Welcome to the McNairy County Civil war trails page! Below you will find information and directions of the known civil war trails as featured in the McNairy Magazine. If you have questions please reach out to us! The two trails listed are:
The Davis Bridge Trail
The Hurst/ Cheatham Trail Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham
The Davis Bridge Trail
The Hurst/ Cheatham Trail Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham
The Davis Bridge Trail
Key Stories, Places, and People on this Tour: Selmer; Eastview; Ramer; Chewalla; Pocahontas; Metamora; railroad History; Battle of Chewalla; Camp Sheldon; Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn; Big Hill; Hatchie River; Tuscumbia River; Battle of Davis Bridge; Young’s Bridge; Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson; Maj. Gen. John S. Bowen; Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord; Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut; Big Hill Pond State Park
Directions for Tour
Your tour begins at the Tennessee Civil War Trails marker on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad in Downtown Selmer. Much of the military conflict in and around McNairy County centered on control of this vital railway as well as the Memphis & Charleston line you will visit on this tour. We recommend you take the time to read this and each of the markers on the tour for a better understanding of the historical events, people and places.
From the Mobile & Ohio marker go left across the railroad tracks onto East Court Ave (Business Hwy 45/64) and continue south 7 miles to your next turn. Immediately after crossing the tracks get in the right lane and keep right in the through lane at the first traffic signal. The next traffic light is the junction of Hwy 64 and Hwy 45. Go straight through the light onto Hwy 45 South (Mulberry Avenue). In a short distance you will come to the traffic light at the junction of 45 South and Hwy 142 coming in on your left. Continue south on Hwy 45 and travel the remainder of the distance to the stoplight at the junction of Hwy 45 South and Hwy 57 in Eastview. Take a right onto Hwy 57 and proceed west 4.4 miles to Ramer where you will again cross the southern extension of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad tracks. After crossing the tracks, immediately turn left onto Hwy 234/Chewalla Rd. Keep right on 234 as it veers away from the railroad and makes an S turn and heads south. Travel 4.4 miles to the crossing of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Chewalla. Just before arriving at the railroad tracks, you will note an intersection with Guys-Chewalla Rd. coming in on your left and Butler Chapel Rd. extending to your right. Stay on Hwy 234 but note this intersection as you will return here to continue your tour.
Immediately after the noted intersection, Hwy 234 makes another S curve turning sharply left then to the right at Chewalla Baptist Church as you approach the railroad tracks. This is the M&C Railroad which was the first railroad in the United States to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mississippi River in 1857. It was of great strategic significance during the Civil War since it was the only rail line running east to west through the Confederacy. The M&C and M&O crossed at Corinth, MS just to the south of this location ensuring that the entire area would be hotly contested throughout the war.
From the railroad tracks stay on Hwy 234 and proceed .5 miles to the state historical marker on your right. Pull off in the gravel area near the marker to read about Chewalla in the Civil War. On the eve of an ill-fated attempt to regain control of Corinth, MS (Second Battle of Corinth), Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn camped in this area the night of October 2 & 3, 1862. Van Dorn’s retreating army returned to camp here the night of October 4 & 5 after failing to retake Corinth. Union pursuit resulted in the Battle of Davis Bridge several miles west of this position on October 5. The high, east-west ridge you are now on, just south of Chewalla, was also the site of Camp Sheldon. Sheldon was a 21-acre fort constructed by the 18th Missouri Infantry USA in the fall of 1863 and occupied by various other Union units until the end of the war in 1865. Union soldiers stationed at Sheldon guarded the M&C railroad and scouted the roads around Chewalla for Confederate troops and guerillas.
From the state marker, retrace your path one mile back to the intersection of Hwy 234 and Butler Chapel Rd. (alternately take Turner Rd. from the state marker to intersect Butler Chapel Rd. in 1.7 miles and go left). Go left on Butler Chapel road and proceed 1.8 miles to cross the M&C Railroad track. You are following the route taken by Van Dorn’s forces as they were pursued by Union General’s McPherson and Rosecrans after the Second Battle of Corinth. Just west of Chewalla, McPherson skirmished with Van Dorn’s cavalry scouts.
After crossing the railroad tracks on Butler Chapel Rd., proceed 3.5 miles to the intersection of Cypress Rd. on your right (Also note Butler Chapel Baptist Church on your Right) and Rosa Burrow Ln on your left. Proceed through the intersection and travel 1.6 miles to the Tuscumbia River bridge. Butler Chapel Rd. now becomes Wolf Pen Rd. You are entering the Big Hill region where McPherson’s pursuing Federals finally caught up with the Confederate rear guard commanded by his West Point classmate Maj. Gen. John S. Bowen. Traveling through the Big Hill region, note the high ridge to the right (north) of the road. Confederate troops defended the Tuscumbia River crossing (Young’s Bridge) from this ground in the late afternoon of October 5, 1862. As you approach the Tuscumbia River note the high ground to your left (south). Bowen’s Confederates fell back to this position, nearer the bridge, towards nightfall and repulsed heavy Union fire driving McPherson back down the road towards Chewalla. You are now in the heart of the easternmost battlegrounds associated with the Davis Bridge engagement. From the bridge, look to your left down the main channel of the Tuscumbia River. The site of the original Young’s Bridge was about 100 yards to the south of your present position. Nightfall brought the fighting to a close marking the end of the Battle of Davis Bridge here. Bowen’s troops fled across the river to rejoin Van Dorn’s main column under cover of darkness burning the bridge to prevent further pursuit.
Proceed across the Tuscumbia River bridge and follow Wolf Pen Rd., 4.4 miles to the Hatchie River well north of the Davis Bridge Battlefield. Immediately after crossing the Tuscumbia you will note another small bridge over a tributary stream. This is not the Hatchie River. One mile after crossing the Hatchie River bridge, Wolf Pen Rd. dead ends into a stop sign at Essary Springs Rd. Look to your left and note the fork in Essary Springs Rd. The left fork continues on Essary Springs Rd. to the Davis Bridge site and the right fork becomes Pocahontas Rd. leading to Metamora. Go left on Essary Springs Rd. and immediately take the right fork on to Pocahontas Rd. which climbs steeply up the ridge. In 1.2 miles you will come to the Metamora marker and a gravel parking area on your left. In 1862 the small hamlet, Metamora, set atop this ridge providing a good view of the Hatchie valley to the east as the land sloped back towards the river. At the time of the battle, Stateline Rd. crossed the Hatchie at Davis Bridge and climbed directly up this ridge near your current position. Early on October 5, the Confederate army was approaching the Hatchie from the east with McPherson in hot pursuit. Van Dorn dispatched a division to cross the river and hold this ridge until his exhausted army could make the river crossing. Van Dorn’s army had camped here October 1 in route to Corinth and he intended to retrace his steps to Ripley, Mississippi. Meanwhile, a large forcer of Federal’s under the command of Maj. Gen Stephen A. Hurlbut had left Bolivar in the early morning hours of October 4, to reinforce Union troops at Corinth or block the
Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn Confederate retreat across the Hatchie. Early on October 5, Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord, joined the federal columns moving on Metamora, assumed command, and hurried artillery and infantry into position along this ridge while Van Dorn’s men crossed the river. Ord rained heavy fire down on the Confederates, disabling their artillery and pinning their rifles behind Burr’s branch in the valley below. Before noon the Confederates had suffered heavy casualties and been driven back across the Hatchie River where Ord’s men pursued in force.
Proceed north on Pocahontas Rd. retracing your path 1.2 miles to the earlier noted intersection with Essary Springs Rd. Go right on Essary Springs Rd. and travel 1.1 miles to the entrance of the Davis Bridge site on your left. As you approach, note Burr’s Branch in the lowlands and the terrain sloping upwards towards Metamora on your right. The Hatchie River is beyond the wooded thickets and small fields on your left. Pull over at the Davis Bridge site to explore the grounds around the Hatchie River. A path leading towards the river roughly traces the old Stateline Rd. which crossed the river at Davis Bridge. Observe the memorial markers on your left as you approach the Hatchie. At the river, you will note a wide bend a short distance, upstream to your right. Ord’s zealous Union troops pursued the retreating Confederates across the bridge and tried to form a line of battle on the east bank astride Stateline Rd. The short distance from the road to the river bend could not contain the Union forces crowding in from the west bank of the river, so the Union pursuit fell into confusion. Ord was wounded in the crossing and command reverted to Hurlbut. Across the river, in front of you, and extending to the left, the ground rises slightly and forms an easily defensible, natural embankment. The retreating Confederates received fresh reinforcements from Van Dorn’s main column and formed their own line of battle astride the road. Artillery along the ridge to your left and infantry on the road and to your right unleashed a murderous assault at close range exactly a heavy toll. Fighting continued from mid to late afternoon. Caught between the two rivers with Union forces at his front and rear, Van Dorn was desperately seeking an alternate route to cross the Hatchie and take his army to safety. Confederate cavalry identified Crum’s Mill, six miles to the south, as the last chance to avoid disaster. Van Dorn moved his supply train south towards the crossing, created a diversion on his left flank, and withdrew his army from the Hatchie, thus ending hostilities at Davis Bridge. Van Dorn escaped under cover of darkness and marched his army back to Ripley and then on to Holly Springs, Mississippi.
As you exit the Davis Bridge site, turn right on Essary Springs Road and travel 1.5 miles back to Hwy 57. To return to Selmer, go right toward Ramer and retrace your route to Eastview. A few miles east of Pocahontas, visit Big Hill Pond State Park on your right for more local Civil War information. Go Left on Hwy 45 South.
From the Mobile & Ohio marker go left across the railroad tracks onto East Court Ave (Business Hwy 45/64) and continue south 7 miles to your next turn. Immediately after crossing the tracks get in the right lane and keep right in the through lane at the first traffic signal. The next traffic light is the junction of Hwy 64 and Hwy 45. Go straight through the light onto Hwy 45 South (Mulberry Avenue). In a short distance you will come to the traffic light at the junction of 45 South and Hwy 142 coming in on your left. Continue south on Hwy 45 and travel the remainder of the distance to the stoplight at the junction of Hwy 45 South and Hwy 57 in Eastview. Take a right onto Hwy 57 and proceed west 4.4 miles to Ramer where you will again cross the southern extension of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad tracks. After crossing the tracks, immediately turn left onto Hwy 234/Chewalla Rd. Keep right on 234 as it veers away from the railroad and makes an S turn and heads south. Travel 4.4 miles to the crossing of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Chewalla. Just before arriving at the railroad tracks, you will note an intersection with Guys-Chewalla Rd. coming in on your left and Butler Chapel Rd. extending to your right. Stay on Hwy 234 but note this intersection as you will return here to continue your tour.
Immediately after the noted intersection, Hwy 234 makes another S curve turning sharply left then to the right at Chewalla Baptist Church as you approach the railroad tracks. This is the M&C Railroad which was the first railroad in the United States to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mississippi River in 1857. It was of great strategic significance during the Civil War since it was the only rail line running east to west through the Confederacy. The M&C and M&O crossed at Corinth, MS just to the south of this location ensuring that the entire area would be hotly contested throughout the war.
From the railroad tracks stay on Hwy 234 and proceed .5 miles to the state historical marker on your right. Pull off in the gravel area near the marker to read about Chewalla in the Civil War. On the eve of an ill-fated attempt to regain control of Corinth, MS (Second Battle of Corinth), Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn camped in this area the night of October 2 & 3, 1862. Van Dorn’s retreating army returned to camp here the night of October 4 & 5 after failing to retake Corinth. Union pursuit resulted in the Battle of Davis Bridge several miles west of this position on October 5. The high, east-west ridge you are now on, just south of Chewalla, was also the site of Camp Sheldon. Sheldon was a 21-acre fort constructed by the 18th Missouri Infantry USA in the fall of 1863 and occupied by various other Union units until the end of the war in 1865. Union soldiers stationed at Sheldon guarded the M&C railroad and scouted the roads around Chewalla for Confederate troops and guerillas.
From the state marker, retrace your path one mile back to the intersection of Hwy 234 and Butler Chapel Rd. (alternately take Turner Rd. from the state marker to intersect Butler Chapel Rd. in 1.7 miles and go left). Go left on Butler Chapel road and proceed 1.8 miles to cross the M&C Railroad track. You are following the route taken by Van Dorn’s forces as they were pursued by Union General’s McPherson and Rosecrans after the Second Battle of Corinth. Just west of Chewalla, McPherson skirmished with Van Dorn’s cavalry scouts.
After crossing the railroad tracks on Butler Chapel Rd., proceed 3.5 miles to the intersection of Cypress Rd. on your right (Also note Butler Chapel Baptist Church on your Right) and Rosa Burrow Ln on your left. Proceed through the intersection and travel 1.6 miles to the Tuscumbia River bridge. Butler Chapel Rd. now becomes Wolf Pen Rd. You are entering the Big Hill region where McPherson’s pursuing Federals finally caught up with the Confederate rear guard commanded by his West Point classmate Maj. Gen. John S. Bowen. Traveling through the Big Hill region, note the high ridge to the right (north) of the road. Confederate troops defended the Tuscumbia River crossing (Young’s Bridge) from this ground in the late afternoon of October 5, 1862. As you approach the Tuscumbia River note the high ground to your left (south). Bowen’s Confederates fell back to this position, nearer the bridge, towards nightfall and repulsed heavy Union fire driving McPherson back down the road towards Chewalla. You are now in the heart of the easternmost battlegrounds associated with the Davis Bridge engagement. From the bridge, look to your left down the main channel of the Tuscumbia River. The site of the original Young’s Bridge was about 100 yards to the south of your present position. Nightfall brought the fighting to a close marking the end of the Battle of Davis Bridge here. Bowen’s troops fled across the river to rejoin Van Dorn’s main column under cover of darkness burning the bridge to prevent further pursuit.
Proceed across the Tuscumbia River bridge and follow Wolf Pen Rd., 4.4 miles to the Hatchie River well north of the Davis Bridge Battlefield. Immediately after crossing the Tuscumbia you will note another small bridge over a tributary stream. This is not the Hatchie River. One mile after crossing the Hatchie River bridge, Wolf Pen Rd. dead ends into a stop sign at Essary Springs Rd. Look to your left and note the fork in Essary Springs Rd. The left fork continues on Essary Springs Rd. to the Davis Bridge site and the right fork becomes Pocahontas Rd. leading to Metamora. Go left on Essary Springs Rd. and immediately take the right fork on to Pocahontas Rd. which climbs steeply up the ridge. In 1.2 miles you will come to the Metamora marker and a gravel parking area on your left. In 1862 the small hamlet, Metamora, set atop this ridge providing a good view of the Hatchie valley to the east as the land sloped back towards the river. At the time of the battle, Stateline Rd. crossed the Hatchie at Davis Bridge and climbed directly up this ridge near your current position. Early on October 5, the Confederate army was approaching the Hatchie from the east with McPherson in hot pursuit. Van Dorn dispatched a division to cross the river and hold this ridge until his exhausted army could make the river crossing. Van Dorn’s army had camped here October 1 in route to Corinth and he intended to retrace his steps to Ripley, Mississippi. Meanwhile, a large forcer of Federal’s under the command of Maj. Gen Stephen A. Hurlbut had left Bolivar in the early morning hours of October 4, to reinforce Union troops at Corinth or block the
Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn Confederate retreat across the Hatchie. Early on October 5, Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord, joined the federal columns moving on Metamora, assumed command, and hurried artillery and infantry into position along this ridge while Van Dorn’s men crossed the river. Ord rained heavy fire down on the Confederates, disabling their artillery and pinning their rifles behind Burr’s branch in the valley below. Before noon the Confederates had suffered heavy casualties and been driven back across the Hatchie River where Ord’s men pursued in force.
Proceed north on Pocahontas Rd. retracing your path 1.2 miles to the earlier noted intersection with Essary Springs Rd. Go right on Essary Springs Rd. and travel 1.1 miles to the entrance of the Davis Bridge site on your left. As you approach, note Burr’s Branch in the lowlands and the terrain sloping upwards towards Metamora on your right. The Hatchie River is beyond the wooded thickets and small fields on your left. Pull over at the Davis Bridge site to explore the grounds around the Hatchie River. A path leading towards the river roughly traces the old Stateline Rd. which crossed the river at Davis Bridge. Observe the memorial markers on your left as you approach the Hatchie. At the river, you will note a wide bend a short distance, upstream to your right. Ord’s zealous Union troops pursued the retreating Confederates across the bridge and tried to form a line of battle on the east bank astride Stateline Rd. The short distance from the road to the river bend could not contain the Union forces crowding in from the west bank of the river, so the Union pursuit fell into confusion. Ord was wounded in the crossing and command reverted to Hurlbut. Across the river, in front of you, and extending to the left, the ground rises slightly and forms an easily defensible, natural embankment. The retreating Confederates received fresh reinforcements from Van Dorn’s main column and formed their own line of battle astride the road. Artillery along the ridge to your left and infantry on the road and to your right unleashed a murderous assault at close range exactly a heavy toll. Fighting continued from mid to late afternoon. Caught between the two rivers with Union forces at his front and rear, Van Dorn was desperately seeking an alternate route to cross the Hatchie and take his army to safety. Confederate cavalry identified Crum’s Mill, six miles to the south, as the last chance to avoid disaster. Van Dorn moved his supply train south towards the crossing, created a diversion on his left flank, and withdrew his army from the Hatchie, thus ending hostilities at Davis Bridge. Van Dorn escaped under cover of darkness and marched his army back to Ripley and then on to Holly Springs, Mississippi.
As you exit the Davis Bridge site, turn right on Essary Springs Road and travel 1.5 miles back to Hwy 57. To return to Selmer, go right toward Ramer and retrace your route to Eastview. A few miles east of Pocahontas, visit Big Hill Pond State Park on your right for more local Civil War information. Go Left on Hwy 45 South.
The Hurst/ Cheatham Trail Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham
Key Stories, Places and Figures on this Tour: Selmer, Bethel Springs, Purdy, Adamsville, Railroad History; Confederate monument; Col. Fielding Hurst; 6th Tennessee Cavalry USA; Hurst Nation; Bethel Presbyterian Church, Hurst home; Bethel and Purdy Cemeteries; Laughlin
Spring; Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham CSA; 2nd Division Army of the Mississippi CSA; Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace USA; 3rd Division Army of the Tennessee US
Spring; Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham CSA; 2nd Division Army of the Mississippi CSA; Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace USA; 3rd Division Army of the Tennessee US
Directions for Tour
Your tour begins at the Tennessee Civil War Trails marker on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad in Selmer. Much of the military conflict in and around McNairy County centered on control of this vital railway as well as the Memphis & Charleston line which crosses through southern McNairy County (See the M&C on the Davis Bridge Tour). We recommend you take the time to read this and each of the markers on the tour for a better understanding of the historical events, people and places.
From the M&O marker turn right on West Court Ave. (Business Hwy 45/64). You will proceed through two traffic lights and pass by the McNairy County Courthouse on your left and the Latta Visitor and Cultural Center on your right. You may wish to stop at the Confederate monument on the courthouse lawn or at the visitor center for other tourist information and exhibits. Stay in the right lane and in .5 miles veer right at the traffic light onto Peach Street (Old Hwy 45). In a few hundred feet you will see historic Oak Hill Cemetery on your left. Peach/ Old 45 will turn into Main Street once you reach Bethel Springs. Proceed 2.6 miles to the welcome sign on your right. You are entering the historic community of Bethel Springs, so named for the church (Bethel Presbyterian) and the multitude of artesian aquifers (springs) in the area. The plentiful source of water, needed by steam engines, was the primary reason Bethel Spring (Bethel Station) became a major stop on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. In another .9 miles you will arrive at Laughlin Spring. The gazebo on your left, next to Bethel Springs City Hall shelters one of the traditional underground springs. An active, public spring is accessible on your right adjacent to the gravel turnaround and picnic area. It is here, in August 1862, that Col. Fielding Hurst mustered the 6th TN Cavalry USA. Hurst camped here and watered his horses and men in these springs. Kevin McCann’s “Hurst’s Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the 6th TN Cavalry USA” is an excellent resource for those interest in the exploits of this notorious band of “Homemade Yankees.” From Laughlin Spring proceed .4 miles to the Hurst Nation state historical marker on your left. You may wish to pull off in the parking area to your right (Bethel Springs Church of Christ) to read the marker and learn about the influential and controversial Fielding Hurst and his family who lived in and controlled this area of McNairy County.
Proceed a few hundred feet on Main Street and turn left on 4th Avenue. You are entering the grounds of the historic Bethel Presbyterian Church. The church and cemetery to your right are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers are buried in the cemetery and the church building that stood on this site served as a military hospital, barracks and administrative space for both armies during the Civil War. The current building which was constructed in 1893 is the oldest church building in McNairy County. It serves as the meeting place for an active Presbyterian congregation today. Please be respectful of their assemblies during regular worship times.
Veer to your right between the church and cemetery and keep right onto 3rd Avenue. You will come to a stop sign at South Main Street. Go left and take an immediate right turn onto Bethel-Purdy Road. You will notice the railroad tracks in front of you and the historic Bethel Station rail yard to your right. This is the northern extension of the M&O Railroad where your tour began. March 1862 witnessed heavy concentration of Confederate troops here under Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham (Right). Acting on orders from commanding officer, Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, 4,000 men converged on Bethel Station by road and rail to counter Union forces amassing at Savannah and Crump Landing on the Tennessee River. Beauregard feared that a Union offensive was being planned on the M&O at Bethel Station. When it became apparent that Corinth was the target and the main force of Grant’s army would land at Pittsburg landing, Beauregard ordered Cheatham’s division to mobilize and rendezvous with Confederate columns moving north from Corinth toward Shiloh. Cheatham’s division would be embroiled in some of the heaviest fighting at Shiloh’s infamous Hornet’s Nest.
Continue across the railroad tracks on Bethel-Purdy Road and drive 4.4 miles. You are now traveling the historic route marched by Cheatham’s Confederate troops to the battle of Shiloh. Union troops also used this road to access, occupy and destroy the railroads north of Corinth following the Confederate retreat at Shiloh. You will reach a stop sign at the intersection of BethelPurdy and Bethesda-Purdy Roads. Go left on BethesdaPurdy Road and drive .6 miles to Gann Road on your left. Go left on Gann road and travel .7 miles to the Purdy Community Center and the Fielding Hurst and Purdy Tennessee Civil War Trails marker. Note the Old Stage Road veering off to your right at the .4-mile mark. You will come back to this road to complete the last leg of the tour to Adamsville but for now, keep left on Gann. The Hurst and Purdy marker will direct your attention to the only remaining antebellum structure in Purdy, the old Fielding Hurst home, directly behind the current community center. Purdy was the McNairy County seat during the war and the center of intense activity by both Union and Confederate forces throughout the conflict. Prior to Shiloh, Cheatham occupied Purdy with a small force and monitored traffic on the roads towards Crump, Pittsburg and Hamburg Landings. Skirmishes between both regular troops and guerilla fighters took place in the area and Confederate sympathizers in Purdy were harried by Hurst’s 6th TN USA throughout the war. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest developed a particular loathing for Hurst and unsuccessfully sought to capture him at his Purdy home on more than one occasion.
While in Purdy, you might wish to visit the two cemeteries where many of McNairy County’s early settlers and a number of civil war soldiers are buried. To access the cemeteries from the community center parking area, go right on Gann and take an immediate right on Purdy-Beauty Hill Road. Just past the Hurst home, you will see a narrow gravel road on your left which leads to the first cemetery. When you return to Purdy-Beauty Hill Road go right and pass the community center and the intersection of Gann Road on your left. Take the next right on Hurst Lane to access the second cemetery. Hurst Lane will dead end into a turnaround. Proceed back to the Tennessee Civil War Trails marker and community center to resume your tour.
From the community center parking area, turn left on Gann and proceed .3 miles back to Old Stage Road coming in on your left. Go left on Old Stage and travel 5.4 miles to the stop sign at the intersection of Old Stage and Hwy 224. This road was heavily picketed and traveled by Union and Confederate troops throughout the war. Go right on Hwy 224 and veer left to remain on Old Stage Road in .6 miles. You will pass through the small community of Hickory Flat in route to Adamsville. In 3.2 miles after veering onto Old Stage Road from Hwy 224 you will arrive at the Tennessee Civil War Trails marker at Adamsville on your right. Pull off in the parking area at War Memorial Park to learn about Adamsville in the Civil War. At the time of the Battle of Shiloh, two brigades of Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace’s division (USA) were camped in this area and joined his circuitous march from Crump’s Landing on to the Battle of Shiloh (follow the general’s movements on the Wallace trail map). Heavy concentrations of Union troops under Wallace and Confederates commanded by Cheatham in McNairy and western Hardin counties frayed the nerves of both commanders as well as their superiors. Cavalry from both sides scouted the roads from the Tennessee River back towards Purdy and Bethel Station through the early part of 1862. A number of inevitable small clashes triggered several false alarms until the decisive blow finally came at Shiloh on April 6, 1862.
From War Memorial Park return to Old Stage Road and proceed a few feet to the stop sign at the intersection of Hwy 64. To return to Selmer, go right and travel west 12.2 miles back to the intersection of Hwy 64 and Hwy 45.
To pick up the Wallace Trail and follow the Union general’s troop movements to the Shiloh Battlefield go left on Hwy 64 and proceed east through Adamsville. Go 4.6 miles into the small town of Crump and make a right on Crump Landing Road. Proceed .7 miles to Crump Landing on the Tennessee River and follow the instructions on your Wallace Trail map.
From the M&O marker turn right on West Court Ave. (Business Hwy 45/64). You will proceed through two traffic lights and pass by the McNairy County Courthouse on your left and the Latta Visitor and Cultural Center on your right. You may wish to stop at the Confederate monument on the courthouse lawn or at the visitor center for other tourist information and exhibits. Stay in the right lane and in .5 miles veer right at the traffic light onto Peach Street (Old Hwy 45). In a few hundred feet you will see historic Oak Hill Cemetery on your left. Peach/ Old 45 will turn into Main Street once you reach Bethel Springs. Proceed 2.6 miles to the welcome sign on your right. You are entering the historic community of Bethel Springs, so named for the church (Bethel Presbyterian) and the multitude of artesian aquifers (springs) in the area. The plentiful source of water, needed by steam engines, was the primary reason Bethel Spring (Bethel Station) became a major stop on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. In another .9 miles you will arrive at Laughlin Spring. The gazebo on your left, next to Bethel Springs City Hall shelters one of the traditional underground springs. An active, public spring is accessible on your right adjacent to the gravel turnaround and picnic area. It is here, in August 1862, that Col. Fielding Hurst mustered the 6th TN Cavalry USA. Hurst camped here and watered his horses and men in these springs. Kevin McCann’s “Hurst’s Wurst: Colonel Fielding Hurst and the 6th TN Cavalry USA” is an excellent resource for those interest in the exploits of this notorious band of “Homemade Yankees.” From Laughlin Spring proceed .4 miles to the Hurst Nation state historical marker on your left. You may wish to pull off in the parking area to your right (Bethel Springs Church of Christ) to read the marker and learn about the influential and controversial Fielding Hurst and his family who lived in and controlled this area of McNairy County.
Proceed a few hundred feet on Main Street and turn left on 4th Avenue. You are entering the grounds of the historic Bethel Presbyterian Church. The church and cemetery to your right are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers are buried in the cemetery and the church building that stood on this site served as a military hospital, barracks and administrative space for both armies during the Civil War. The current building which was constructed in 1893 is the oldest church building in McNairy County. It serves as the meeting place for an active Presbyterian congregation today. Please be respectful of their assemblies during regular worship times.
Veer to your right between the church and cemetery and keep right onto 3rd Avenue. You will come to a stop sign at South Main Street. Go left and take an immediate right turn onto Bethel-Purdy Road. You will notice the railroad tracks in front of you and the historic Bethel Station rail yard to your right. This is the northern extension of the M&O Railroad where your tour began. March 1862 witnessed heavy concentration of Confederate troops here under Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham (Right). Acting on orders from commanding officer, Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, 4,000 men converged on Bethel Station by road and rail to counter Union forces amassing at Savannah and Crump Landing on the Tennessee River. Beauregard feared that a Union offensive was being planned on the M&O at Bethel Station. When it became apparent that Corinth was the target and the main force of Grant’s army would land at Pittsburg landing, Beauregard ordered Cheatham’s division to mobilize and rendezvous with Confederate columns moving north from Corinth toward Shiloh. Cheatham’s division would be embroiled in some of the heaviest fighting at Shiloh’s infamous Hornet’s Nest.
Continue across the railroad tracks on Bethel-Purdy Road and drive 4.4 miles. You are now traveling the historic route marched by Cheatham’s Confederate troops to the battle of Shiloh. Union troops also used this road to access, occupy and destroy the railroads north of Corinth following the Confederate retreat at Shiloh. You will reach a stop sign at the intersection of BethelPurdy and Bethesda-Purdy Roads. Go left on BethesdaPurdy Road and drive .6 miles to Gann Road on your left. Go left on Gann road and travel .7 miles to the Purdy Community Center and the Fielding Hurst and Purdy Tennessee Civil War Trails marker. Note the Old Stage Road veering off to your right at the .4-mile mark. You will come back to this road to complete the last leg of the tour to Adamsville but for now, keep left on Gann. The Hurst and Purdy marker will direct your attention to the only remaining antebellum structure in Purdy, the old Fielding Hurst home, directly behind the current community center. Purdy was the McNairy County seat during the war and the center of intense activity by both Union and Confederate forces throughout the conflict. Prior to Shiloh, Cheatham occupied Purdy with a small force and monitored traffic on the roads towards Crump, Pittsburg and Hamburg Landings. Skirmishes between both regular troops and guerilla fighters took place in the area and Confederate sympathizers in Purdy were harried by Hurst’s 6th TN USA throughout the war. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest developed a particular loathing for Hurst and unsuccessfully sought to capture him at his Purdy home on more than one occasion.
While in Purdy, you might wish to visit the two cemeteries where many of McNairy County’s early settlers and a number of civil war soldiers are buried. To access the cemeteries from the community center parking area, go right on Gann and take an immediate right on Purdy-Beauty Hill Road. Just past the Hurst home, you will see a narrow gravel road on your left which leads to the first cemetery. When you return to Purdy-Beauty Hill Road go right and pass the community center and the intersection of Gann Road on your left. Take the next right on Hurst Lane to access the second cemetery. Hurst Lane will dead end into a turnaround. Proceed back to the Tennessee Civil War Trails marker and community center to resume your tour.
From the community center parking area, turn left on Gann and proceed .3 miles back to Old Stage Road coming in on your left. Go left on Old Stage and travel 5.4 miles to the stop sign at the intersection of Old Stage and Hwy 224. This road was heavily picketed and traveled by Union and Confederate troops throughout the war. Go right on Hwy 224 and veer left to remain on Old Stage Road in .6 miles. You will pass through the small community of Hickory Flat in route to Adamsville. In 3.2 miles after veering onto Old Stage Road from Hwy 224 you will arrive at the Tennessee Civil War Trails marker at Adamsville on your right. Pull off in the parking area at War Memorial Park to learn about Adamsville in the Civil War. At the time of the Battle of Shiloh, two brigades of Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace’s division (USA) were camped in this area and joined his circuitous march from Crump’s Landing on to the Battle of Shiloh (follow the general’s movements on the Wallace trail map). Heavy concentrations of Union troops under Wallace and Confederates commanded by Cheatham in McNairy and western Hardin counties frayed the nerves of both commanders as well as their superiors. Cavalry from both sides scouted the roads from the Tennessee River back towards Purdy and Bethel Station through the early part of 1862. A number of inevitable small clashes triggered several false alarms until the decisive blow finally came at Shiloh on April 6, 1862.
From War Memorial Park return to Old Stage Road and proceed a few feet to the stop sign at the intersection of Hwy 64. To return to Selmer, go right and travel west 12.2 miles back to the intersection of Hwy 64 and Hwy 45.
To pick up the Wallace Trail and follow the Union general’s troop movements to the Shiloh Battlefield go left on Hwy 64 and proceed east through Adamsville. Go 4.6 miles into the small town of Crump and make a right on Crump Landing Road. Proceed .7 miles to Crump Landing on the Tennessee River and follow the instructions on your Wallace Trail map.