In August 1862, Confederate Gen. Sterling Price ordered Gen. Frank C. Armstrong to raid West Tennessee with a 2,000-man cavalry brigade to determine the strength and location of Union forces. After leaving Guntown, Mississippi, on August 22 and reaching Holly Springs four days later, Armstrong was joined by Col. William H. Jackson’s mounted regiments, bringing the combined force to 3,000 men. Crossing into Tennessee on August 29, they rode northeast, met Union Col. Mortimer Leggett’s brigade near Bolivar, and fought most of the day; both commanders claimed victory, but Federal forces held the field. Armstrong then bypassed Bolivar’s fortifications and destroyed railroad and telegraph facilities between Toone and Medon, while Federal detachments gathered at Medon Station, built a cotton-bale barricade, and repelled a Confederate attack. Expecting the raiders to move toward Jackson, Union Col. Elias S. Dennis led the 20th and 30th Illinois Infantry, an Illinois artillery battery, and two Ohio cavalry companies east to intercept them. On September 1, the two forces unexpectedly collided at Britton Lane, where the outnumbered Federals held a strong position behind a rail fence on a small ridge and beat back repeated dismounted Confederate assaults. Federal infantry then countercharged and retook two captured Union cannons. At about 3 p.m., Armstrong broke off the attack, withdrew south, and left nearly 200 Confederates dead. Union casualties were light, though more than 200 were captured and paroled at Denmark Church. Armstrong accomplished his mission, but at heavy cost.