We’re on the move again - on the way to Corinth, MS where the 2 Battles of Corinth took place and which is right between the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Brices Cross Roads. We should begin with Shiloh, continue onto Corinth and end with Brices Cross Roads because that is the correct chronological order. But it is supposed to rain on Wednesday and who wants to slop around a battlefield as large as Shiloh on a rainy day? Not I. So, we’ll visit Corinth, Brices and do Shiloh on Thursday.
We arrived here at 11:00 and began to set up. We were the only ones in the section for daily RV’s, although there were several in the monthly section. In fact, the school bus stopped right at the lane into the campground.
Easy except for the sewer adventure that Gary had. Not an easy sewer to hook up to but he got it done. Lunch and we were off to visit the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center. Excellent, excellent museum and one I’d highly recommend. It had 3 marvelous films about the battles fought in this area with live re-enactors playing the parts. Black and white Brady photos are marvelous but real live combatants loading their weapons, falling backwards when shot and charging forward intently into artillery fire make it seem so much more real. The Interpretive Center began with context about the times, about the region and about America in the mid 1800’s, it continued with lots of information about the battles and the two opposing sides and generals and in the end it had a great summary about why this battle was important to American history and why the Civil War it self was important. What more could you ask for? Well how about beautifully designed. Here’s what we saw as we walked up the sidewalk to the Center: all the detritus of battle. Here a knapsack, there a forage cap, here a infantry jacket button, there a letter home and a book of tactics, here a shoe, there minie balls.
It was all about the railroad crossing, still evident.
Hey, just a railroad crossing. Who cares? Well, this is the crossroads between the 2 railroads that ran through town. Being right on the railroad cut both ways for Corinth since it prospered when thousands of soldiers mustered here and were shipped out to major fronts. Then, in 1862 it became a liability when the Union targeted it and poor tiny Corinth became the center of major battles for control of the railroad crossing. Corinth was devastated.
It was all about the dirt. Men and shovels moved tons of dirt building 40 miles of fortifications around the city. Some are still visible but have eroded through time.
After the battle of Shiloh, further north, where 1/4 combatants were casualties, the Confederates were pushed south to Corinth which they determined to hold. The Union, 120,000 strong, was closing in while the Confederacy, with 53,000 ‘effectives’ (those well enough to fight) was building fortifications. The weather was hot and humid, the mosquitoes fierce, rivers dried up and horses wouldn’t even drink the water that men were using for drinking and washing. Men were sick with diarrhea, typhoid, dysentery, many were half starved and others had severe wounds. As many soldiers died in Corinth of disease as were killed in Shiloh. Desertions were rampant.
Slowly but surely the Union army advanced. Very methodically, they build fortifications, advanced beyond these and built more closer to the Corinth, then advanced further only to build more fortifications. Advancing this way over 23 miles took 30 days. Beauregard, the Confederate general, knowing the size of the Union army, decided that he would rather save his army than protect the railroad. He ordered trains to come and slowly but surely evacuated his troops, keeping it secret. The train whistle blew, his men cheered as if welcoming reinforcements. Meanwhile he was sending off his sick and wounded his artillery and supplies and his effective troops were quietly retreating further south.
On the morning of May 30, Halleck, the Union general, saw the smoke and explosions in the city and guessed at the ruse.
He marched into town on May 30, 1862 and the railroad crossing was in Union hands - for a time.
The Union built more fortifications and batteries, ringing the town. They brought in food and ammunition. They knew that the Confederacy would return to reclaim the crossing. And they did, in October. Again it was a fierce battle.
About 10:00 a.m., four columns of gray clad Confederates advanced on Battery Robinett. The men inside the battery watched them come, one describing the Confederates marching with an unearthly ‘slow steady tramp.’ The Confederates said that the fire from the Union fortifications was ‘mowing them down like grass.’
After fierce fighting, some from house to house in Corinth itself, the Union held sway and the crossing was theirs. Western Tennessee was safe and the march to divide the Confederacy down the Mississippi continued.
The Museum had some neat displays. Here’s one where you can press a button and hear one of the bugle calls that a soldier had to learn. Luckily we were the only ones in the museum at this time - we’d have blasted the others out as we played several of these.
Here’s an display showing all the different calibres of minie balls being shot. No wonder no soldier could share his ammunition.
We thought the museum was very good and enjoyed our walk around the battlefield.
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