Parkers Crossroads in Henderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
The Battle of Parker's Crossroads
December 31, 1862
— Union and Confederate Forces —
Union Forces
Cyrus Livingston Dunham was born in Dryden, New York, on January 16, 1817. In 1841 he moved to Salem, Indiana, where he practiced law and served as a Democratic congressman. He entered the Union service in 1861 as Colonel of the 50th Indiana Infantry Regiment. In the September 1862 battle of Munfordville, Kentucky, Donham and the men of the 50th surrendered to the Confederate Forces. Here at the battle of Parker's Crossroads, the fiery and eloquent commander was determined not to surrender his men as he had been forced to before.
Colonel Cyrus L. Dunham, Third Brigade, 16th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel T. Wells, 50th Indiana Infantry
Colonel John I. Rinaker, 122nd Illinois Infantry
Colonel H.J.B. Cummings, 39th Iowa Infantry
Lieutenant Harry S. Lee, 7th Wisconsin Artillery
Colonel John W. Fuller, 2nd Brigade, 16th Army Corps
Lieutenant Colonel Zephaniah S. Spaulding, 27th Ohio Infantry
Colonel John W. Sprague, 63rd Ohio Infantry
Colonel Edward F. Noyes, 39th Ohio Infantry
Captain John Davis, 18th Illinois Mounted Infantry
Confederate Forces
Nathan Bedford Forrest was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, on July 13, 1821. Entering Confederate service as a private in the cavalry, he ended the Civil War as a respected Lieutenant General. Understanding that "war means fightin' and fightin' means killin'," he refused to surrender at Fort Donelson; then stopped the Federal pursuit at Shiloh, and later captured the entire Union garrison at Murfreesboro. Newly promoted to Brigadier General, he rode into battle at Parker's Crossroads after crippling and destroying Union railroad supply lines across Tennessee and Kentucky.
Brigadier General Nathan B. Forrest, Forrest's Cavalry Brigade, Army of Middle Tennessee
Colonel George G. Dibrell, 8th Tennessee Cavalry
Colonel James W. Starnes, 4th Tennessee Cavalry
Colonel Jacob B. Biffle, 9th Tennessee Cavalry
Colonel A.A. Russell, 4th Alabama Cavalry
Major Nicholas N. Cox, Cox's Tennessee Cavalry Battalion
Captain Samuel L. Freeman, Freeman's Battery
Lieutenant Colonel T. Alonzo Napier, Napier's Tennessee Cavalry Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel T.G. Woodward, Woodward's Kentucky Battalion
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 January 1969.
Location. 35° 47.831′ N, 88° 23.421′ W. Marker is in Parkers Crossroads, Tennessee, in Henderson County. Marker can be reached from Tennessee Route 22, 0.6 miles north of Interstate 40, on the right when traveling north. Marker is at at the Parker's Crossroads City Park beside the parking area and at the start of the North Loop Walking Trail. 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. A different marker also named The Battle of Parker's Crossroads (here, next to this marker); Freeman's Battery (a few steps from this marker); Parker's Crossroads (within shouting distance of this marker); Parker's Crossroads City Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tides of War (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Battle of Parker's Crossroads (about 300 feet away); Morton's Battery (about 300 feet away); Forrest's West Tennessee Raid (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parkers Crossroads.
More about this marker. The marker is at Tour Stop 1 of the Parker's Crossroads Driving Tour and stands back-to-back with the Tour Stop 1 marker.
Regarding The Battle of Parker's Crossroads. The marker includes photographs of Colonel Cyrus L. Dunham and Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 9, 2014, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. This page has been viewed 709 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on March 24, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1. submitted on May 30, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on March 9, 2014, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. 4. submitted on August 21, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.