Battle of Tupelo
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Tupelo was a Union victory over Confederate forces in northern Mississippi which ensured the safety of General William T. Sherman's supply lines.
victory at the battle of Brice's Crossroads
, the supply lines for Sherman's armies in Georgia
became increasingly vulnerable. District commander, Cadwallader C. Washburn
dispatched a force under General Andrew J. Smith to deal with Confederate cavalier, Nathan Bedford Forrest
.
not to attack until reinforcements arrived. The next day Lee arrived with 2,000 reinforcements. Smith withdrew from his current position towards Tupelo
. Forrest considered Smith's movements a retreat while Smith was intending to destroy the railroads at Tupelo. On the night of the 13th Smith constructed breastwork
s near Harrisburg, an abandoned town a mile west of Tupelo. Early on July 14 Lee ordered an assault on the Union lines. Lee attacked the Union right under General Joseph A. Mower
while Forrest assaulted the Union left held by Colonel David Moore and General Benjamin Grierson
. Throughout the morning Lee and Forrest led a series of uncoordinated attacks against defended positions which Forrest later claimed were impregnable.
During the night Smith burned the remains of Harrisburg but the flames illuminated his lines. Forrest led a daring night assault against the Union left defended by a brigade of USCT which held strong and repulsed Forrest. On July 15 Smith began to move north. Forrest attacked Smith's rearguard and was again repulsed and wounded in the foot. A few days later Smith returned to La Grange, Tennessee
from where he had originally departed.
The battle is commemorated at the Tupelo National Battlefield
, which was founded in 1929.
- Major General Andrew J. Smith
Cavalry Corps - Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest
Background
After the ConfederateConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
victory at the battle of Brice's Crossroads
Battle of Brice's Crossroads
The Battle of Brice's Crossroads was fought on June 10, 1864, near Baldwyn in Lee County, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. It pitted a 4,787-man contingent led by Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest against an 8,100-strong Union force led by Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis...
, the supply lines for Sherman's armies in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
became increasingly vulnerable. District commander, Cadwallader C. Washburn
Cadwallader C. Washburn
Cadwallader Colden Washburn was an American businessman, politician, and soldier noted for founding what would later become General Mills and working in government for Wisconsin. He was born in Livermore, Maine, one of seven brothers that included Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu B. Washburne, William D...
dispatched a force under General Andrew J. Smith to deal with Confederate cavalier, Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
.
The battle
Smith arrived in northern Mississippi on July 11, 1864. Forrest was nearby with 6,000 troops but under orders from his superior Stephen D. LeeStephen D. Lee
Stephen Dill Lee was an American soldier, planter, legislator, and author. He was the youngest Confederate lieutenant general during the American Civil War, and later served as the first president of Mississippi A&M College...
not to attack until reinforcements arrived. The next day Lee arrived with 2,000 reinforcements. Smith withdrew from his current position towards Tupelo
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
. Forrest considered Smith's movements a retreat while Smith was intending to destroy the railroads at Tupelo. On the night of the 13th Smith constructed breastwork
Breastwork
Breastwork may mean:#A form of temporary fortification#Surgical alteration of the breast...
s near Harrisburg, an abandoned town a mile west of Tupelo. Early on July 14 Lee ordered an assault on the Union lines. Lee attacked the Union right under General Joseph A. Mower
Joseph A. Mower
Joseph Anthony Mower was a Union general during the American Civil War. He was a competent officer and well respected by his troops and fellow officers to whom he was known as "Fighting Joe". William T. Sherman said of Mower, "he's the boldest young officer we have".-Biography:Mower was born in...
while Forrest assaulted the Union left held by Colonel David Moore and General Benjamin Grierson
Benjamin Grierson
Benjamin Henry Grierson was a music teacher and then a career officer in the United States Army. He was a cavalry general in the volunteer Union Army during the American Civil War and later led troops in the American Old West...
. Throughout the morning Lee and Forrest led a series of uncoordinated attacks against defended positions which Forrest later claimed were impregnable.
During the night Smith burned the remains of Harrisburg but the flames illuminated his lines. Forrest led a daring night assault against the Union left defended by a brigade of USCT which held strong and repulsed Forrest. On July 15 Smith began to move north. Forrest attacked Smith's rearguard and was again repulsed and wounded in the foot. A few days later Smith returned to La Grange, Tennessee
La Grange, Tennessee
La Grange is a town in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 136 at the 2000 census. The town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as La Grange Historic District.-Geography:...
from where he had originally departed.
Results
Smith was criticized for not destroying Forrest and although he was hasty to leave the field, the Union forces had in fact inflicted a tactical defeat on the legendary Forrest. Sherman's supply lines had been protected from Confederate raids. Although Smith had achieved his main goal of the campaign, Forrest's cavalry still remained at large as a viable force.The battle is commemorated at the Tupelo National Battlefield
Tupelo National Battlefield
Tupelo National Battlefield, in Tupelo, Mississippi, commemorates the July 14–15, 1864, Battle of Tupelo in which Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest tried to cut the railroad supplying the Union's march on Atlanta.-Administrative history:...
, which was founded in 1929.
Union Army
Right Wing-XVI CorpsXVI Corps (ACW)
The XVI Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The corps rarely fought as one unified unit, as its divisions were often scattered across the country.-Creation and Vicksburg:...
- Major General Andrew J. Smith
- 1st Division - Brigadier General Joseph Mower
- 1st Brigade - Colonel William L. McMillenWilliam L. McMillenDr. William Linn McMillen was an American surgeon, army general, farmer and legislator.-Biography:Born in Hillsboro, Ohio, and educated there, he graduated from Starling Medical College in 1852, and practiced medicine in Ohio until July 1862. McMillen served as a surgeon with the Russian Army in...
- 2nd Brigade - Colonel Alexander Wilkin, k
- 3rd Brigade - Colonel Joseph J. Woods
- 4th Brigade - Colonel Lyman M. Ward (detached from XVII Corps)
- 1st Brigade - Colonel William L. McMillen
- 2nd Division - Colonel David Moore
- 1st Brigade - Colonel Charles D. Murray
- 2nd Brigade - Colonel James I. Gilbert
- 3rd Brigade - Colonel Edward H. Wolf (detached from 4th Division)
- Cavalry Division - Brigadier General Benjamin H. Grierson
- 2nd Brigade - Colonel Edward F. Winslow
- 3rd Brigade - Colonel Datus E. Coon
- U.S.C.T.United States Colored TroopsThe United States Colored Troops were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African American soldiers. First recruited in 1863, by the end of the Civil War, the men of the 175 regiments of the USCT constituted approximately one-tenth of the Union...
- 1st Brigade - Colonel Edward Bouton
Confederate Army
Department of Alabama, Mississippi & Louisiana - Major General Stephen D. LeeStephen D. Lee
Stephen Dill Lee was an American soldier, planter, legislator, and author. He was the youngest Confederate lieutenant general during the American Civil War, and later served as the first president of Mississippi A&M College...
Cavalry Corps - Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
- 1st Division - Brigadier General James R. Chalmers
- Rucker's Brigade - Colonel Edmund Rucker
- Roddy's Brigade - Colonel Philip D. Roddy
- McCulloch's Brigade - Colonel Robert McCulloch
- 2nd Division - Brigadier General Abraham BufordAbraham BufordAbraham Buford was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, best known as the commanding officer of the American forces at the Battle of Waxhaws.-Biography:...
- Lyon's Brigade - Colonel Edward Crossland
- Bell's Brigade - Colonel Tyree H. Bell
- Dismounted Brigade - Lt. Colonel Thomas T. Barnett