Okolona in Chickasaw County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Okolona in the Civil War

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 9, 2017

1. Okolona in the Civil War Marker

Inscription. Throughout the Civil War, Confederate forces were stationed in Okolona, taking advantage of the agriculturally rich prairie region. With a large supply depot, the town was the object of Union Raids at least twice. On February 22, 1864, Maj. Gen. William Sooy Smith's expedition was defeated by Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry in a day-long battle. Later, in December, Benjamin Grierson, commanding a cavalry raid down the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, occupied and burned much of the town of Okolona.

Erected 2006 by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 22, 1864.

Location. 34° 0.259′ N, 88° 44.832′ W. Marker is in Okolona, Mississippi, in Chickasaw County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street and North Gatlin Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: West Main Street, Okolona MS 38860, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Black Prairie

and in the North Mississippi Hills. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

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 one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Our Confederate Dead Soldiers' Monument (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Okolona (approx. 0.6 miles away); Confederate Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chickasaw County Confederate Tribute (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Okolona (approx. 0.6 miles away); Okolona Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Battle of Okolona (approx. one mile away); Okolona College (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Okolona.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Battle of Okolona. (Submitted on April 13, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

View of marker looking west in downtown Okolona. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 9, 2017

2. View of marker looking west in downtown Okolona.

Nearby Confederate monument (marker to left of white SUV). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 9, 2017

3. Nearby Confederate monument (marker to left of white SUV).

Smith / Forrest / Grierson image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Smith / Forrest / Grierson

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 839 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 13, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.