&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When Union forces gained control of several areas of the
South, several slaves ran away from the farms and plantations to Union lines &nbsp;to escape and find&nbsp;protection. After
President Abraham Lincoln’s Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation was declared
in September 1862 the number of runaway slaves escaping to Union controlled Corinth rose noticeably. The camp provided homes, a church, a school, and a hospital for the escaped slaves. The runaways grew and sold cotton and
vegetables in what was an advanced collective farm program.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In May of 1863 it was discovered that the camp was
gaining $4,000 to $5,000 from this economic strategy. In August, more than 1,000 African American
kids and adults learned how to read thanks to the help of many charitable
organizations. Even though the camp had
a slow start, it soon turned into a model camp. It gave around 6,000 former slaves the opportunity to create their own
independent identities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the Emancipation Proclamation was passed, close to
2,000 of the former male slaves at the camp got their first chance to defend
themselves and created a new regiment in the Union army. Because the majority of the men were from
Alabama, the regiment was called the 1st Alabama Infantry Regiment
of African Descent. This regiment was
later called the 55th United States Colored Troops. In December 1863, the Corinth Contraband Camp
was transferred to Memphis and the former slaves lived in a more typical
refugee facility for the rest of the war. This camp was a pioneer on the road to freedom and the long fight for
equality for several newly freed people. Presently part of the historic Corinth Contraband Camp has been
maintained to remember the people who started their quest to freedom at the
camp between 1862 and 1863. This area
now has a quarter mile trail that displays 6 life-size bronze statues that
represent the men, women, and children who lived at the camp.

This statue depicting a woman leaning on the monument is one of several large statues at the historic camp.

This statue depicts a woman helping a child read.

Link to more information about the history of contraband camps for slaves during the Civil War.

More Info

	The Corinth Contraband Camp is the location where many runaway slaves found freedom and safety. The Corinth area was controlled by Union forces under the leadership of General Granville Dodge. When the runaway slaves would arrive at this location General Dodge started to make them teamsters, cooks, and workers. He also armed and used the male refugees to guard the new camp here.

Corinth Contraband Camp

This short drive through Corinth includes several museums, historic homes, and landmark sites and buildings related to topics ranging from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement. The tour starts at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center and moves on to several historic homes as well as the community's central post office, a historic theater, and several museums. The tour concludes at the preserved site where formerly enslaved persons built a camp and community during the Civil War. 

The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center strives to teach visitors about the important role Corinth played during the Civil War. The town, which was originally known as Cross City, was established at the intersection of the Memphis and Charleston and the Mobile and Ohio Railroads. This railroad junction was considered the second most important junction in the Civil War for a critical six month period, second only&nbsp;to Richmond. Because of its connection to this important railroad junction, the city of Corinth has a rich Civil War history that the Interpretive Center keeps alive today. During the war, Corinth was fortified heavily by both Federal and Confederate forces. The Interpretive Center is located near the site of Battery Robinett, a Union fortification that was witness to some of the bloodiest fighting of the Civil War. The location is also near the historic location of the Battle of Shiloh, which took place on April 6-7, 1862. On the grounds of the Interpretive Center stands an obelisk commemorating the bravery of Confederate Colonel William P. Rogers and the 2nd Texas Infantry. Rogers and the infantry attempted to climb the Battery Robinett walls in order to claim it for the Confederacy. There is also a spot on the grounds where four unknown Confederate soldiers are buried. The Interpretive Center opened in 2004 and features interactive exhibits and presentations on both the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Corinth. The center makes use of videos and multimedia presentations in order to immerse visitors in the history of the Civil War battles. The causes of the war are discussed in detail, as well as the siege and occupation of Corinth. There are also full scale reproductions of earthworks on the on the grounds that are used to demonstrate the importance of field fortifications. There are numerous bronze replicas at the site depicting the battle and the soldiers who fought there.&nbsp; The exhibits are also dedicated to describing the African American experience in Corinth during the Civil War. The Corinth Contraband Camp was at one point a well-known camp that housed over 6000 African Americans. These African Americans were those who fled from Southern plantations when Corinth was occupied by the Confederates. Union General Grenville Dodge started enlisting the African American refugees as cooks, laborers, and soldiers, an act that helped the Union war effort and led to the formation of the 1st Alabama Infantry Regiment of African Descent. Many of the exhibits focus on the inclusion of African American soldiers, telling their stories alongside the other soldiers.

The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center is operated by the National Park Service as part of Shiloh National Military Park. The twelve thousand square foot facility interprets the key role of Corinth, Mississippi, in the Civil War's western theater. The rail crossing at Corinth ranked second only to the Confederate capital at Richmond in terms of strategic importance for more than a six-month period of 1862. Known originally as Cross City for the important rail lines that intersect in the town, Corinth played a major role in the Civil War.

Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center

Duncan was born in South Carolina in 1800. He moved to Tennessee in his mid-20s and married his wife, Rebecca, in 1830; they would go on to have several children, including three sons who served in the war. The family moved to Tishomingo County around 1840 and Duncan was elected sheriff in 1846 and reelected the next year. In 1850 he was appointed as Superintendent of the State Penitentiary but left that position as a result of his poor health. However, he was well enough to serve as a delegate to the state convention in Jackson in 1851. Two years later, he opened a dry goods business with a partner that operated for many years. It wasn't until around 1857 that Duncan and his family (Rebecca passed away in 1852) moved to Corinth. He continued working as a merchant and it seems he operated his business in a building on Cruise Street.Duncan was against secession but ultimately gave his full support for the Confederacy. He became a captain and was appointed assistant quartermaster for supplies in Corinth. In April 1862, after the Battle of Shiloh, Duncan moved his family to Rienzi, allowing General Beauregard to occupy the house. During the <a href="https://theclio.com/entry/45033" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Battle of Corinth</a> (also known as the Second Battle of Corinth) in October 3-4, 1862, General Rosecrans was using the house as his headquarters. On the 3rd, the fighting came quite close it, about a half mile away. The next day, there was, apparently, hand-to-hand fighting on the grounds of the house (it should be noted that the house is not in its original location). As noted above, Duncan's three sons served in the war. One of them, James, was killed in 1864 alongside another son, Thomas, who would go on to write a memoir about his experiences during the war.Duncan returned to Corinth after the war and passed away in 1876. It appears that he had been living with his son-in-law. His son, Thomas, lived in the house after the war and it was at this time that he began to write his memoirs. As for the house, subsequent owners made a number of changes to it. It was moved to the present location after World War I and most recently renovated in 2014.

Originally built in 1857 by William Lane Duncan, this is one of the oldest homes in Corinth and has direct ties to the Civil War. Duncan was a prominent local figure in the mid-1800s, serving as sheriff of Tishomingo County (it was later divided into three counties, including Alcorn County, in 1870) and in other roles. Throughout the war, both Confederate and Union officers occupied and used the house. These included Confederate General Pierre G.T. Beauregard in 1862 and, later that year, Union General William Rosecrans. Additionally, it is believed that Union General Ulysses S. Grant visited Rosecrans at the house. Just down the street at the corner of Polk and Linden Streets is a small park (called Duncan Park) featuring a historical marker, interpretive panels describing the role Corinth played during the war, and original train rails from the railroad junction located just 1,500 feet to the south. The house is a private residence and not open to the public.

Duncan House

In February 1862, the Confederates regrouped in southeastern Tennessee and northern Mississippi after their losing Forts Henry and Donelson (both in Tennessee). Union forces under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant pursued them and eventually made an encampment at Shiloh, Tennessee (which is about 20 miles northeast of Corinth) in early April. It was from the Veranda-Curlee House that the Confederates, under the command of General Braxton Bragg, made the plans to ambush the Union camp on April 2, but delays prevented its implementation until the 6th. Though the Union was indeed surprised, they were eventually able to push the Confederates back to Corinth with the help of reinforcements. The Union then laid siege on the city from April 29-May 30 (called the Siege of Corinth). However, the Confederates secretly abandoned the city and none were left when the Union entered. From this point, Union General Henry Halleck occupied the Verandah-Curlee House, until early October when the Confederates attacked the city with the aim of regaining control. The Confederates failed to retake Corinth, but the house went back to civilian use. A descendant of the Curlee family, Shelby Hammond Curlee, bought the house in 1921. Another descendant, S.H. Curlee IV deeded the house to the Corinth Library Commission in 1963. After several years of restoration, the Verandah-Curlee House was reopened as a museum and event space.

Built in 1857, the Verandah-Curlee House is an example of Greek Revival architecture and is historically significant for its association with the Civil War. It was built by one of the co-founders of the Corinth, Hamilton Mask, who worked as a surveyor and served two terms as mayor, first in 1866, and then again in 1872. During the war, Confederate generals Braxton Bragg and Earl Van Dorn occupied the house in April and May 1862; Union General Henry Halleck occupied it next from the end of May 1862 to early October. The city was strategically important, as it was the location of a major railroad crossing. The house is now a museum and also can be rented for events. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and is one of several buildings in the city that comprise the Siege and Battle of Corinth Sites National Historic Landmark District.

Verandah-Curlee House

The Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, which was headed by James Knox Taylor, designed the post office. Knox felt that federal buildings should be designed in classical styles and constructed with high-quality materials, and this building is no exception. In addition to architecture, the old post office symbolizes the federal government's presence and impact on the community. In December 1924, the building was severely damaged in a fire. It was then remodeled and expanded. Postal services continued in the building 1987 when a new facility was erected. It appears that FMB Bank purchased it in 1991. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

The former U.S. Post Office is one of the more striking landmarks in Corinth. Originally built in 1913, it combines the Neoclassical and the Georgian Revival styles. The brick building features limestone trim, a low-hipped roof, a large portico with Doric half columns, and round-arched openings. The building is now home to FMB Bank.

Old U.S. Post Office

Local architect and builder Benjamin Franklin Liddon designed the theater (and other buildings in the city) in the classical architectural style, which is somewhat rare in the region. Liddon operated this and a number of other theaters in the state, opening the first one in 1913. The Coliseum was the largest theater in North Mississippi when it was built. Inside, it features an elaborate interior with plaster and white marble. Interestingly, Liddon installed 999 seats to prevent having to pay movie royalties for theaters with 1,000 seats. He later installed the first air conditioning system in the city in 1932. In these early years, a number famous entertainers and musicians performed at the theater. The Liddon family owned it until 1977. In the 1980s, the theater was restored. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places 1980.

Now known as the Coliseum Civic Center, the historic Coliseum Theatre has been one of the primary entertainment venues in the city of Corinth since its construction in 1924. It originally hosted vaudeville acts and showed movies as well. The two-story building features a Flemish bond masonry exterior and arched windows and entryways. The Corinth Area Arts Council manages it and it is home to the Corinth Symphony Orchestra. 

Coliseum Theatre

The Crossroads Museum in Corinth, Mississippi educates visitors on the city's rich military, cultural, and railroad history. Established in 1979, the museum is housed in the Historic Corinth Depot and sits adjacent to the railroad crossing that made Corinth an influential city during the Civil War. Known today as the Norfolk Southern and Kansas City Southern Railroads, the lines are still frequently used for supply shipping. Visitors can watch passing trains from the safety of the museum. The city of Corinth was founded by Houston Mitchell and Hamilton Mask in 1854. Known at one point as the Crossroads of the South, the city played an important role in Civil War strategy. The city was located at the crossing of the Memphis &amp; Charleston and the Mobile &amp; Ohio railroads. This railroad junction made Corinth a strategic transportation hub that the Union and Confederacy fought over frequently.&nbsp; The Museum's permanent exhibits explore the area's Native American heritage, the railroad industry, the pivotal role the city played during Civil War, aviation, and daily life in the city during the 19th and 20th centuries. Numerous items are on display including Native American artifacts, Civil War relics, fossils, and railroad-related items. There is also a large Coca-Cola collection on loan. The Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Works features items such as old-fashioned drink machines. A photograph collection and research library, known as the Margaret Greene Rogers Library, are also housed in the depot. Just outside the building is an old red caboose that is open during the museum's regular hours, which visitors can enter.&nbsp;There is also a canon on display that was used in the Battle of Shiloh.

Founded in 1979 as the Northeast Municipal Building, the Crossroads Museum aims to preserve and promote northeast Mississippi's rich natural, cultural, and military history. It is housed in the old depot building just next to the where two railroads have intersected since the 19th century. During the Civil War, the railroads that intersected in Corinth were crucial, at one point second only to Richmond in their strategic importance. Because of this, the city of Corinth has a rich Civil War and railroad history that the museum seeks to preserve.

Crossroads Museum

The Black History Museum of Corinth seeks to preserve and display African American heritage in Corinth, Mississippi. The museum is housed in the historic home of William Dakota and Adrienne Combs Webb, which was donated to the city in 1990. Adrienne Combs Webb was the daughter of J. B. Combs, who was the principal of the Colored School. The home was at one point used as a shelter for families who had experienced losses or trauma. The home began its transformation into a museum in early 2003. Volunteers worked to refurbish the house and collect artifacts to display once the museum opened later that year. The museum is dedicated to displaying the African American experience in Corinth, promoting historic properties and artifacts that are part of the African American heritage of the area. By telling the story of the African American experience in the area, the museum connects visitors today with the history of both Corinth and its inhabitants. Some of the museum's exhibits include religion, education, and civil rights.&nbsp; One of the six rooms in the house contains school memorabilia, with artifacts from both Easom High School and Corinth Colored High School. In the room used to house religious artifacts, items from various African American churches are displayed. There is a podium from City Road CME Church and deacon chairs from St. Mark Baptist Church which bear the names of important members.

The Black History Museum of Corinth is located in a historic home that was donated to the city of Corinth in 1990. The small museum preserves the history of African Americans in Corinth. It features photographs, memorabilia, and artifacts on display. The museum emphasizes the role that religion and education have played in the lives of African Americans in the area. With the goal of preserving and displaying artifacts that depict the African American experience in Corinth, the museum keeps African American heritage alive for future generations.

Black History Museum of Corinth

As stated briefly above, Corinth was a strategically important railroad hub. Two major Confederate railroads passed through the city: the Memphis and Charleston, which was the only railroad in the South&nbsp;that ran from the Mississippi River (beginning at Memphis) to Richmond, Atlanta and other major cities; the other railroad was the Mobile and Ohio, which ran north to south from Mobile to Columbus, Kentucky. Controlling Corinth meant of course controlling these railroads, which were invaluable for troop and supply movement, as well as for regular economic activity. As such, the city was major focal point during the war. The Union was able to reach it as a result of their decisive victory at&nbsp;Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862, which took place&nbsp;about 15 miles to the&nbsp;northeast. The victory forced the Confederates to regroup and move to the south to Corinth. The Battle of Corinth enabled the Union to make further incursions southward, including to the city of Vicksburg, and to begin efforts to gain control of the Mississippi River.

Not to be confused with the Siege of Corinth, which took place a few months earlier between April 29 to May 30, 1862, the Battle of Corinth (also known as the Second Battle of Corinth) occurred here on October 3-4. In the Spring battle, Union forces besieged the city and were ultimately victorious. In the Autumn battle, the Confederate attempted to regain control of the city and its key railroad crossings. The Confederates made initial gains but Union forces were able to eventually push the Confederates back, winning the battle and preserving control of the city. The battle and the skirmishes that occurred around it were among some of the most ferocious and bloodiest battles in the state. Union forces suffered over 2,500 casualties and the Confederates over 4,200 (these numbers include those wounded or captured). 

Many of those Union soldiers who died are buried in the Corinth National Cemetery, which was established in 1866 following the Civil War. Three Confederate soldiers—two known and one unknown—are also buried here. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is part of the Siege and Battle of Corinth Sites National Historic Landmark District, which comprises of several sites in the area. 

Corinth Mississippi Driving Tour

Corinth Contraband Camp

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information