Join ALPLM Manuscripts Curator Christopher Schnell for Tales from the Vault and a look the intimate side of the American Civil War by exploring the letters, reminiscences, and battlefield relics of Illinois soldiers who fought at the Battle of Brices Cross Roads (a.k.a. Battle of Guntown).
On June 10, 1864, a small Union army, suffering in the Southern heat and bogged down in the Mississippi mud, clashed with Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry at the remote crossroads near Guntown, Mississippi. Even though the major actions of the war were unfolding in other states, this relatively small battle in northern Mississippi played an important role in the eventual success of the Union’s invasion of Georgia and capture of Atlanta. Nine regiments from Illinois, over one-third of the Union soldiers at Brices Cross Roads, hailed from the Prairie State and by opening the vault and exploring their personal stories we can better understand the cost of their sacrifice.
This will be a “hybrid” event with the opportunity to attend in-person or virtually. The program will take place in our library’s multi-purpose room on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 12pm. The event is free; reservations are not required.
To watch virtually via Facebook Live, please go to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Facebook page. Open the page at the appointed time and scroll to the post highlighting the live event. Once you’re there, simply click on the image and watch the live video stream.
Tales from the Vault is a collaboration between the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois State Museum.