Tupelo National Battlefield

Operated by the National Park Service, this historic site preserves the site of the Battle of Tupelo and provides tours and interpretation that places this battle within the larger story of America's Civil War. Also known as the Battle of Harrisburg, the battle was fought from July 14th to July 15th in 1864. Though neither side could claim to have won the battle in a traditional sense, Union forces managed to keep Confederate soldiers from challenging Union control of nearby railroads in Tennessee. Given the importance of these supply lines to the Union's goal of wresting control of Atlanta, the battle played an essential role in the larger history of the war. Before moving on to the heavily-guarded city of Atlanta, the Union first needed to secure control of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad in Tennessee. By battling Confederate soldiers here in Tupelo, Union troops made it difficult for Confederate armies to challenge their control of supply lines in the region.

Tupelo National Battlefield marks where those Union forces marched into Tupelo. The Confederate troops were disorganized, but they managed to recover from their initial state and neither side could claim a victory from the battle in conventional terms. However, the battle thwarted rebel movements and kept Confederate soldiers away from Union railroads. The railroad in question, the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, was necessary for moving troops into Atlanta, a city General Sherman wanted to occupy during his "March to the Sea."

The "March to the Sea" was an effort to destroy the Confederate army by separating the South. General Sherman planned to invade the south and bisect it, taking his troops from Chattanooga, Tennessee to the coast of Savannah, Georgia. On the way, Sherman planned to occupy Atlanta, Georgia, a move that would require large numbers of troops. This need for troops made the Union railroad lines into Atlanta a necessity, as they could be used for moving both troops and supplies into the area. Because of this, the Union forces sought to protect the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, a rail line that connected area controlled by the Union with Atlanta.

The Battle of Tupelo was fought on July 14th and 15th in 1864. It began at approximately 7:30 am on July 14th when the Confederates attempted to charge the Union forces. The Confederates made several attacks throughout the day and into the night, each one having little effect on the Union forces. On July 15th, the Union troops began marching north toward Memphis, crossing over Old Town Creek before the Confederates attacked. Around 5 pm, Confederate soldiers surprised the Union forces, initiating a fight that ultimately ended the Battle of Tupelo. The Confederates were forced to retreat to Harrisburg, keeping them away from the Union-controlled railroads.

1. Tupelo National Battlefield. National Park Service. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.nps.gov/tupe/index.htm.

2. The Battle-Tupelo National Battlefield. National Park Service. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.nps.gov/tupe/the-battle.htm.

3. Why the Battle Happened-Tupelo National Battlefield. National Park Service. . Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.nps.gov/tupe/why-the-battle-happened.htm. 

4. Tupelo National Battlefield. Wikipedia. Accessed June 11, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupelo_National_Battlefield.

5. Tupelo National Battlefield. National Park Foundation. . Accessed June 11, 2019. https://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/tupelo-national-battlefield.