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The Battle of Parker's Cross Roads
December 31, 1862 in Henderson County, Tennessee
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Books on The Battle of Parker's Cross Roads
As Brig. General Nathan Bedford Forrest's expedition into West Tennessee neared its conclusion, Brig. Gen. Jeremiah C. Sullivan, with the brigades of Col. Cyrus L. Dunham and Col. John W. Fuller, attempted to cut Forrest off from withdrawing across the Tennessee River. Dunham's and Forrest's march routes, on December 31, brought them into contact at Parker's Cross Roads. Skirmishing began about 9:00 A.M., with Forrest taking an initial position along a wooded ridge northwest of Dunham at the intersection. Confederate artillery gained an early advantage.
Dunham pulled his brigade back 1/2 mile and redeployed, facing north. His Federals repelled frontal feints until attacked on both flanks and rear by Forrest's mounted and dismounted troops.
During a lull, Forrest sent Dunham a demand for an unconditional surrender. Dunham refused and was preparing for Forrest's next onset when Fuller's Union brigade arrived from the north and surprised the Confederates with an attack on their rear; Confederate security detachments had failed to warn of Fuller's approach.
"Charge 'em both ways," ordered Forrest. The Confederates briefly reversed front, repelled Fuller, then rushed past Dunham's demoralized force and withdrew south to Lexington and then across the Tennessee River. Both sides claimed victory, but the Confederate claims appear to have more credence.
CONFEDERATE FORCES
BRIGADIER GENERAL NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST
- 8th TENNESSEE CAVALRY
- 4th ALABAMA CAVALRY
- 19th TENNESSEE CAVALRY
- NAPIER'S CAVALRY BATTALION
- KENTUCKY BATTALION
- 4th TENNESSEE CAVALRY
- 2nd BATTALION TENNESSEE CAVALRY
- FREEMAN’S BATTERY
- MORTON’S BATTERY
TOTAL OF ABOUT 1800 MEN RANK AND FILE
UNION FORCES
BRIGADIER GENERAL JEREMIAH C. SULLIVAN
*1st BRIGADE*
- 50th INDIANA INFANTRY REGIMENT
- 122nd ILLINOIS INFANTRY REGIMENT
- 18th ILLINOIS MOUNTED INFANTRY REGIMENT
- 39th IOWA INFANTRY REGIMENT
- 7th WISCONSIN ARTILLERY BATTERY
*2nd BRIGADE OHIO*
- 27th OHIO INFANTRY REGIMENT
- 39th OHIO INFANTRY REGIMENT
- 63rd OHIO INFANTRY REGIMENT
TOTAL OF ABOUT 1554 MEN RANK AND FILE