Field Trips: A Call to Action

Some of the most impressive Civil War related sites in Corinth are the extant earthworks, which have survived not only military engagements, but the battles of time and development as well. They once encircled the city, protecting the vital railroad junction from advancing armies. Today they can be found in neighborhoods and wooded lots, a tangible reminder of another time.

Simply put, the earthworks were constructed to protect the defenders from an attacking foe. Some were built by the Confederates, others by the Union. Slaves, contrabands and soldiers using shovels and picks, moved hundreds of thousands of tons of earth to construct the rifle pits, forts and artillery positions. The placement of the earthworks was carefully selected to take advantage of the topography and the design and West Point trained engineers supervised construction. The fortifications were laid out with military precision and the adjacent forests were cut down to provide unobstructed fields of fire. Lined up end to end, these earthworks would have stretched for an incredible 41 miles and of this, only 7.5 miles remain.

The earthworks in and around Corinth are rare examples of the fortifications used early in the war. Hastily built, these works are among the most impressive and awe inspiring in the United States. The majority of the earthworks were built between March and October of 1862 and represent four distinct phases of construction. First was the “Beauregard Line” named for General Pierre G. T. Beauregard, which was built by the Confederates from March thru May to protect the city from attack from the north and east. The Union siege lines, constructed in May, protected the advancing Northern armies from surprise attacks. In June and July Union soldiers constructed six forts, designated A thru F to extend the captured Confederate earthworks completely around the city. This was known as the “Halleck Line” for Federal Major General Henry W. Halleck commanding the Union armies. And finally there was the “Rosecrans Line” , seven small forts constructed close to the railroad crossroads and designed to be defended by a small garrison of soldiers. This line was named for Major General William S. Rosecrans who commanded the Federal army during the Battle of Corinth, October 3 & 4, 1862.

Today, the earthworks stand under the cool shade of protective hardwood groves. The trees provide a shield from the rain and the potentially destructive forces of erosion. The precise angles have been softened but even the casual observer can still see the remarkable walls and rifle pits.

All of the earthworks are well marked and have parking spaces or pull-offs and many offer racks for locking bicycles. A few of the sites are easily accessible though most require a walk of from several hundred yards up to a mile. Well-marked paths lead to the sites, and most have informative way side exhibits describing the individual earthworks.