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Special Feature: Site of important Civil War battle.

TUPELO NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD SITE, 2 miles west of Tupelo, Miss., was created by act of Congress dated February 21, 1929. Although containing only 1 acre it commemorates a battle where men fought as bravely as in any conflict in the Civil War. In recognition of the valor displayed by both sides, the Federal Government recently erected a handsome monument on the crest of the ridge where unusually heavy fighting occurred.

During the first 2 months of Sherman's campaign against Atlanta in the summer of 1864, the Confederate cavalry leader, Nathan B. Forrest, continually annoyed him by threatening his line of communications. As repeated Federal expeditions against Forrest had failed, in July it was determined to send a force of 14,000 men, under Gen. Andrew J. Smith, against him. Smith proceeded from Memphis toward Tupelo, near which Forrest was located with about 5,000 men.

For several days there was heavy skirmishing between the hostile bodies, but Smith declined a general engagement unless under favorable conditions.

On the night of July 13 he halted near Harrisburg and prepared for battle by entrenching his troops behind a semicircular line of log and rail breastworks built on the crest of a ridge looking down over an open field. This formidable position was attacked at 7:30 a. m. on the 14th by the Confederates, now commanded by Lt. Gen. S. D. Lee, who assigned Forrest to the command of the right wing. Thrown forward in disconnected brigade attacks on the left and center, the assailants were quickly repulsed by deadly fire, but though suffering severe losses, those on the left continued their main efforts for 2-1/2 hours. Immediately realizing that the position was too strong to be stormed, Forrest did not even order the right wing forward. By 10 o'clock Lee's forces were compelled to retire and in the afternoon they moved to the right and entrenched, hoping to tempt their antagonists into the open field. They were disappointed and no further fighting occurred until after dark, when a reconnoitering Confederate brigade was driven back.

About noon on the 15th the Federals began withdrawing toward Memphis. Though followed for 2 days by the Confederates they covered their flanks and rear so well that their pursuers were worsted in every engagement. Their brief but hotly contested little campaign cost the Federals 674 men, killed, wounded, and missing, and the Confederates 1,326.

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