A beautiful Mississippi city that oozes Civil War history and timeless Southern charm is one of the Magnolia State’s true cultural gems, where visitors can learn first-hand about the bloodiest war in American history, all while taking in some surprisingly sophisticated dining and shopping options in a gorgeous and walkable downtown. Corinth, Mississippi, is a history-lovers’ paradise, just under two hours east by car from Memphis, Tennessee. The city still boasts pre-Civil War homes, and it is the location of the “crossroads of the South,” an important railroad junction that spurred one of the most important battles fought during the War Between the States in 1862.
Today, Corinth honors its important past with the Crossroads Museum and an installation of the Shiloh National Military Park, while also serving as the cultural hub of northeast Mississippi. The city claims to be among the first to serve the iconic Mississippi “slugburger,” but its assets transcend Southern fare and include the region’s bluegrass music, and excellent shopping. Every Thursday at dusk, bluegrass pickers from all over northeast Mississippi converge at the Alcorn County Courthouse square downtown for “Pickin’ on the Square.” Like another wonderful Mississippi community, Columbus, which boasts divine dining, specialty shops, and glistening riverside trails, Corinth offers a unique Southern retreat with something for everyone.
One of the most important battles of the Civil War was fought in Corinth’s shadow
Just 23 miles north of Corinth lies Shiloh National Battlefield, home of one of the most influential battles of the Civil War. It’s outcome in April 1862 led to the eventual invasion of Mississippi in the war’s Western Theater by General U.S. Grant, as he and his army worked their way south to Vicksburg. It began with a surprise attack on Grant’s army at Shiloh Church by Confederate forces led by General Albert Sidney Johnston the morning of April 6. Power shifted back and forth over the course of the first day. Johnston took a bullet and bled out, and his replacement, General P.G.T. Beauregard, planned to launch a surprise attack the morning of April 7. But by then, Grant’s army was reinforced by Gen. Don Carlos Buell’s Army of Ohio, and the Union Army forced the Confederates back to the South near Corinth. And, of course, the Union’s primary objective was the railroad crossing in Corinth, which eventually fell to the north in October 1862.
The battle was much more involved, of course, and that’s why a visit to Shiloh is an absolute must for anyone taking in the great little town of Corinth. There, visitors can literally walk in the steps of American history, and follow the battle plans of both the North and the South. For die-hard history buffs, seeing how the battle unfolded by wandering the hallowed ground of Shiloh is as close to being amid the cannon fire as they’ll ever get. Visitors can pick up a battlefield map at the visitors center and follow the interpretive trail through the park. For history lovers, it’s at least a daylong event. Like Harpers Ferry, another national historic park that’s a thrilling destination for Civil War buffs, Shiloh is a must-visit destination.
What is a ‘slugburger’ and why you need to try one
