Tupelo National Battlefield

Tupelo National Battlefield commemorates a key Civil War battle fought on July 14-15, 1864. Union forces, led by General A.J. Smith, and including men from the United States Colored Troops, clashed with Confederate troops under Generals Stephen D. Lee and Nathan Bedford Forrest. The Union aimed to secure railroad lines, disrupt Confederate supply chains, and protect General William T. Sherman’s supply routes during his Atlanta Campaign. Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, it helped weaken Confederate resistance, advancing Union objectives in the region. This battle was one of many in the American Civil War, but it is significant because it was one of the first times that African American troops fought in the war. Today, the site of the battle is a national battlefield, and it is a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of all those who fought in the Civil War.