Selmer in McNairy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Mobile & Ohio Railroad

Strategically Important Transportation Route

Photographed by David Austin, December 9, 2020

1. Mobile & Ohio Railroad Marker

Inscription.

Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Strategically Important Transportation Route. This is the Mobile and Ohio Railroad which was chartered in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky in 1808 to provide a vital commercial link between the Gulf or Mexico and Cairo, Illinois, on the Ohio River. The last miles of track were laid in April 1861 just as hostilities erupted at Fort Sumter. The strategic significance of the railroad quickly become apparent. By the spring of 1862, thousands Of Confederate troops from as far away as Pensacola and Mobile steamed into southwestern Tennessee and northern Mississippi on the railroad in anticipation of an imminent Union offensive. Corinth, Mississippi, was among the most important railroad junctions in the western Confederacy. Bethel Station, north of here, was also a strategically significant point that provided access to the Tennessee River and the interior of western Tennessee., When Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant massed his army at Pittsburg Landing in April 1862, he intended to disrupt the railroad at Corinth or here at Bethel Station, but the Confederates struck first near Shiloh Church. After failing to defeat the Federals, the Confederate army retreated to Corinth. By the autumn of 1862, Union forces had captured the town. Federal Gen. Grenville M. Dodge rebuilt the shattered rail line and, though constantly harassed by Confederate cavalry, held it until end of the war., Local disputes about the location of the railroad right-of-way near the McNairy County town of Purdy resulted in a more-western route for the line. The county seat was moved to Selmer, on the railroad, in 1890., "The Federals took possession or that portion or the Mobile and Ohio railroad near Bethel Station. They had nothing to oppose them. They burnt two bridges and tore up a portion of the track. All the Mobile and Ohio railroad north of Corinth has been abandoned." , Houston Telegraph, June 2, 1862, (captions) , Mobile and Ohio Railroad, 1848 Courtesy Alabama Dept. of Archives and History, Bethel Springs rail yard, ca. 1900 , Courtesy McNairy County Archives, Gen. Grenville M. Dodge Courtesy Library of Congress

This is the Mobile and Ohio Railroad which was chartered in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky in 1808 to provide a vital commercial link between the Gulf or Mexico and Cairo, Illinois, on the Ohio River. The last miles of track were laid in April 1861 just as hostilities erupted at Fort Sumter. The strategic significance of the railroad quickly become apparent. By the spring of 1862, thousands Of Confederate troops from as far away as Pensacola and Mobile steamed into southwestern Tennessee and northern Mississippi on the railroad in anticipation of an imminent Union offensive. Corinth, Mississippi, was among the most important railroad junctions in the western Confederacy. Bethel Station, north of here, was also a strategically significant point that provided access to the Tennessee River and the interior of western Tennessee.

When Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant massed his army at Pittsburg Landing in April 1862, he intended to disrupt the railroad at Corinth or here at Bethel Station, but the Confederates struck first near Shiloh Church. After failing to defeat the Federals, the Confederate army retreated to Corinth. By the autumn of 1862, Union forces had captured the town. Federal Gen. Grenville M. Dodge rebuilt the shattered rail line and, though constantly harassed by Confederate cavalry, held it until end of

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

the war.

Local disputes about the location of the railroad right-of-way near the McNairy County town of Purdy resulted in a more-western route for the line. The county seat was moved to Selmer, on the railroad, in 1890.

"The Federals took possession or that portion or the Mobile & Ohio railroad near Bethel Station. They had nothing to oppose them. They burnt two bridges and tore up a portion of the track. All the Mobile & Ohio railroad north of Corinth has been abandoned." — Houston Telegraph, June 2, 1862

(captions)
Mobile & Ohio Railroad, 1848 Courtesy Alabama Dept. of Archives & History

Bethel Springs rail yard, ca. 1900 — Courtesy McNairy County Archives

Gen. Grenville M. Dodge Courtesy Library of Congress

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list.

Location. 35° 10.174′ N, 88° 35.476′ W. Marker is in Selmer, Tennessee, in McNairy County. It is at the intersection of East Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) and North Front Street, on the left when

Photographed by David Austin, December 9, 2020

2. Mobile & Ohio Railroad Marker

traveling south on East Court Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Selmer TN 38375, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 walking distance of this marker: Rockabilly Highway Murals (here, next to this marker); Selmer, Tennessee (within shouting distance of this marker); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2013 Inductees (within shouting distance of this marker); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2014 Inductees (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Meskers (about 300 feet away); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2020 Inductees (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Meskers (about 400 feet away); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Selmer.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2020, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 908 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2020, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.