The official U.S. Army map of Battle of Harrisburg, Mississippi, as fought July 14, 1864.
150 years ago, July 14 & 15, 1864, was the Battle of Harrisburg, Mississippi.
It’s commonly known today as the “Battle of Tupelo” because Harrisburg was burned during the battle, and Tupelo grew and overtook what was left of the town after the Civil War.
Much of the battlefield today is underneath the Wal-Mart there and in residential neighborhoods. A small lot is all that remains in National Park Service hands.
There are a few monuments and a couple of cannons, but not much to see, really. Such a shame.
The National Park Service maintains a small lot in Tupelo, Mississippi that commemorates the Battle of Harrisburg.
Memorial at the National Park dedicated to Confederates at the Battle of Harrisburg, Mississippi. This NPS park is located on Main Street in Tupelo.
Newt Rayburn was born & raised in Oxford, Mississippi. A seventh-generation Lafayette County, Mississippian, Newt Rayburn has been involved in the Ole Miss area for many years, in music, art, publishing, and business.
Newt won a National Magazine Award in 1999 for his SOUTHERN MUSIC ISSUE with THE OXFORD AMERICAN. Previously, Newt was Editor of PROFANE EXISTENCE in Minneapolis, and later, Art Director for Ole Miss' LIVING BLUES magazine. Newt's many publishing projects led to THE LOCAL VOICE™, which he founded in March of 2006, and ROUNDABOUT OXFORD®, which he founded in May of 2023.
Newt's alter ego—Neuter Cooter—lead the Mississippi band THE COOTERS® to Rocknoll Glory across the USA from 1993-2018. The Cooters music is on most major streaming services.
Newt is proud Father of nine-year old daughter Alex.
Hello Bobbie. Jessie Floyd served in Company D, 38th Mississippi Mounted Infantry Regiment, Mabry’s Cavalry Brigade, Buford’s Cavalry Division of General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Cavalry Corps. His regiment went into the battle with over 300 effectives, fit for duty. By the end of this two day battle, only 44 men of this regiment had survived unharmed. All of the officers were either killed or wounded in battle except one. This regiment suffered the highest casualties of General Forrest’s command. The official Confederate Army Records show Jesse as “Missing in Action” after the Battle of Harrisburg/Tupelo. Since he was never seen or heard from again, we can effectively deduce that he was killed in the battle. I have just concluded a weeks long research project into these units and their actions during the battle. I am also a resident research historian for the Brice’s Cross Roads and Harrisburg Battlefields. If you are interested, I can provide you with four likely locations for Jesse’s burial location. Number one is most likely since he has no record of arriving at or being treated at or buried at the three evacuation hospitals. We have just completed a field survey using ground penetrating radar to pinpoint the graves near the battlefield where many of the KIA’s from the Battle of Harrisburg were buried at. I had over 50 ancestors and allied family present at that battle in General Forrest’s Cavalry. I will watch out for your reply.
Would there be information on some of those who died during the Battle? I am in search of a Jesse Floyd who died during this skirmish.
Hello Bobbie. Jessie Floyd served in Company D, 38th Mississippi Mounted Infantry Regiment, Mabry’s Cavalry Brigade, Buford’s Cavalry Division of General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Cavalry Corps. His regiment went into the battle with over 300 effectives, fit for duty. By the end of this two day battle, only 44 men of this regiment had survived unharmed. All of the officers were either killed or wounded in battle except one. This regiment suffered the highest casualties of General Forrest’s command. The official Confederate Army Records show Jesse as “Missing in Action” after the Battle of Harrisburg/Tupelo. Since he was never seen or heard from again, we can effectively deduce that he was killed in the battle. I have just concluded a weeks long research project into these units and their actions during the battle. I am also a resident research historian for the Brice’s Cross Roads and Harrisburg Battlefields. If you are interested, I can provide you with four likely locations for Jesse’s burial location. Number one is most likely since he has no record of arriving at or being treated at or buried at the three evacuation hospitals. We have just completed a field survey using ground penetrating radar to pinpoint the graves near the battlefield where many of the KIA’s from the Battle of Harrisburg were buried at. I had over 50 ancestors and allied family present at that battle in General Forrest’s Cavalry. I will watch out for your reply.