Bolivar in Hardeman County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Bolivar

Strategic Position

Photographed By Phillip Knecht, June 27, 2015

1. Bolivar Marker

Inscription.

Bolivar. Strategic Position. Located midway between Memphis and Corinth, Mississippi, Bolivar's position on the Hatchie River (a navigable route to the Mississippi River) and its junction of north-south railroads made it a strategic location for both armies. By the fall of 1862, Union forces had occupied West Tennessee, where they remained until the war's end., Several Union generals quartered in nearby dwellings: Gen. Lew Wallace stayed at the Levi Joy House, while Gens. William T. Sherman, James B. McPherson, and Ulysses S. Grant each used Austin Miller's house (Magnolia Manor) as a headquarters., Early in 1864, Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry re-entered West Tennessee to raid and disrupt Union supply lines. When Union Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis learned that Forrest was in Bolivar, he marched here from Memphis on May 2. After a brief fight, Forrest withdrew to the south. To punish Bolivar for supporting Forrest, Sturgis ordered the courthouse and town square burned to the ground. The Methodist and Baptist churches and most of the business district were also destroyed. Fortunately, the courthouse records were saved. According to local tradition, a Union officer and Freemason contacted fellow Masonic brother Austin Miller and gave Miller two hours advance warning. Miller moved the records to his house. The current courthouse was erected in 1868 to replace the one that burned., Bolivar's Confederate monument here on the courthouse square is one of the oldest in the state. Local residents began raising funds for the obelisk to commemorate fallen soldiers in 1868, the year that the new courthouse was completed, and erected it in 1873., (captions) , (top left) Hardeman County Courthouse (built 1868) Courtesy Tennessee State Library and Archives , (top left) Hardeman County Courthouse (built 1868) Courtesy Tennessee State Library and Archive , (bottom left) Gen. Nathan B. Forest; Gen. Lew Wallace; Gen. James B. McPherson; Gen. William T. Sherman; Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis Photos courtesy Library of Congress , (top right) Austin Miller House Courtesy Tennessee State Library and Archive

Located midway between Memphis and Corinth, Mississippi, Bolivar's position on the Hatchie River (a navigable route to the Mississippi River) and its junction of north-south railroads made it a strategic location for both armies. By the fall of 1862, Union forces had occupied West Tennessee, where they remained until the war's end.

Several Union generals quartered in nearby dwellings: Gen. Lew Wallace stayed at the Levi Joy House, while Gens. William T. Sherman, James B. McPherson, and Ulysses S. Grant each used Austin Miller's house (Magnolia Manor) as a headquarters.

Early in 1864, Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry re-entered West Tennessee to raid and disrupt Union supply lines. When Union Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis learned that Forrest was in Bolivar, he marched here from Memphis on May 2. After a brief fight, Forrest withdrew to the south. To punish Bolivar for supporting Forrest, Sturgis ordered the courthouse and town square burned to the ground. The Methodist and Baptist churches and most of the business district were also destroyed. Fortunately, the courthouse records were saved. According to local tradition, a Union officer and Freemason contacted fellow Masonic brother Austin Miller and gave Miller two hours advance warning. Miller moved the records to his house. The current courthouse was

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erected in 1868 to replace the one that burned.

Bolivar's Confederate monument here on the courthouse square is one of the oldest in the state. Local residents began raising funds for the obelisk to commemorate fallen soldiers in 1868, the year that the new courthouse was completed, and erected it in 1873.

(captions)
(top left) Hardeman County Courthouse (built 1868) Courtesy Tennessee State Library & Archives
(top left) Hardeman County Courthouse (built 1868) Courtesy Tennessee State Library & Archive
(bottom left) Gen. Nathan B. Forest; Gen. Lew Wallace; Gen. James B. McPherson; Gen. William T. Sherman; Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis Photos courtesy Library of Congress
(top right) Austin Miller House Courtesy Tennessee State Library & Archive

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1821.

Location. 35° 15.379′ N, 88° 59.26′ W. Marker is in Bolivar, Tennessee, in Hardeman County. Marker is at the intersection of East Market Street (U.S. 64) and North Main Street (Tennessee Route 125), on the right when traveling west on East

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 13, 2021

2. Bolivar Marker

Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 North Main Street, Bolivar TN 38008, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hardeman County Confederate Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Hardeman County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); St. James Episcopal Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Columns (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Houston Bills (approx. 0.2 miles away); Polk Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Trail of Tears Cherokee Removal 1838 (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Hatchie Town (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bolivar.

Bolivar Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Phillip Knecht, June 27, 2015

3. Bolivar Courthouse

Bolivar Confederate Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Phillip Knecht, June 27, 2015

4. Bolivar Confederate Memorial

Levi Joy House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Phillip Knecht, June 27, 2015

5. Levi Joy House

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2015, by Phillip Knecht of Holly Springs, Mississippi. This page has been viewed 681 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 28, 2015, by Phillip Knecht of Holly Springs, Mississippi. 2. submitted on March 17, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 28, 2015, by Phillip Knecht of Holly Springs, Mississippi. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.