Near Abbeville in Lafayette County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Tallahatchie River Defense Line

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 8, 2017

1. Tallahatchie River Defense Line Marker

Inscription. Following their defeat in the battle of Corinth, Confederate forces, now under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton, established a line of defense on the Tallahatchie River in November 1862. Union Gen. U.S. Grant, moving down the Mississippi Central Railroad, expected to fight Pemberton's army on this line. A Union cavalry raid from Arkansas toward Grenada, however, convinced Pemberton that his left flank was threatened, and in early December he fell back to Grenada and the Yalobusha River line.

Erected 2009 by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, and the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1862.

Location. 34° 32.327′ N, 89° 29.635′ W. Marker is near Abbeville, Mississippi, in Lafayette County. It is on County Route 7 one mile north of Road 244, on the right when traveling south. Located at the entrance to the Little Tallahatchie River - Frank Walker Landing. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Abbeville MS 38601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the North Mississippi Hills. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Abbeville Colored School (approx. 4.6 miles away); College Hill Settlers (approx. 9.1 miles away); College Church (approx. 9.1 miles away); Lafayette Agricultural High School (approx. 9.1 miles away); Lynching in America / The Lynching of Elwood Higginbottom (approx. 10.6 miles away); University Faculty Houses (approx. 11 miles away); Cedar Oaks (approx. 11.2 miles away); L. Q. C. Lamar House (approx. 11.6 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Mississippi Central R.R. Campaign (was approx. 8.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . "Grant's Mississippi Central Railroad Campaign and the defense of Vicksburg". (Submitted on April 11, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

The view north towards the Little Tallahatchie River bridge. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 8, 2017

2. The view north towards the Little Tallahatchie River bridge.

Entrance sign to Little Tallahatchie River boat landing. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 8, 2017

3. Entrance sign to Little Tallahatchie River boat landing.

Little Tallahatchie River under the Highway 7 bridge. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 8, 2017

4. Little Tallahatchie River under the Highway 7 bridge.

Water level is so low at this time that no boats can use the landing.

John C. Pemberton image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

5. John C. Pemberton

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,860 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 11, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.