it is unclear how long mcgehee served with the 6th battalion, but by january 1863 he was apparently a captain commanding an unnamed, unattached company of cavalry which was operating along the mississippi river, north of memphis tennessee. captain mcgehee stated in his after action report that he was acting under orders to reconnoiter the area, "burning cotton in that country and annoying the enemy on the mississippi river" wherever possible. mcgehee's primary target in these operations was union shipping along the river. mcgehee and his men were responsible for burning at least two steam ships. on january 6, 1863 mcgehee's troops captured and burned steamboat "jacob musselman" near memphis, later they also intercepted and burned the steamer "grampus no. 2". the operations by mcgehee led union official to make a raid and burn the homes of suspected bushwhackers in mound city, and hopefield arkansas.