomething even more important was obviously taking placespontaneously. The social system of
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