114th Illinois Monument at Brices Cross Roads

Monument to the men of the 114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in honor of the men who fought at Brices Cross Roads. It is one of the newest monuments to the Brices Cross Roads Battlefield. This monument was dedicated in the Summer of 2019. It was funded by the 114th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry (Reactivated).

• The monument stands about 3 to 4 feet high and made of solid rock. The engraved writing on the monument is is black in color. The monument sites about 20 yards off the road way in a grassy area. There is a large shade tree behind the monument.

Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center

Our friends at the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center have exhibits and films, which interpret the Battle of Brices Cross Roads fought June 10, 1864 and the Battle of Tupelo/Harrisburg fought July 14-15, 1864.

• The building is made of various shades of red colored bricks. THe entrance to the building is on the left hand side. There are several steps and a wheelchair ramp leading to the entrance door. White railings border the stairs and the wheelchair ramp. Parking spaces are available very close to the entrance and there are handicap parking spaces there as well. Once you enter the building the information desk and museum exhibits are to your right. Bathrooms and water fountain are to your left and the bookstore and gift shop are straight ahead.

Tour Stop #1 - First Shots of the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

This monument was erected by the State of Mississippi in 1957. It represents the beginning of the Battle of Brices Cross Roads. The first shots of the battle took place in this location between the Federal Cavalry represented by the 4th Missouri and the Confederate cavalry represented by the 7th Tennessee. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• This site is located on the northside of Highway 370. There is a small pull off where you can park and read the historical marker. The Historical marker is about 5 feet high and made of granite. The brass informational panel is on the front. Behind the marker is private property. It is currently a farm field where local farmers plant various local crops.

Tour Stop #10 - United States Colored Troops on White House Ridge at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

This is the site of the Union defensive stand on the "White House Ridge" by the United States Colored Troops (USCT). It was here that the Federals attempted to stop the Confederate pursuit or at least slow it down to give the other Union regiments time to get themselves and the wagon train to safety. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• This small pull off is located on Union County road 167. There is enough parking for multiple cars. At the parking spaces there is a short paved sidewalk that takes you to the US Colored Troops at White House Ridge information panel. This site is wheelchair accessible.

Tour Stop #2 - Cavalry Skirmish at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

Near here the Federal and Confederate advance forces of cavalry met in their skirmish lines. The 2nd New Jersey Cavalry were equipped with Spencer repeating rifles and were able to inflict heavy casualties on the Confederate forces before falling back to the main Federal battle line. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretative Center.

• This site is located on the northside of Highway 370. There is a small pull off where you can park and read the historical marker. The Historical marker is about 5 feet high and made of granite. The brass informational panel is on the front. Behind the marker is private property. It is currently a farm field where local farmers plant various local crops.

Tour Stop #3 - Federal Cavalry and Artillery Formed First Battle Line

Federal cavalry and artillery formed their first battle line here. The Federal army battle line extended five hundred yards north and more than a mile south, across the Guntown Road. The soldiers who were behind rail fences and dense scrub-oak thickets fought stubbornly as the Confederates pushed on to the crossroads. Hand to hand fighting occurred along this line. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• This site is located on the northside of Highway 370. There is a small pull off where you can park and read the historical marker. The Historical marker is about 5 feet high and made of granite. The brass informational panel is on the front. Behind the marker is private property.

Tour Stop #4 - Confederates Second Battle Line at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

Confederates Second Battle Line. Pushing the Union forces back, General Forrest slowly closed his pincers movement, forcing General Sturgis' soldiers back towards the crossroads. This Confederate battle line was anchored on the Blackland Road four hundred yards northwest. The southern end of the battle line ran across the Guntown Road. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• This site is located on the northside of Highway 370. There is a small pull off where you can park and read the historical marker. The Historical marker is about 5 feet high and made of granite. The brass informational panel is on the front. Behind the marker is private property.

Tour Stop #5 - Federal's Second Battle Line at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

Federal's Second Battle Line. General Sturgis was able to use his infantry here for the first time in the battle. General Forrest had beaten back the Federal cavalry before the Federal infantry reached the battlefield. Infantry and cavalry formed this second battle line. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• This site is located on the northside of Highway 370. There is a small pull off where you can park and read the historical marker. The Historical marker is about 5 feet high and made of granite. The brass informational panel is on the front. Behind the marker is private property.

Tour Stop #6 - Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Monument

This granite monument was placed here in the 1930s. The National Battlefield was established and originally managed by the War Department starting in 1929. The monument commemorates the men who fought at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads. This is tour stop #6 on the Brices Cross Roads Driving Tour.

• The monument is made of granite with a commemoration inscription engraved in the front of it facing the main road. The base is 20 feet wide with a height of 10 feet with an eagle perched on the tops. The eagle is also made of granite and 30 inches tall. The eagle is looking to the viewers left. The sidewalk leads up to the monument. In front of the monument stands two civil war era canons. A flag pole flying the American Flag is to the left of the monument.

Tour Stop #7 - Log Cabin Knoll at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

As Union troops retreated past this location toward Tishomingo Creek, they faced not only a blocked bridge and rain-swollen creek, but also deadly cannon fire coming from this ridge. Confederate artillerymen rained fire upon the scrambling Federal soldiers with four field guns--two twelve-pounder howitzers and two three-inch ordnance rifles. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• This location is on Highway 370 and on the northside of the road. The pull goes up the hill and parking spots for cars, RV and Trailers is at the top of the hill. The informational panels are located on the northwest side of the parking area. There is a site walk between the parking spaces and the information panels. This area is wheelchair accessible.

Tour Stop #8 - Tishomingo Creek Bridge at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

The end of the main part of the Battle at Brices Cross Roads centered on a small bridge across Tishomingo Creek. The rains of the previous several days had raised the water level of the creek, making it difficult to cross without using the bridge. The bridge soon became a bottleneck for General Sturgis expeditionary force as horses, wagons, cannon, and men attempted to cross the creek. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• A replica of the Tishomingo Creek Bridge, which was located, in June, 1864, about 50 yards north of the present bridge on Highway 370, interprets the rout of the Union troops. There is plenty of parking for cars, RVs and trailers. You can walk over the reconstructed bridge and view the waters and hear the refreshing sounds of Tishomingo Creek,

Tour Stop #9 - James Jourdan's Grave at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads

James Jourdan was a confederate soldier from Alabama who was wounded at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads and died nearby at the Phillips family home. Sergeant Jourdan was buried on their property, and at some point two cedar trees were planted to mark his grave. This site is managed by the Mississippi Final Stands Interpretive Center.

• The site, located on Union County Road 168 includes a pull off and is the trailhead for the 1/3 mile natural walking trail, which follows the original roadbed and retreat route and takes the visitor across Phillips branch and by the two graves of Smith and King and ends at the White House Ridge. The two Confederate privates, Henry King and A. J. Smith were mortally wounded at the site and buried where they fell. King was a cannoneer who died when his unit was attacking the Union stand on the White House Ridge.

Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center

• Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center
• The National Park Service administers the national battlefield site through the Natchez Trace Parkway. Since there are no visitor facilities at the battlefield site, visitors are welcome to learn more about the battlefield at the Parkway Visitor Center, located 15 miles south of Brices Cross Roads in Tupelo, at Milepost 266 of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Parkway Visitor Center is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving. December 25, and January 1 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central Time).

• Exploring The Brices Cross Roads Battlefield
• The Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield was established in February of 1929 with the intention of preserving 1 acre in commemoration of the battle. Since then the Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield Commission has purchased 1600 acres of the hallowed ground and with the help of the Civil War Trust and local support they have preserved many other areas associated with the battle.

Driving Tour Of The Battle Of Brices Cross Roads

This driving tour will take you through ten stops related to the Battle of Brices Cross Roads. Federal Army Major General William T. Sherman ordered Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis and a force of 8,100 to move out of Memphis and threaten north Mississippi in hopes of drawing Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest away from Sherman’s much needed railroad in Tennessee. The soldiers of Sturgis and Forrest met at Brices Cross Roads June 10, 1864.