The state Department of Archives and History has authorized a historical marker at the Winston County Chamber of Commerce Building beside the Winston County Library.
The marker acknowledges and reminds persons of Grierson's Raid in 1863, through Winston County. The sign marks the site and date of when Union cavalry led by Col. Benjamin F. Grierson approached Louisville. According to the sign, during the Vicksburg Campaign of the Union Army, a Union Calvary Raid let y Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson moved from LaGrange, Tennessee to the Southern Railroad at Newton Station. On April 22, 1863 the Union Calvarymen road into Louisville. It was nearly dark when they approached the town. A battalion of the 6th Illinois Cavalry was sent to picket the town and remained until the column had passed. Grierson’s exhausted men stopped at Estes Plantation in Winston County just North of Noxapater for two to three hours to rest before heading to Philadelphia.
In the raid, Grierson continued south toward Newton. The historical marker has a green background, gold leaf lettering and a white magnolia blossom at the top.
Frances Woodruff, a member of the Winston Guards No. 2643, United Daughters of the Confederacy who raised most of the $2100 for the sign, said, “Most don’t know the important history of the county and maybe this marker will spark some interest.”
She added that it took the UDC and others about 2 and half years to raise the funds for the marker but that it was worth it to help preserve the history of Winston County.
While Grierson is best known for the Civil War raid, Colonel Grierson after the war helped organize and led the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment from 1866 to 1890. Grierson was was the only white officer to support and lead the Buffalo Soldiers.
