The expedition was under Generals Hovey and C.C.Washburn and was successful so far as reaching the railroad was concerned, but the damage done was very slight and was soon repaired.
The Tallahatchie, which confronted me, was very high, the railroad bridge destroyed and Pemberton strongly fortified on the south side.

A crossing would have been impossible in the presence of an enemy.

I sent the cavalry higher up the stream and they secured a crossing.

This caused the enemy to evacuate their position, which was possibly accelerated by the expedition of Hovey and Washburn.

The enemy was followed as far south as Oxford by the main body of troops, and some seventeen miles farther by McPherson's command.