Battle of Ellis Bridge (Civil War)

Leaving Okolona Union Generals Smith and Grierson entered the Prairie land of Mississippi. The land between Okolona and West Point had been dubbed in the 19th Century as "The Land of Egypt" due to its abundance of granaries, corn cribs, gin houses, cotton in the Prairie. These commodities were supporting the Confederate army. They were considered a target for demolition and destruction by the Union army. A lot of these stores were found along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. As the Federals pushed farther south down the M & O Railroad,they burned these supplies. Slaves left the Plantations and attached themselves to the Federal army. They, and the Federals, began burning homes and barns. The burning became so intense smoke could be seen for miles all the way down to West Point.