On 31 December 1862 a battle between Confederate and Union Civil War forces took place at and around a small obscure crossroads, Parker’s Crossroads, in Henderson County, southwestern Tennessee. The number of troops involved (approximately 3,000 Union and 1,800 Confederate), duration of the battle (about 6 ½ hours) and number of casualties (approximately 265; 51, KIA), are minor in comparison to many other Civil War battles. The Confederates were represented by one of their most proficient and flamboyant cavalry officers, Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest. In this battle General Forrest is purported to have issued one of his classic orders. When told he was trapped between two Union Brigades and asked what he was going to do, “Charge them both ways!” was the supposed response. Whether this occurred or not, it has attracted historical attention to the “Battle of Parker’s Crossroads.” We provide a detailed account of the battle, based primarily on the official reports of the participants in the battle. We include 21 maps depicting phases of the action.
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