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Tupelo National Battlefield - Mississippi
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| Tupelo National Battlefield Scene of the Civil War Battle of Tupelo, the small park is located just off the Natchez Trace Parkway. |
The Battle of Tupelo, Mississippi
On July 14-15, 1864, Union and Confederate forces clashed within
the limits of modern-day Tupelo, Mississippi, in a critical
engagement that helped assure the success of Sherman's Atlanta
Campaign. The Battle of Tupelo is commemorated today by a small
one-acre memorial park just off the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Maintained by the National Park Service, the Tupelo National
Battlefield is located in the vicinity of the points where the first two
Confederate attacks struck the Union defensive lines during the
battle. In addition to a commemorative monument, there are
interpretive panels and two cannon at the site.
The Battle of Tupelo began when Major General A.J. Smith marched
south from Memphis in response to orders from General William
Tecumseh Sherman to "follow Forrest to the death, if it costs 10,000
lives and breaks the Treasury." Forrest, of course, was Major
General Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Confederacy's famed "Wizard
of the Saddle." He had already smashed a Union army at nearby
Brices Cross Roads and Sherman feared he might move into
Tennessee and cut the supply lines of the Federal campaign into
Georgia.
After maneuvering for several days, Smith and his men dug in and
waited for Forrest and his commanding officer, Major General
Stephen D. Lee, to attack. The two Confederate generals launched a
series of vicious attacks against the Union entrenchments. In a
battle that was out of character for the two highly capable Southern
commanders, the attacks were uncoordinated and ill-advised. The
Confederates suffered excessive casualties, among them Forrest
himself who was wounded in the fighting.
The ferocity of the charges, however, succeeded at least in
convincing Smith of the wisdom of withdrawing back to Memphis. He
had succeeded in his objective, however, of damaging Forrest's
ability to move on Sherman's supply lines.
Most of the battlefield is now heavily developed, but some portions
survive. The only significant interpretation is at the Tupelo National
Battlefield, which is located at the intersection of Monument Drive
and West Main Street in Tupelo. If you are exiting the Natchez Trace
Parkway, turn east on West Main Street (following the signs) and
then turn right onto Monument Drive.
A word of caution, traffic can be heavy around the park so please be
careful. There are no facilities at the battlefield. Additional
information is available at the Natchez Trace Parkway visitor center
just north of Tupelo.
the limits of modern-day Tupelo, Mississippi, in a critical
engagement that helped assure the success of Sherman's Atlanta
Campaign. The Battle of Tupelo is commemorated today by a small
one-acre memorial park just off the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Maintained by the National Park Service, the Tupelo National
Battlefield is located in the vicinity of the points where the first two
Confederate attacks struck the Union defensive lines during the
battle. In addition to a commemorative monument, there are
interpretive panels and two cannon at the site.
The Battle of Tupelo began when Major General A.J. Smith marched
south from Memphis in response to orders from General William
Tecumseh Sherman to "follow Forrest to the death, if it costs 10,000
lives and breaks the Treasury." Forrest, of course, was Major
General Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Confederacy's famed "Wizard
of the Saddle." He had already smashed a Union army at nearby
Brices Cross Roads and Sherman feared he might move into
Tennessee and cut the supply lines of the Federal campaign into
Georgia.
After maneuvering for several days, Smith and his men dug in and
waited for Forrest and his commanding officer, Major General
Stephen D. Lee, to attack. The two Confederate generals launched a
series of vicious attacks against the Union entrenchments. In a
battle that was out of character for the two highly capable Southern
commanders, the attacks were uncoordinated and ill-advised. The
Confederates suffered excessive casualties, among them Forrest
himself who was wounded in the fighting.
The ferocity of the charges, however, succeeded at least in
convincing Smith of the wisdom of withdrawing back to Memphis. He
had succeeded in his objective, however, of damaging Forrest's
ability to move on Sherman's supply lines.
Most of the battlefield is now heavily developed, but some portions
survive. The only significant interpretation is at the Tupelo National
Battlefield, which is located at the intersection of Monument Drive
and West Main Street in Tupelo. If you are exiting the Natchez Trace
Parkway, turn east on West Main Street (following the signs) and
then turn right onto Monument Drive.
A word of caution, traffic can be heavy around the park so please be
careful. There are no facilities at the battlefield. Additional
information is available at the Natchez Trace Parkway visitor center
just north of Tupelo.
| Site of the Battle of Tupelo, Mississippi Another view of the small Tupelo National Battlefield, located on West Main Street in Tupelo. |
| The Battle of Tupelo, Mississippi An interpretive panel at the park includes this map of the 1864 battle. The park preserves a small parcel near the scene of the first and second attacks. |