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Sherman at Meridian, and the combined forces would then pursue the Southerners. But Smith never arrived. His start had been delayed, and he did not get under way until February 10. When he finally got started, he ran into Maj. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest?s smaller force near Okolona, Mississippi. A sharp skirmish so alarmed Smith that he immediately retraced his steps toward Memphis with Forrest in hot pursuit.
Finally on the 20th Sherman decided he could not wait for Smith any longer, and the Federal forces began their return march to Vicksburg. Sherman chose a line north of his first route in the hope of meeting Smith. On the 26th the Federals bivouacked near Canton after a march that saw some harassment
by Confederate cavalry...... (Note: the following is disputed in the
text on page 6 of the draft of Chapter 7*1 include it only to flag it as something that is perhaps to change).:	The	day before
Sherman?s columns stopped at Canton, Pvt. Baxter got another chance at the retiring Yankees. Polk dispatched Adams? Brigade, including Baxter and the 20th Mississippi, into an area south and west of Canton, there to operate off the left flank of the Federal troops. Some skirmishing occurred, and Baxter might have fired a shot or two, but there was no real engagement. (end of disputed section). The Federals were back in Vicksburg on March 4, and the 20th Mississippi returned to Demopolis, Alabama, to await further orders. There on March 20, they were ordered on an expedition that proved to be one of the most extraordinary of the war.
The reason for the expedition was the presence in east central Mississippi of a "revolt" against the Southern Rebellion. To the south of the Southern Railroad of Mississippi and between the Pearl and Chickasawhay rivers, the rebellious territory covered half a dozen counties, principal of which were Jones and Smith. The area had never been sympathetic to the Confederate cause, and many of the inhabitants were openly pro-Union. This part of Mississippi lay in the Piney Woods section of the state, with dense forest growth laced with swamps. It held few slaves, and the natives held little love for the plantation owners elsewhere.
As the war progressed, it became a haven for deserters, stragglers, and those in open defiance of the Confederate States
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