After the Battle of Corinth, Van Dorn was removed from command of the army and placed instead in command of the cavalry under General John C. Pemberton.
Van Dorn's most impressive achievement of his career took place while in command of the cavalry. He led his troopers in action in December 1862 against the supply depot of Union general U.S. Grant located at Holly Springs, Mississippi.
His forces destroyed hundreds of thousand of dollars worth of supplies and disrupted Grant's operations against Vicksburg until the following year.
After the battle, Van Dorn took part in several minor cavalry skirmishes until his death in May 1863. On May 7, 1863, George B. Peters shot and killed Earl Van Dorn after Van Dorn had allegedly committed adultry with Peters' wife.
--Old Secesh
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