OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Federal forces seize an important base to be used as a staging area for future operations in the Gulf of Mexico, including an attack on New Orleans.
Category: Mississippi
The Mississippi Secession
Delegates to the Mississippi State Convention vote to secede from the United States. Celebrations include the presentation of a symbolic banner and troop preparations for defense.
The Northern Mississippi Campaign
Andrew J. Smith leads a Federal army to destroy the Confederate command of Nathan Bedford Forrest in Mississippi. The Federals leave destruction in their wake as they move through the state before eventually clashing with the Confederates near Tupelo.
The Battle of Brice’s Crossroads
Nathan Bedford Forrest scores one of his greatest victories against the Federal effort to stop his Confederates from harassing William T. Sherman’s supply lines in northern Mississippi.
The Battle of Okolona
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederate horsemen catch up to William Sooy Smith’s withdrawing Federals, and a running fight takes place near Okolona, Mississippi.
Northern Mississippi: Smith’s Incursion
William Sooy Smith’s Federal cavalry faces challenges in trying to reach the main Federal army in Mississippi. These include strong opposition from Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederates.