Battle of Cornith

[atlantis]

How important was battle of Cornith in the war?

 

[NedBaldwin]

It helped bring Rosecrans good pres leading to him being picked to command Army of the Cumberland for most of the following year. Otherwise, I dont think it was that important.

 

[David Moore]

From the Memoirs of WT Sherman:

The effect of the battle of Corinth was very great. It was, indeed, a decisive blow to the Confederate cause in our quarter, and changed the whole aspect of affairs in West Tennessee. From the timid defensive we were at once enabled to assume the bold offensive. In Memphis I could see its effects upon the citizens, and they openly admitted that their cause had sustained a death-blow.

 

[Saruman]

How important was battle of Cornith in the war?

Historian Tim Smith: "As far as Corinth is concerned, its importance - or "sum," as Lincoln described it - lay in the fact that the Federals held firm their location in north Mississippi. From that position, the Union forces would later launch the Vicksburg campaign. Although it would take several months and many tries, the Federals ultimately took Vicksburg. Had the Federals not retained their foothold in north Mississippi, they would have to retake that lost ground, delaying the capture of Vicksburg, perhaps indefinitely."

 

[Study the Past]

Historian Tim Smith: "As far as Corinth is concerned, its importance - or "sum," as Lincoln described it - lay in the fact that the Federals held firm their location in north Mississippi. From that position, the Union forces would later launch the Vicksburg campaign. Although it would take several months and many tries, the Federals ultimately took Vicksburg. Had the Federals not retained their foothold in north Mississippi, they would have to retake that lost ground, delaying the capture of Vicksburg, perhaps indefinitely."

Great source, indeed. Tim is one of the people I consider a go-to historian on Corinth.

For Federal forces to finally seize control of the railroad junction in Corinth, essentially cutting off a good chunk of the Confederate South in the process, I'd say is pretty significant for the upcoming campaigns that followed nearby.

From a couple years ago on 4th of July in Corinth, whew was it hot.

 

[Sid J.]

Corinth could have been very significant if the rebs had won a decisive victory and pushed the Federals back through west TN. As it was, the Union forces there didn't give ground, so by comparison, they were doing better than their fellows in VA-MD and in KY.

As always , all the noise goes to the eastern theater. You don't see Earl Van Dorn or Sterling Price carved into any mountains.

 

[NedBaldwin]

"...From that position, the Union forces would later launch the Vicksburg campaign. ..."

I find that a perplexing statement. The Vicksburg campaign was river based, launched from Memphis.

 

[kepi]

How important was battle of Cornith in the war?

It was the doorway to Mississippi and eventually to Vicksburg

 

[TomP]

The Vicksburg campaign was river based, launched from Memphis.

Actually the first major campaign against Vicksburg was land based, following the Mississippi Central Railroad. This campaign was terminated when Van Dorn destroyed Grant's main supply depot at Holly Springs, MS, December 20, 1862

How important was the battle Corinth in the war? It was the LAST Confederate offensive in Mississippi. Everything else from that point on was in reaction to Union movements. Earl Van Dorn gave up the initiative on October 4th and it was never recovered. From October 1862 to the end of the war the Confederates were on the defensive in this state. and no, this does not contradict my own earlier statement about Holly Springs; the very successful raid was in reaction to Grant's movements.

 

[TomP]

The best place to learn about the importance of Corinth is at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center. A unit of Shiloh NMP, the Interpretive Center has exhibits on the military importance of Corinth, the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Corinth (in numbers, the largest ever on this continent), the Battle of Corinth, the engagement at Davis Bridge, TN, the 18-month Union occupation, and the Corinth Contraband Camp, a model camp for former slaves. Three movies, interactive exhibits and friendly rangers (like me!) The surrounding community has numerous extant earthworks and preserved acres of the battlefield. There is the great Crossroads Museum in the railroad depot and the Verandah House is open for visitors (Used as an HQ by Bragg, Van Dorn, Halleck, Ord, A.J. Smith, Dodge, and J.B. Hood).
There is a lot to see at Corinth, the Gateway to Shiloh.

 

[nitrofd]

Actually the first major campaign against Vicksburg was land based, following the Mississippi Central Railroad. This campaign was terminated when Van Dorn destroyed Grant's main supply depot at Holly Springs, MS, December 20, 1862

How important was the battle Corinth in the war? It was the LAST Confederate offensive in Mississippi. Everything else from that point on was in reaction to Union movements. Earl Van Dorn gave up the initiative on October 4th and it was never recovered. From October 1862 to the end of the war the Confederates were on the defensive in this state. and no, this does not contradict my own earlier statement about Holly Springs; the very successful raid was in reaction to Grant's movements.

The 3 volume work The Vicksburg Campaign by Ed Bearrs which is considered the best source of the whole campaign,he states that it started in mi-May 1862 with the advance up the Mississippi River from new Orleans by Adm. David Farragut's ocean going squadron and the downriver thrust by Flag-Officer Charles H.Davis' river gunboats following the June 6th surrender of Memphis.

 

[Study the Past]

The best place to learn about the importance of Corinth is at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center. A unit of Shiloh NMP, the Interpretive Center has exhibits on the military importance of Corinth, the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Corinth (in numbers, the largest ever on this continent), the Battle of Corinth, the engagement at Davis Bridge, TN, the 18-month Union occupation, and the Corinth Contraband Camp, a model camp for former slaves. Three movies, interactive exhibits and friendly rangers (like me!) The surrounding community has numerous extant earthworks and preserved acres of the battlefield. There is the great Crossroads Museum in the railroad depot and the Verandah House is open for visitors (Used as an HQ by Bragg, Van Dorn, Halleck, Ord, A.J. Smith, Dodge, and J.B. Hood).
There is a lot to see at Corinth, the Gateway to Shiloh.
View attachment 116138

I was very impressed with the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center when we visited a couple years ago. The work they have done there to make it as modern as can be, great exhibits & layouts, a definite must see, for certain!

 

[atlantis]

Thanks for the replies very informative. ?

 

[Vicksburger]

Actually the first major campaign against Vicksburg was land based, following the Mississippi Central Railroad. This campaign was terminated when Van Dorn destroyed Grant's main supply depot at Holly Springs, MS, December 20, 1862

How important was the battle Corinth in the war? It was the LAST Confederate offensive in Mississippi. Everything else from that point on was in reaction to Union movements. Earl Van Dorn gave up the initiative on October 4th and it was never recovered. From October 1862 to the end of the war the Confederates were on the defensive in this state. and no, this does not contradict my own earlier statement about Holly Springs; the very successful raid was in reaction to Grant's movements.

I agree completely and you have pointed out that it was the last Confederate offensive in Mississippi. And everyone vilifies Van Dorn, but he was our last general to at least try to go on the offensive in Mississippi.

 

[NedBaldwin]

How important was the battle Corinth in the war? It was the LAST Confederate offensive in Mississippi. Everything else from that point on was in reaction to Union movements. Earl Van Dorn gave up the initiative on October 4th and it was never recovered. From October 1862 to the end of the war the Confederates were on the defensive in this state. and no, this does not contradict my own earlier statement about Holly Springs; the very successful raid was in reaction to Grant's movements.

How important is it that the Confederates were on the defensive in Mississippi? The US gave up Corinth in January 1864. For the last year and a half of the war, other than Vicksburg the US held on to no position in the entire state, and the Confederate lacked the opportunity and ability to retake Vicksburg. So what in Mississippi would they go on the offensive against?

 

[David Moore]

Note the words Sherman used over 25 years after the battle: "effect was very great" "decisive blow to the Confederate cause" "changed the whole aspect of affairs" " bold offensive" " death-blow." Seems to me Sherman is fully aware of the importance of Corinth. The controversy is over whom Sherman credits for the victory not the victory itself. Henry Boynton's book on Sherman's Memoirs (available on line) discusses this and many other things relative to Sherman.
https://archive.org/details/shermanshistori00boyngoog

 

[TomP]

How important is it that the Confederates were on the defensive in Mississippi? The US gave up Corinth in January 1864. For the last year and a half of the war, other than Vicksburg the US held on to no position in the entire state, and the Confederate lacked the opportunity and ability to retake Vicksburg. So what in Mississippi would they go on the offensive against?

Very true! By 1864 Corinth was no longer the strategic rail center it had been earlier in the war. The armies had moved on after Vicksburg fell and Sherman closed down the garrison in order to use the troops for his Meridian Campaign. Though there was little to go on the offensive against, other than Vicksburg, President Davis insisted on keeping Forrest's cavalry in Mississippi. He stated the reason was to protect the fertile Black Prairie Region (the Bread-basket of the Western Confederacy) but this was done so at the risk of losing military advantages over agricultural. How much of this was because it was Davis's home state is a valid question.

Forrest could have been better used against Sherman's supply lines during the Atlanta Campaign and there is some fascinating correspondence between Davis and Georgia Governor Joe Brown on this very topic. As it was, the Confederates maintained a cavalry force outside of Vicksburg and another on a line from Corinth south to Okolona to protect the rich farmland.

Corinth did become vital to the South at the end of 1864 for Hood's Tennessee Campaign. The pontoons he used to cross the Tennessee were built in Corinth as were "torpedoes" placed in the river. Supplies were stockpiled in Corinth to sustain Hood's army retreating from Nashville in 1865 and P.G.T. Beauregard returned to Corinth to oversee the logistics.

Corinth resident Walter Overton wrote at the end of the war, "If there is a city iin the South that has seen the hard hand of war, that city is Corinth, Mississippi."

 

[Nathan Towne]

Corinth was a very important strategic position for Confederate defense of Mississippi and Alabama, hence why they tried so hard to hold on to it and subsequently to retake it.

 

[Nathan Towne]

Corinth was a very important strategic position for Confederate defense of Mississippi and Alabama, hence why they tried so hard to hold on to it and subsequently to retake it.

It should also be noted that Corinth was a critical launching pad for operations into and in order to retake West Tennessee.