Audio
Strategy of Diversion
Transcript
This is the first of two side-by-side waysides. In front of you, directly behind the waysides, is an open grassy field that is about one square acre. In the distance is a wooden fence that marks the boundary of the National Battlefield site and the fence beyond it is a row of tall trees. On the left is the National Park Service site ID sign for Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield and a flagpole flying an American flag. At the base of the flagpole are two Civil War-era canons. To the right of the flagpole is the Brices Cross Roads Battlefield Monument. It is a tall white granite slab with a shield and laurel wreath carved on its face and an eagle statue at the top. It commemorates the Union and Confederate soldiers who fought at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads. Further to the left is the intersection known as Brices Cross Roads. On the right, just off the parking area is a gray granite slab monument about 5 feet tall with a bronze plaque that explains the fighting that took place at the Cross Roads. Further to the right and in the distance is a historic cemetery. Behind you is a small parking area off 370. On the other side of the road is a red brick church with a tall white steeple. The text on this wayside reads:
Strategy of Diversion
During the summer of 1864, Major General William T. Sherman fought to capture Atlanta, Georgia, deep in the heart of Confederate territory. The Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad was a main supply line for Sherman’s army, carrying men and supplies from Nashville, Tennessee. On June 1st, Major General Nathan B. Forrest set out to raid the vulnerable railroad, but Sherman anticipated the attack and planned a diversion.
Sherman ordered Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis to lead soldiers into Mississippi to threaten the Mobile & Ohio Railroad and keep Forrest occupied. Upon learning of Sherman’s orders, Forrest’s raid was called off and his column recalled to Mississippi. On June 10th, Sturgis and Forrest met here at this crossroads. Although outnumbered, Forrest strategically overwhelmed the much larger and better equipped Federal forces. A major tactical victory for the Confederates, and still a successful strategic diversion for the United States as it kept Forrest occupied in Mississippi and away from Sherman’s supply line.
The background of the panel is a battle map that shows the action as it unfolded on June 10th. On the right side of the panel there is a column of text that describes what happened in detail. The text reads:
Battle Action
1. Sturgis’s army moved out at dawn on June 10th, with the cavalry in the lead, but the infantry lagged far behind.
2. East of Brices Cross Roads the cavalry met the Confederates around 9:30 am, and the battle began. The Federal infantry was two miles from the battlefield. The infantry men raced to the field in the June heat. Of those that made it, most were too exhausted to fight. By 11 am Forrest, now reinforced, began to push the Federals back toward the crossroads.
3. Having formed an arcing battle line around Brices Cross Roads, the two forces fought for the next four hours. By 5 pm, after enveloping both Federal flanks and launching a frontal attack, Forrest shattered Sturgis’s line, forcing the Federals to retreat back toward Memphis.
4. An overturned wagon at the Tishomingo Creek bridge slowed the Federal retreat and resulted in the loss of 16 artillery pieces and supply wagons containing guns and ammunition. Thanks to a series of defensive actions by a brigade of United States Colored Troops, most of Sturgis’s army was able to escape.
In the upper right corner of the map a caption reads:
Troops
8,500 Federals
3,500 Confederates
Casualties
2,610 Federals
495 Confederates
Description
During the summer of 1864, Major General William T. Sherman fought to capture Atlanta, Georgia, deep in the heart of Confederate territory. The Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad was a main supply line for Sherman’s army, carrying men and supplies from Nashville, Tennessee. Sherman ordered Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis to lead soldiers into Mississippi to threaten the Mobile & Ohio Railroad and keep Forrest occupied.
Credit
NPS Audio/J. Childs
Date Created
06/02/2023
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