brice's crossroads national battlefield

I am a photographer and writer for National Park Planner (npplan.com) and I was a Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site in November 2014. Located west of Baldwyn, Mississippi, the park commemorates the Battle of Brices Cross Roads, which was fought on June 10, 1864, between the armies of Union General Samuel Sturgis and Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Sturgis was tasked with hunting down and destroying Forrest and his cavalry, as they posed a legitimate threat to General William T. Sherman’s supply line that fueled his campaign against Atlanta. Forrest, outnumbered two to one, managed to wage two battles against split Union forces, thus evening the playing field. He first attacked the Union Cavalry, which had been marching three hours ahead of the infantry and artillery. He outnumbered these troops by nearly 1000 men. When the infantry and artillery were notified of the fighting, the were forced to march double-time to provide reinforcement. By the time they reached the crossroads to where the beaten cavalry had already fallen back, they were exhausted. After a series of attacks, Sturgis’s men began a panicked retreat back to Memphis.The Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site is exactly the same as the nearby Tupelo National Battlefield—a one-acre memorial with a monument, a couple of cannon exhibits, and two information panels (though no graves like at Tupelo). In fact, even the monument is the same, with only the wording having been changed. It takes all of ten minutes to visit the park.For those wanting something more do, unlike the battlefield in Tupelo, of which nothing remains due to the city’s expansion, there is plenty of preserved battlefield to explore at Brice’s Crossroads, it’s just that the National Park Service has nothing to do with it. The state of Mississippi, the Civil War Preservation Trust, and the Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield Commission have all put together some type of battlefield tour, from roadside monuments and information panels to short interpretive trails. There is even a visitor center, Mississippi’s Finals Stands Interpretive Center, where you can get information, see a movie on the battle, and browse through a museum.Though National Park Planner does not normally review non-National Park related activities, we’ve made an exception here, as most people interested enough in the Civil War to have traveled to the battlefield will certainly want to learn and see more than the NPS has to offer. If you plan to visit both the Tupelo and Brices Cross Roads battlefields, which aren’t but a half hour or so drive apart from each other, start at Brices Cross Roads, for not only did this battle come first in the hunt for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forest, Mississippi’s Final Stands is the only place where you can get information on both battles.As for the name, you will see the battle spelled in a number of ways: Brices Cross Roads, Brice’s Crossroads, Brice’s Cross Roads. The legislation that created the National Park omitted the apostrophe and spelled Cross Roads as two words, so that is how the National Park Service must spell the battlefield name (National Park Planner will use this spelling in most cases). However, Brice’s is obviously a possessive noun, so the use of the apostrophe is undoubtedly correct. The Civil War Preservation Trust uses the spelling “Brice’s Cross Roads,” while the state of Mississippi and the Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield Commission use “Brice’s Crossroads.”For complete information on the park and plenty of quality photos, visit National Park Planner.

The hospitality is the best part and all the information to see is super great. They have old uniforms from the war and artifacts. The movie to get to watch tells about the Baldwyn area a leaders that fought in the battle of Brice's crossroads. Outside our flags that represent our state. Not far is Country in, great country food.

I had the opportunity to visit Brice's Crossroad during the 150th sesquicentennial of the battle that was fought there. The battlefield is not large and easy to navigate in a day trip. There are battle markers along one section of the battlefield and also various areas both in and outside the area.I was there doing reenactment of the battle which gave me a more detail information on what went on that day.There's not a visitor center located at the battlefield, but three miles from the battlefield at the interpretive center you can purchase an auto tour, get maps and other info. Also at the battlefield is Bethany cemetery which have quite a few Confederate gravesites.There's both open field and patches of woods. You are not near any stores either. I would suggest making sure you have water and bug protection. You are driving along two lane roads so be aware of cars stopping and turningSince you are so close to Corinth, very near other Civil War battlesites and can be combined for a full day of touring.There are plans to add monuments highlighting the involvement of the USCT (United States Colored Troops) from the 55th and 59th in the battle. Be aware that private homes are among the battlefield area and use caution in some areas.

Great place to see. Auto tour is easy to follow. Plenty of information about the battle that occurred at that location.

Good place to visit and see where a large calvary battle was fought dusing the civil war. Lovely rolling hills to stroll over, but hot in August.

This site is not developed like some of the larger Civil War sites but it is still important. Brice's Cross Roads was a cavalry engagment between Confederate and Union forces for control of inportant railroad routes in north Mississippi. As such the flow of the engagement covered a large area. Much of this is included in a walking trail that has interpretive markers along the route. Go in the spring or fall if you do not like hot weather.

We were driving through the area on the way back home. sorry to say it was closed. but the area was well maintained and peaceful.

We visited the battlefield on our way from Shiloh to Vicksburg. The interpretive center in Baldwyn, which is privately run, not by the Park Service, was closed, so we could not get the driving tour CD. However, we did just fine without it, the different sites are well marked and the interpretive signs are enough. This was an interesting battle in terms of location, and a lot of fun.

Not a lot to see but good information for Civil War history buffs. The Cemetary and Monument were interesting and the highlight of the trip.

On June 10, 1864, Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest won a stunning victory over a much larger Union force, in a day-long battle here. Confederates were in Mississippi trying to help break the supply lines of the Union army, fighting in Georgia, approaching Atlanta. The victory did nothing to really hinder the Georgia fighting, but made a name for Forrest, and his command. Today, the battlefield is preserved by a combination of a one-acre site, maintained by the National Park Service, and over 1,000 acres developed by a local battlefield preservation society. The NPS unit has the major text marker and map for the battlefield, along with two artillery pieces, and a monument. The other units consists of walking trails with text markers, an original cabin, a Confederate cemetery, and roadside makers on the approach to the battlefield. This is not a Shiloh-type drive-thru park. You have to get out, walk, read and learn to get something out of it. My recommendation is to first stop at the battlefield visitor's center, at the junction of U.S. 45 and Mississippi 370, at Baldwyn. More than likely, unless you take backroads to the place, this junction is where you will start your trip to the battlefield. It is about four miles to the west, but the first markers start in about two miles to the west. The visitors center, featuring a movie, battlefield artifacts, and other displays is the best place to start your tour. Brice's Crossroads is now much more than the one-acre site it use to be. Stop if you can, and take time to learn about some of your history.