Battle of Corinth Anniversary

Activities:

Shiloh National Military Park Acting Superintendent Tyrone Brandyburgis pleased to announce the park will offer

interpretive programs commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Corinth.
Park staff will offer in-depth walks and talks interpreting the Battle of Corinth on the actual dates of the historic battle, October
3-5, 2014. “We are excited to offer visitors the opportunity to participate in
detailed battlefield programs on the actual ground where the events occurred at the actual times of day
they occurred,” Brandyburg stated. Park Range rs will lead three hikes on Friday, October 3rd, two hikes on
Saturday, October 4th, and three hikes on Sunday, October 5th. “These hikes will provide
visitors with a deeper understanding of what occurred during the fierce fighting, describe the
real war experiences of soldiers and citizens, and provide rare opportunities for visitors to access park personnel
for extended periods of time on the battlefield,” commented Brandyburg. There is no fee charge for
visitors to participate in the anniversary hikes. To attend one or more of the battlefield hikes, please contact
park staff at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center at 662-287-9273. Registered participants should meet the rangers
at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center at the appointed times and are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing
and footwear for the programs. Visitors attending more than one hike are encouraged to have food and
water available. The following are the anniversary hikes which are being offered, with starting times and distances of
each program.
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Friday, October 3, 2014
9:30 a.m to 11:00 a.m. ---- 1st Minnesota Light Artillery
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance: Car Caravan
Type of Terrain: Short distance on easy walking path.
Park Ranger Tom Parson will lead a
driving and walking tour which will follow the path taken by the
1st Minnesota Light Artillery on October 3, 1862. “Munch’s Battery,” was one of the first units
engaged in the Battle of Corinth and their long day took them from the outskirts
of Chewalla, TN., to Cane Creek, Oliver’s Hill, Battery F, and ended in the shadow of the Corona College.

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ---- Citizens of Corinth
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance:
Car Caravan
Type of Terrain:
Short distances on city sidewalks.
Join Ranger Rachel Winters on a car caravan tour through historic Corinth to explore the roles of
civilians in war torn Corinth. While most of the town’s citizens fled with the Confederate withdrawal in May 1862, some did stay in town
throughout the Union occupation. On this caravan and walking tour, participants will visit several historic homes and sites
that witnessed the battle and learn about the citizens of Civil War Corinth.

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ---- Davies’ Thin Blue Line
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance: Car Caravan
Type of Terrain: Short distances of easy walking.
On the morning of October 3rd Brigadier General Thomas Davies was sent forward by Major General
William Rosecrans with confusing orders and 1,500 men to hold the Union right against an attack by
Confederate Major General Sterling Price’s Army of the West with 9,000 men. Overwhelmed at the
old Confederate works, Davies would pull back to the White House Line to make a stand. Aided
by hard fighting, intense heat, and Confederate command confusion, Davies men would hold until
relieved at 4:30 p.m. During this stand Brigadier General Charles Hamilton would have a perfect
opportunity to attack the exposed Confederate left flank. Due to a series of confused orders and
Hamilton’s lack of initiative, the attack would be bungled and occur too late. The car caravan lead by
Ranger Charlie Spearman will travel to the site of the Confederate earthworks of the old Beauregard
Line and the site of the fighting at the White House fields.

Saturday, October 4, 2014
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10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ---- Seven Forts
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance: Car Caravan
Type of Terrain: Short distances of easy walking.
Ranger Tom Parson will lead a driving tour around Corinth to visit the original sites of the seven forts
of the “Rosecrans Line,” Batteries Lothrop, Tanrath, Madison, Phillips, Williams, Robinett, and Powell.
At each stop participants will learn details about the forts such as when it was constructed and
with what materials, how it got its name, what type of cannon were installed within the walls, and what
part the fort played in the two day battle.

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ---- Stirman’s Arkansas Sharpshooters
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance: 700 yards
Type of Terrain: Easy on a grassy slope and concrete.
Ranger Jim Minor will lead a walking tour from the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center to the
historic railroad crossing. Join him in discussing Stirman’s Arkansas Sharpshooters’
flanking movement, penetration of the union lines, and ultimate arrival at the strategic crossroads.

Sunday, October 5, 2014
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ---- Hell on the Hatchie: Davis Bridge
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance: Car Caravan and ½ mile walking
Type of Terrain: Easy
walking on a path and dirt road
Following the Battle of Corinth, the Confederate Army of West Tennessee was in full retreat. The
heavy fighting at the Battle of Corinth, October 3 & 4, 1862, had crippled the army under Major
General Earl Van Dorn and he sought to return to Mississippi to rest and refit his forces. The path to
safety led across Davis Bridge on the Hatchie River in Tennessee. In an effort to block the
Confederate escape, a Union column under Major General Edward O. C. Ord was dispatched from
Bolivar, Tennessee. Park Ranger Tom Parson will lead this car caravan tour and short walk of the
Davis Bridge Battlefield.

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ---- Caring for the Wounded and Dead
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance: Car Caravan
Type of Terrain: Short distances of easy walking.
Three days of fighting at Corinth and Davis Bridge resulted in over 8,000 men killed, wounded or
captured. Many of the wounded were taken to Corinth’s homes and hotels
which had been pressed into service as hospitals. This caravan tour, led by Ranger Rachel Winters, will visit the sites of some
of these impromptu hospitals, such as the Tishomingo Hotel, Corinth House, and Corona Female
College. In the days following the battle, over 900 fresh graves were dug. This tour will also address
the burial process for those fallen soldiers, both Union and Confederate.

3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. ----The Occupation of Corinth
Meet at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center
Hiking Distance: 300 yards
Type of Terrain: Easy on a grassy slope.
The Battle of Corinth did not end the military activity in Corinth. Join Ranger Jim Minor for a
discussion of the Union occupation of Corinth which lasted until January, 1864. In addition, the return
of the Confederates to the city and the attempts to plac e the railroads back into operation will be discussed

Phone:
(731) 689-5696
Directions:
ww.nps.gov