I continued along the Natchez Trace until I reached Tupelo, Mississippi making a brief stop at the Tupelo National Battlefield site managed by the National Park Service.
This isn’t a very large site but does have some interesting history and a couple of old cannons if you are in to military history (hint: I am not very big on war or military things, I prefer nature).
Closer view of the large granite memorial to all Union and Confederate armies who battled at this place in 1864. Thankfully the U.S. Army won.
There are a handful of grave stones but these two are most clear, both dead Confederates. No better place for supporters and soldiers of the CSA to exist.
Some other small stone markers are scattered in the dirt but I can’t make out much about them.
I very much wanted to detail this stone monument stating “To Our Confederate Dead that gave their lives in battle here on July 14, 1864 For Their Rights erected 1918”. For those not aware of history, the Confederacy came about because a bunch of Southern bastards wanted to keep slavery of Africans and Black Americans as a normal practice. For some crazy reason, us folks in the North figured slavery is bad and should be abolished. Those dead Confederates died “for their right” to keep slaves. Good riddance.
A sign titled “Pushing for Victory” details how the Federal armies led by Major General Andrew J. Smith successfully defeated Confederate forces led by Major General Nathan B. Forrest and Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee. This kept them away from supply lines in Tennessee and allowed Major General William T. Sherman to capture Atlanta two months later. Sadly, Sherman was prevented from his goal of burning to the sea as should have been done…but that’s a discussion for another post.
My favorite sign and story from this location, titled “Strength from Behind”, details how United States Colored Troops (USCT) fought to heroically defend the rear of the column and allowed Federal troops to set up a defensive position that proved decisive in the outcome of the battle.
Black soldiers distinguished themselves in the Battle of Tupelo. “The colored brigade,” Smith wrote after the expedition, “fought excellently well, and showed the effect of discipline and drill, and I am free to confess that their action has removed from my mind a prejudice of twenty years’ standing.”
