Parkers Crossroads in Henderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Battle of Parker's Crossroads
Tour Stop 7
December 31, 1862
At approximately 11:00 a.m., Colonel Dunham's Brigade positioned themselves behind a split-rail fence located a few feet behind this area running east and west to the Lexington/Huntingdon Road. By afternoon, and under fire at this position for two hours, many of the men were killed or wounded by rails splintered by the Confederate shelling. Private Joseph Hotz, 50th Indiana, later wrote his wife, "a shell hit the fence near which I stood and the rail struck me down."
Showing great courage, Dunham's men unsuccessfully charged out into the crossfire coming from the Confederate encirclement located on the sandy rise to the northeast, north and northwest.
Confederate Lieutenant Colonel Alonzo Napier led a counterattack on the Union left flank and fell mortally wounded while waving his men on from atop the fence. On the following morning the Union commander ordered that Union troops killed during the previous day's fight be buried on the knoll near the east end of the Union line. Recent archaeological excavations confirmed the location of a number of gravesites.
Erected by Parkers Crossroads Battlefield Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1755.
Location. 35° 47.322′ N, 88° 23.364′ W. Marker is in Parkers Crossroads, Tennessee, in Henderson County. Marker is on Federal Lane, on the right when traveling east. Located at stop seven, of the driving tour of Parker's Crossroads Battlefield. The parking area is adjacent to Interstate 40. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wildersville TN 38388, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nathan Bedford Forrest (a few steps from this marker); Lt. Col. Alonzo Napier (within shouting distance of this marker); Battlefield Overview (within shouting distance of this marker); 39th Iowa Infantry Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); McPeake Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Withdrawal to the Split-Rail Fence (within shouting distance of this marker); A Very Successful Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); Three Desperate Charges (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parkers Crossroads.
Also see . . .
1. Parkers Crossroads. Civil War Preservation Trust site detailing the battle. (Submitted on July 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Parkers Crossroads Battlefield Association. Details about the battle and efforts to preserve the field. (Submitted on July 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,397 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 28, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 22, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 3. submitted on July 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on July 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on August 22, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 6. submitted on May 28, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 7. submitted on July 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.