- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Location
- East Texas
Since this past week was the anniversary of Nathan Bedford Forrest's masterpiece fought on June 10, 1864, at Brice's Crossroads, Mississippi, I thought it would be a good time to revisit the original single acre National Battlefield and its classically-styled monument erected by the Federal Government when this became a park. It's flanked by two cannon brought from Shiloh NMP for the purpose, though they are essentially decorative, since they're pointing in the wrong direction for either Union or Confederate batteries during the battle!
They are both commonly known during the war as James Rifles, though they are entirely different: The one above was originally a Mexican War-era six-pounder gun that has been bored out further, and rifled in order to accept the then-new James projectile, a type of improved shell, instead of the smoothbore's round ball; the one below was purpose-built in 1861 or 1862 for the same purpose. Unfortunately, though a large number of both types survives today, at the time they were considered failures due to the relatively soft bronze wearing out quickly in service and the rifling becoming deformed. They were soon replaced by the familiar iron 3" ordnance rifles commonly seen on Civil War battlefields.
The text on the face of the monument reads, "In Memory of the Men of the Confederate and Federal Armies Who Took Part in the Battle of Brice's Cross Roads, June 10, 1864, Which Resulted in a Victory for the Confederate Forces Under Brigadier General N. B. Forrest."
The NPS explanatory signage above is placed directly behind the cannon and monument.
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