In April 1863 Union Army Forces were closing 

in on Vicksburg Mississippi in an attempt to cut 

the Confederacy in half.   Vicksburg was the last 

remaining Fortress city on the Mississippi River, 

linking the Confederate States of Texas, 

Arkansas, and Louisiana to the rest of the 

Confederate States in the South. Union Forces 

under General U.S. Grant had maneuvered 

from Memphis in the North and Baton Rouge 

Louisiana in the South to a point where 

Vicksburg itself was surrounded and cut off 

from the rest of the South. Formidable def-

fenses of the City still controlled the River and 

prevented the free passage north and south of 

River traffic from and to the Northern States.

Vicksburg was surrounded, but Confederate 

Forces in Mississippi still posed a threat to the 

attacking Union Forces. 

Of particular importance to the Confederacy 

was the North South Railroad that ran from 

Tupelo Mississippi south through Meridian 

Mississippi.This important rail link was vital to 

the resupply and movement of troops to 

reinforce Confederate Forces attempting to 

break through to lift the siege on Vicksburg. In 

a daring plan to disrupt Confederate Forces, a 

large Union Cavalry Raid was organized in La 

Grange Tennessee. This Brigade sized raiding 

force led by Colonel Benjamin Grierson Set out 

to ride the length of the state of Mississippi 

destroying the railroad along the way. This 

railroad passed through Oktibbeha County 

Mississippi and the raiding force came right 

down the Houston Road to Starkville. 

Grierson's command consisted of Sixth and 

Seventh Illinois, and the Second Iowa. On April 

17,1863 Colonel Grierson led the long column 

of seventeen hundred officers and men out of 

La Grange and headed south.

As he reached the Price House he sent the 

Second Iowa to West Point Mississippi in an 

effort to cut the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The 

raid itself was one of the highlights of Grant's 

Vicksburg Campaign and was later depicted in 

the John Wayne Movie, "The Horse Soldiers."

About 10 miles North of Starkville, the raiders 

swarmed into farmhouses seizing food, 

livestock, horses, weapons, and other 

valuables Around noon on April 20, 1863 they 

entered the farm of Thomas Price. 

Malinda was at home with other family 

members and slaves that were working on the 

farm. The raiders ransacked and burned the 

house. After the war, Malinda submitted a 

Southern Claims Petition to recover property 

lost, damaged, or stolen by the raiders.

This petition contained 83 pages of statements, 

affidavits, lists, and inventories chronicling the 

events that occurred on that day.

The Petition starts out with the claim itself 

listing the items claimed missing, destroyed, or 

damaged. The total amount of the claim was 

$2,307.50. The claim itself is very meticulously 

researched, at least the portion done in 1873. 

There were rules about filing the petitions and 

the petitioners had to demonstrate they were

not Secessionists. If they owned slaves, then 

two slaves were required to testify to support 

the claim. To support Malinda's claim neighbors 

Robert Malone and Robert C. Daniels testified. 

Frank Burton and Christian Westbrook, slaves 

owned by Thomas Price also testified.

Robert Malone testified on July 12 1875. 

According to his testimony he was about 63 

years old when the raiders came. He lived 

about two miles from "Tom Price." Robert 

described Malinda trying to defend the house