Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield: Tupelo, Mississippi

On June 10, 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces under the command of Major General William T. Sherman were advancing through the South with the goal of capturing Atlanta, Georgia. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest was tasked with disrupting Sherman's supply lines and preventing Union forces from moving freely through Mississippi and
Tennessee. General Forrest, a skilled and daring cavalry commander, planned to engage and defeat Union forces in Mississippi to slow Sherman's advance.
The Battle of Brice's Crossroads popped off when Forrest's Confederate cavalry fought with Sturgis's Union forces. The battle was fought in intense heat during several hours of brutal combat. Despite being outnumbered, Forrest's cavalry outmaneuvered and beat Sturgis's larger force. The Battle of Brice's Crossroads was an impressive Confederate win and is often cited as an example of Forrest's tactical genius. Sturgis's Union forces suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat.