The President’s Message:
A big thank you to Jeff Falkin for a great program about the USS Monitor
that he presented at the May meeting.
The model ship that Jeff brought with him gave a better
understanding of life aboard that vessel.
If you were tall, this was not the vessel for you.
I will present a program at the July 8th meeting on the use
of banking checks during the War.
I have actual checks from that time period that will be passed
around.
See you at the meeting.
Gerridine LaRovere
The Battle of Tupelo
The Battle of Tupelo took place on July 14 and15, 1864, and of course,
took place in Tupelo, Mississippi.
There was a Union victory over Confederate forces in northeastern
part of the state. This
ensured the safety of Major General William T. Sherman supply lines
during the Atlanta Campaign.
In 1864, the Union and Confederates were focused on the fighting in
Virginia and Georgia. Now
the fighting in northwestern Georgia was interwoven with the military
operations in northeast Mississippi.
The Confederate forces of Lt.-General Stephen Lee and Major
General Nathan Bedford Forrest had to be prevented from striking middle
Tennessee and destroying the single-track railroad over where Sherman’s
army drew its supplies. Lee
was a distant relative of Robert E. Lee.
The battles of Brice’s Crossroads and Tupelo were fought to
protect that railroad.
After the Union defeat at Brice’s Crossroads, Union forces under command
of General Samuel Sturgis retreated after being soundly defeated by
troops under CSA General Forrest.
The battle added to the legend of Forrest and frustrating Union
plans in Mississippi. The
defeat of Sturgis by an inferior force of Rebels was another in a long
line of Union attempts to remove Forrest as a threat in the western
theater. After Sturgis
retreat, General William T. Sherman began to devise a plan to remove the
problem, “I have two officers at Memphis that will fight all the time…A.
J. Smith and Joseph Mower... I will order them to make up a force and go
out and follow Forrest to the death if it cost 10,000 lives and breaks
the treasury. There will
never be peace in Tennessee until Forrest is dead.”
With these orders Sherman launched a third raid into Mississippi
in June and July, 1864 to remove a potential threat to his supply and to
defeat his most able and persistent adversary.
The two generals tapped by Sherman were more than capable.
Andrew Jackson Smith, commander of the right wing of the XVI
Corps, was a West Point graduate, class of 1838, who had served in the
Regular Army with the First Dragoons and had service in the West,
reaching the rank of major before commanding the 2nd
California Cavalry at the start of the War.
He resigned to become cavalry chief for General Henry Halleck,
participated in several western campaigns, and became a major general.
General Joseph Mower, commander 1st Division XVI Corps was
one of Sherman’s favorite generals.
Calling him “one of the boldest soldiers we have.”
Sherman promised Mower a major general’s commission if he was
successful in killing Forrest.
Sherman even went so far as to convince President Lincoln to keep
his promise to Mower should something happen to Sherman.
Mower entered army service as a private in the Mexican War and
returned to the army seven years later as a second lieutenant in the 1st
Infantry. He rose in rank as the
War progressed.
Major General A.J. Smith with a combined force of more than 14,000 men
left LaGrange, Tennessee on July 5th and advanced south with
little opposition. Marching
in two columns, they ravaged the country as they moved until they
approached Pontotoc, Mississippi.
As they drew near the town, Smith’s advance was checked by
Brigadier-General James Chalmers.
Meanwhile, Forrest made preparations for battle near Okolona,
Mississippi.
Lieutenant-General Lee was also with the forces and assumed general
command. Three attempts to
advance were checked by Forrest’s forces on various roads.
On July 12th both columns turned off toward Tupelo.
Lee moved with the divisions of Chambers and Brigadier-General
Abraham Buford to attack Smith’s flank.
Forrest with Mabry’s Brigade, the escort, and his regiment
assailed to the rear. A
running fight was kept up for ten miles; however, there was no
considerable advantage to either side.
There was a brilliant dash made upon the Federal wagon train by
Chalmers with Rucker’s Brigade.
He had possession of the wagon train for a time and killed all
the mules. This forced the
teamsters to abandon and burn seven wagons, one caisson, and two
ambulances.
On the morning of July 14th Smith took a strong position at
Harrisburg, Mississippi and entrenched.
Lee reacted by forming lines with Roddey’s Brigade on the left
and Crossland’s Brigade in the middle, and Bell’s Brigade in the front
line on Mabry’s right.
These troops were all dismounted.
Chalmer’s and Buford’s divisions were held in reserve.
The plan of attack was to swing to the right but, Lyon’s brigade
became engaged first and was forced to fall back with heavy losses.
Chalmer’s division dismounted and was ordered forward.
Mabry and Bell were repulsed; Rucker’s Brigade made an equally
futile assault. The men
fought with great courage but were at the mercy of the fire of superior
and entrenched troops. Many
men fell from exhaustion in the heat of the July sun.
A little after noon the Confederates fell back.
The Federals were content with tearing up the railroad near
Tupelo and burning houses in Harrisburg.
On the 15th, it seemed likely that Smith would not attack.
Buford made a demonstration on his left flank.
Soon Smith began a retreat and a vigorous pursuit began.
At Old Town Creek, Buford came up with the Federals in line of
battle and was driven back in confusion.
McCulloch was ordered to attack but was speedily repulsed.
Forrest and McCulloch were severely wounded and command of the
forces devolved upon Chalmers.
Though the pursuit continued, there was but a few skirmishes.
Sherman was closing in on Atlanta and was irritated that Smith had not
pressed Forrest in Tupelo.
If Forrest had been allowed to raid into the middle of Tennessee, it
could have been disastrous for the Federals.
Although Smith failed to destroy Forrest’s Cavalry Corps at
Tupelo, he did break its effectiveness.
Forrest would rally his horsemen for a few more daring raids, but
they never again would fight and defeat infantry.
Last changed: 07/01/26 |
