The American Civil War

Many of the fiercest battles of the US Civil War were fought on Mississippi battlefields. It was a time considered by many to be the darkest hour in this nation’s history. Nearly a century and a half later, you can still visit a number of impressive Mississippi Civil War history sites. Tour countless battlefields, monuments and historic cemeteries, and capture a glimpse of history relived at exciting American civil war re-enactments staged throughout the year. (Needs more text)

Baldwyn

Visit Baldwyn, and Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield Site, where Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest made his famous attack on General Sturgis’ Union forces in 1864. The battlefield at Baldwyn has two interpretive trails, five markers, two cemeteries and a visitor’s centre with permanent and temporary exhibits, a flag display, a bookstore, a video, Civil War art/prints and an auto tour.

Corinth

The town of Corinth, 20 miles southwest of Shiloh, Tennessee, was at the strategic junction of two major railroads and thus became the site of the bloodiest battle in Mississippi history. Whilst visiting Corinth, take time to see the Corinth National Cemetery and the 15,000-square foot Corinth Civil War Interpretive Centre, featuring interactive exhibits, full-scale reproductions of earthworks and an expansive courtyard.

Port Gibson

Here you can visit the Port Gibson Battlefield where the infamous Battle of Port Gibson, part of the Vicksburg Campaign, was fought. Port Gibson is the town Ulysses S Grant infamously declared “too beautiful to burn”. And don’t miss the Ruins of Windsor, the remains of the largest antebellum mansion built in Mississippi.

Tupelo

In June of 1864, Major General William Sherman successfully kept Major General Nathan Forrest's cavalry corps in Mississippi at the Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads and away from the Federal supply line in Tennessee. To keep Forrest there in July, Sherman had to order another attack. Examine the historic Tupelo National Battlefield, site of the July 1864 battle between the forces of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and Union General Andrew J. Smith.
This was the last major battle of the Civil War in Mississippi.

Vicksburg

Watch the film The Vanishing Glory at the Vicksburg Battlefield Museum, and browse the Old Court House Museum. Tour Historic homes and drive through the monumental Vicksburg National Military Park, one of the most heavily monumented parks in the world with over 1330 monuments, markers, tablets, and plaques. The beauty and artistry of its monumentation prompted one Civil War veteran to call Vicksburg National Military Park, "the art park of the world." The U.S.S Cairo Gunboat was one of seven ironclad gunboats named in honour of towns along the upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and became the first ship in history to be sunk by an electrically detonated torpedo. The gunboat and its artefacts can now be seen along the tour road at the U.S.S. Cairo Museum. Vicksburg is also where you can see the monument dedicated to African-Americans who served in the US Civil War.

For further information on Civil War in Mississippi visit http://www.visitmississippi.org/cultural_historical/cultural_war.asp.