After the February 1862 Union victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, Gen. Don Carlos Buell’s army occupied Nashville while Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s army penetrated to Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. Buell and Grant planned to attack the . . . — — Map (db m74877) HM
The Federal 3rd Div., Army of the Tennessee commanded by Major Gen. Lew Wallace, was positioned by brigades along an east-west line to meet the Confederate attack expected from the north or northwest. The 3rd Brigade under Col. Charles Whittlesey, . . . — — Map (db m63085) HM
Personal History
Buford Hayes Pusser was born near Finger, Tennessee on December 12, 1937. His early education consisted of elementary schools in this area and graduation from Adamsville High School in 1956. About a year later, Buford . . . — — Map (db m56824) HM
Historic Site
Legendary Blind Fiddle Player
and Sheriff Buford Pusser
November 11,1965. The home of legendary blind fiddle player, Elvis Black, of McNairy County burned here at this site. The fire started inside the wood frame house and became . . . — — Map (db m209449) HM
Historic Site
October 4th 1969
Sheriff Buford Pusser crashed his super-charged 1969 2-door, Ford XL here on October 4th 1969. Another on the list of near-death accidents for which he was legendary. He sustained serious injuries here but recovered . . . — — Map (db m209454) HM
Originally built on this site in 1835 reconstructed in 1936 by local families as a memorial to their ancestors buried here.
Ted O. Wells, stone mason and architect — — Map (db m176335) HM
In this section lived numerous members of the Hurst family, who were staunch Unionists in a predominantly Confederate area. Its best known member was Col. Fielding Hurst, commanding the 6th Tenn. Cavalry, an irregular Union group which skirmished . . . — — Map (db m84790) HM
General Earl Van Dorn and his Confederate troops, marching to Corinth, crossed the Tuscumbia River and camped here on October 2, 1862. At dawn on October 3, they came in on Chewalla Road and pushed the Federals back south into Corinth. Van Dorn's . . . — — Map (db m62150) HM
Born 4.3 mi. east, he moved to Mississippi in 1845. Enlisted in 2nd Mississippi Volunteers for Mexican War. In 1861, initially commanding the 4th Mississippi Militia, he became colonel, 32nd Mississippi Infantry, CSA, in 1862 and a brigadier general . . . — — Map (db m66519) HM
Leaving the Confederate base at Corinth, Miss. in a march which had begun the previous afternoon, the two corps of the Army of the Mississippi, commanded by Maj. Gens. Hardee and Folk, marched north along this road to unite with other units of the . . . — — Map (db m115229) HM
Since the 1930's the state line was known for illegal drugs, bootleg whiskey, gambling, and prostitution. Death, blood-shed, and illegal activities continued through the 1960's. Buford Pusser was elected McNairy County Sheriff in 1964 and his . . . — — Map (db m182309) HM
Here on August 12, 1967, at the breaking of day, Sheriff Buford Pusser, accompanied by his wife Pauline, were answering a call to a disturbance on New Hope Road. A car drove up beside them and started firing into the sheriff’s car. Mrs. Pusser was . . . — — Map (db m223766) HM
Sheriff Pusser stopped his car here at this site, trying to check his wife’s injuries, the assailant’s car came back into sight and started firing into the sheriff’s car again. Mrs. Pusser was shot in the head this time and died. Sheriff Pusser was . . . — — Map (db m223767) HM
Bragg’s Corps, Confederate Army of the Mississippi, leaving its base at Corinth, Miss., the previous afternoon, passed north along this road to join other units for the attack on Federal camps at Shiloh, Apr. 6. Breckinridge’s Reserve Corps of . . . — — Map (db m21277) HM
4 mi. N.E., Albert Sidney Johnston's Army of the Mississippi (CS), marching north from Corinth, attacked and partly overran U.S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee (US), which was en route by river to destroy the (CS) base. Arrival of Buell's Army of the . . . — — Map (db m82261) HM
Three miles north of this point, and four miles from the Shiloh battle field, the Confederate army commanded by Albert Sydney Johnston was concentrated on April 5, 1862, for the attack on the Union army under General U.S. Grant at Shiloh. — — Map (db m162182) HM
The rear guard of the Army of the Mississippi (CSA), under Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, withdrew to Corinth. In this vicinity, about 300 sabres of its cavalry under Col. Nathan B. Forrest, effectively stopped two infantry brigades (USA), and the . . . — — Map (db m21275) HM
On December 12, 1937, Buford Hayse Pusser was born in Finger, Tennessee. In 1962 he became Adamsville's chief of police. He was elected sheriff of McNairy County in 1964. Soon his courageous fight against crime exposed him to much danger and many . . . — — Map (db m82262) HM
Fifty yards north is the home (ca. 1856) of Union Col. Fielding Hurst, a slave owner but devout Unionist who raised the 6th Tennessee Cavalry during the Civil War. Hurst’s family controlled an area known during the war and long afterward as the . . . — — Map (db m74875) HM
Marching southeast from Bethel Springs via Purdy, Cheatham’s Div., Confederate Army of the Mississippi, passed here enroute to join the army for its attack at Shiloh. Location of this force had caused Grant, the Federal commander, to dispose Lew . . . — — Map (db m63086) HM
One-half mile west of this marker is the site of McNairy County's first courthouse. In October 1823. An Act of the Tennessee General Assembly proclaimed this area to be McNairy Co. Abel V. Maury owned this land that was the center of the county. To . . . — — Map (db m179109) HM
McNairy County was established October 9, 1820, and Purdy became the County Seat in 1822.
The County Seat was removed to Selmer in 1920. — — Map (db m162259) HM
Erected 1995 by the Battle of Shiloh Camp #1454 Sons of Confederate Veterans C.S.A.
Confederate Units formed in McNairy County
18th (Newsom's) Tenn. Cavalry Regt. Co. E, F, 2nd G and H
21st (Wilson's) Tenn Cavalry Regt. Co F.
13th Tenn. . . . — — Map (db m162255) WM
Stanton Littlejohn
Musician, Music Preservationist & Amateur Sound Engineer
Stanton Littlejohn is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, but his lasting legacy is in local music preservation. In
an incredibly prolific ten-year period . . . — — Map (db m168729) HM
The Stephen Foster Music Club
Music appreciation organization
The Stephen Foster Music Club is a group dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of music in McNairy County. Named after Stephen Collins Foster, one of the most . . . — — Map (db m179084) HM
Dee Fisk Martin
Rhythm and Blues Singer & Recording Artist
Dee Fisk Martin was a singing sensation practically from the womb. Just seven years old, Dee made her debut on the national stage appearing on the TV show "Ozark Jubilee” hosted by . . . — — Map (db m179096) HM
Waldo Davis
Old-time Fiddler • Radio & TV Personality
Waldo Davis is one of the most prolific musicians and entertainers of the early and mid-twentieth century. He has performed on concert stages, community dances, fiddle contests, and . . . — — Map (db m179103) HM
Carl Perkins
American Music Icon • King of Rockabilly
Carl Perkins is a native of Lake County, Tennessee and a towering figure in American popular music. He achieved superstardom in 1956 with the rockabilly anthem "Blue Suede Shoes," but . . . — — Map (db m179091) HM
David Killingsworth
Revered Fiddler, Mandolist and Music Heritage Preservationist
David Killingsworth is best known as one of McNairy County's preeminent fiddlers, but primarily considers himself a mandolinist and demonstrates mastery on a . . . — — Map (db m179104) HM
Bessie Jarrett
Beloved & Influential Gospel Artist
Bessie Jarrett began singing gospel at 8 years old in Mt. Olive Church at Guys. A versatile entertainer, Bessie is recognized for her ability to perform many styles of music including R&B, . . . — — Map (db m179101) HM
The Latta Ramblers
Legendary Bluegrass Band
The Latta Ramblers were one of West Tennessee's premier old-time and bluegrass bands. The personnel changed over the years, but the core members of the group were Eunice Littlejohn Smith . . . — — Map (db m179087) HM
World War II
World War I
Korean Conflict
Vietnam
Dedicated in Memory
of those from McNairy Co.
who gave their lives
in service of their country — — Map (db m162253) WM
• The McNairy County Music Hall of Fame was founded by Arts in McNairy in 2013 with the goal to preserve and promote the distinct and rich musical heritage of McNairy County and Southwest Tennessee.
• The Trail of Music Legends, a project of the . . . — — Map (db m179102) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m162180) HM
4 miles northwest. Established in 1823, it was first county seat of McNairy County; here was Purdy University from 1855 to 1861. Glover’s Trace ran through it from Middle Tennessee to the Mississippi Country. The county seat was moved in 1890. — — Map (db m63087) HM
Rockabilly was the sound of young country musicians in the 1950s infusing their music with rhythm and blues (R&B). It emphasized the electric guitar over traditional country instruments such as the steel guitar, fiddle and banjo. Originally called . . . — — Map (db m179098) HM
A group of approximately 660 Cherokees traveled through McNairy County in late fall of 1838. Also called Bell's Treaty Party, it was the only detachment to be accompanied by the military. Escorted by U.S. Army Lt. Edward Deas and Cherokee leader . . . — — Map (db m19311) HM
C.S.
Reserve Corps, Army of the Mississippi.
Brig. Gen. John C Breckinridge.
1st Brigade, Col. Robert P. Trabue, 4th KY.
2d Brigade, Brig. Gen. John S. Bowen, (W'D).
Col. John D. Martin, 2d Confederate.
3d Brigade, Col. Winfield S. . . . — — Map (db m223846) HM
(preface)
After the February 1862 Union victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, Gen. Don Carlos Buell's army occupied Nashville while Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's army penetrated to Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. Buell and Grant . . . — — Map (db m84783) HM
