Corinth Battlefield

 14 September 2020

Today we drove to Corinth,MS to visit the Corinth Civil War Battlefield. Corinth was at the junction of the Memphis Charleston and Mobile Ohio railroads. It was a strategic importance in the War and occupied by forces from 1861 to 1865.

The interpretive center offers a display of artifacts, exhibits, short history film and bookstore and reflective pool.

Interpretive Center

Battery Robinette

Battery Robinette

Reflection Pool

The area served as a mobilization center for Confederate troops after Mississippi secession with the troops numbering 44,000 organized into 4 corps. Conditions were terrible during the siege with temperatures in the 100's, lack of water, pollution from wastes from over 200,000 troops and horses causing dysentery, mosquitoes, typhoid etc. During the battle northern casualties numbered 355 killed,1841 wounded and 324 missing. From the south 473 killed,1997 wounded and 1763 captured or missing. 200 Confederate and Union generals were stationed in or near Corinth during the war.

The Corinth Contraband Camp is located nearby. The Camp housed many slaves who fled to Corinth hoping for protection from the Union Army. The camp featured a school, commissary, hospital, church. Black troops were recruited and later became the 1st Alabama Infantry of African descent. The site is now a park with bronze statues depicting life in the camp.

The driving tour features monument and signage

The battles in Corinth were the last major Confederate offensives in Mississippi. With the Union victory, Gen Grant turned his attention to Vicksburg.The Union troops left Corinth in January 1864. On 4 May 1865 the Confederates surrendered ending the war in Mississippi.

Many of the slain were buried in shallow graves.

"In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war,fathers bury their sons."..Herodotus