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In the Second Half of 1863 Union Armies Won Important Victories At who had become a millionaire before he was 40 double, were exhausted from the march along Students and critics of military tactics agree and had risen from private to major general, to the muddy roads made almost impassable by tor­ that the engagement was characterized by the strike Sherman's line of communications in mid­ rential rains the night before. Many never even hardest kind of fighting and was a brilliant tacti­ dle Tennessee. Forrest had distinguished himself crossed Tishomingo Creek. cal victory for Forrest. Despite this, the battle at by his ability to move fast and fight hard. He lacked Forrest pressed his attack and by midafternoon Brices Cross Roads did not bring relief to the formal training in military science, but he acted pushed the Union lines back to the cross­ Confederacy. Sherman, on this and other occa­ on the simple maxim that in warfare it was all- roads. Sturgis began a careful withdrawal. But sions, forestalled any attack on the Nashville- important to get to the decisive point of the battle at Tishomingo Creek bridge there was trouble Chattanooga railroad by sending small commands first with the most men. Gifted with daring and when a wagon overturned as the Federals into northern Mississippi. Assured of adequate inspirational leadership, he had an uncanny abil­ recrossed the stream. Some 8 miles up the road, reinforcements and supplies, he won the Atlanta ity to carry into execution his theory of successful as they crossed the treacherous Hatchie River and later campaigns which made the collapse of bottom, many of the soldiers panicked and the the Confederacy inevitable. In the second half of 1863 Union armies won warfare. So on June 1 Forrest put his columns in retreat became a rout. Most of the artillery and important victories at Vicksburg, Gettysburg, motion at Tupelo, Miss., and three days later was wagon train were abandoned, and, in the wild VISITING THE BATTLEFIELD and Chattanooga. Four of the 11 Confederate in Russellville, Ala., a day's march from the 0) Tennessee River. flight to Memphis, more than 1,500 Federals Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site is States were completely in Union hands. The were captured. located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of strong positions Union armies held all around Sherman knew that his supply line was vulner­ Baldwyn on Miss. 370. The park consists of only the Confederacy were further strengthened when able and therefore charged Gen. Samuel D. Stur- a small piece of land, but from it much of the •o Lincoln unified all the various commands and gis to move out of Memphis into northern Missis­ scene of action is within view. There are no fa­ named Ulysses Grant supreme commander on sippi and hold Forrest there. Alerted by Lee of cilities or personnel at Brices, but park interpre­ March 9,1864. Grant took command of the Sturgis' moves, Forrest hurried back to Tupelo. ters at the Tupelo visitor center of the Natchez Army of the Potomac and placed William T. Forrest began concentrating CO his forces, which Trace Parkway can answer your questions. Sherman in charge of the western armies. This coordination of the Union war effort resulted in numbered two great armies poised for the simultaneous approximately invasion of the South. 3,500 men, along the railroad The Battle of Brices Cross Roads 2 between The Union plan for war in the west was to bisect This type of wagon, with a Guntown, the South east of the Mississippi with Sherman's six-mule team, was commonly Baldwyn.and army working out of Chattanooga and Nashville. used by both sides during the Booneville. His task was to destroy the Confederate Army led war. A Union supply wagon On the evening by Joseph E. Johnston, occupy Atlanta, and if turned over on the Tishomingo of June 9, he knew from his scouts that Sturgis, possible, go on to Savannah and Charleston. Creek bridge blocking the with about 8,100 men, was in camp at Stubbs From May to September, Sherman fought dogged­ crossing. Farm 13 to 16 kilometers (8 to 10 miles) from ly through northern Georgia, finally forcing, with Brices Cross Roads. Both armies marched at dawn. the aid of a change in the Confederate command, the evacuation of Atlanta. Forrest, who had scouted his enemy well, planned to attack at Brices. But Sturgis' cavalry Early in the Atlanta campaign, the Confederate reached and passed the crossroads before the high command had considered the possibility of Confederates got there. Forrest, approaching attacking from Mississippi Sherman's vulnerable along the Baldwyn Road, met the Union patrols supply line—the one-track railroad from Nashville about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) east of Brices. The to Chattanooga. Late in May, Gen. Stephen D. Confederates checked the Union advance and by Lee, who commanded the Department of Alabama, noon, with rapid reinforcement, were attacking Mississippi, and East Louisiana, directed Gen. vigorously. The Union forces, called up on the Nathan Bedford Forrest, an unschooled farmboy Battles often ret oh c around laden and Gen. Joseph A. Mower—"a young and game offi­ captured Confederate wounded, marched 6.5 kilo­ daring exploits. But a lot more goes into what cer," Sherman called him. He commanded about meters (4 miles) north, and camped. Again For­ happens In fore, during, end after the half of Smith's force. The Yankees marched into rest's men attacked. And in a swirling, confused fighting. The la) of the land is important. north Mississippi, fighting and skirmishing along fight, the Federals drove them off. The next day Availabilit) of supplies plays a crucial role. the way. Smith's men took up their march to La Grange. Weather, too, can he decisive. Gen. Stephen Lee and General Forrest knew The Confederates followed cautiously for 2 days, When the Battle of Brices Cross Roach that Smith and Mower were trying to bring the but without venturing another major attack. FOR YOUR SAFETY took- place, torrential rains had soaked the area Confederates to battle. They believed that the Neither side could claim complete victory. Lee Do not allow your visit to be spoiled by an acci­ and swollen streams, making them, specific­ best move on their part would be to await attack and Forrest could say that the Union forces had dent. While every effort has been made to provide ally Tishomingo Creek, impassable. When the in a fortified position. They chose Okolona, 29 turned back after the battle. The Confederates, for your safety, there are still hazards which re­ Union wagon overturned on the bridge, the kilometers (18 miles) south of Tupelo, for their however, had not fought with their usual skill. quire your alertness and vigilance. Exercise com­ retreat turned into a rout. defensive line. Forrest's soldiers "went in by piece-meal and mon sense and caution. For a pleasant park ex­ When the Battle of Tupelo took place But to prepare a strong position, troops through­ were slaughtered by wholesale," a Confederate perience, watch your children and don't let them fire weeks later, the laud was dry and parched, out north Mississippi had to be drawn to Okolona. officer wrote years later. The attacks, Smith re­ stray. Drive defensively. Although the Federals had carried the day Union cavalry learned that Tupelo was now un­ ported, "were gallantly made, but without order, militarily, they began to run short of supplies protected, and on July 13 the Union forces head­ organization, or skill." and had to return to Memphis. The heat. ed in that direction. By taking the town they not Temporarily the railroad was safe. Smith had dusty roads, and Lick of water sapped a man's only could gain a hold on the Mobile & Ohio Rail­ not followed Forrest "to the death," but he had energy and prei ented a serious pursuit by road, but also could force the Confederates to held him for a time. Sherman gave him credit for VISITING THE BATTLEFIELD the Confederates. attack them—in a fortified position. Realizing that and sent him out to fight Forrest again in Au­ Tupelo National Battlefield Site is located near The weather was not the only factor in what was happening Forrest hurried up with his gust. And again he kept Forrest away from the the place where the Confederate line was formed these battles, but it did have an impact. We main force to attack the long Union column. The railroad. In September, Forrest rode into Tennes­ to attack the Union position. The park is within may not consider it today, but certainly northern soldiers beat off the attacks and marched see. His men saw hard service, but it had no ef­ the city limits of Tupelo, Miss., on Miss. 6 about the soldiers thought about, and perhaps cursed, on, reaching Harrisburg about dark that same eve­ fect on the outcome of the war. Sherman was 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) west of its intersection the rain and then the sun. ning. At the little village, now within the Tupelo beyond Atlanta and beyond the railroad; he was with U.S. 45. It is 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) east UNION POSITIONS UNION WITHDRAWAL city limits, they camped, awaiting certain attack marching through Georgia. of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Park interpreters The Battle of Tupelo the next day, for as Lee said, Smith's army must Brices and Tupelo were small parts of a new at the Tupelo visitor center of the parkway can CONFEDERATE ATTACKS As far as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was be "dealt with vigorously and at once." kind of warfare—what the 20th century would call answer your questions and provide information all repulsed concerned, the fighting in Mississippi in the sum­ The battle opened in the early morning as part "total war." After Grant took command in the about the battle.
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