Battle of Davis Bridge in Hardeman County, Tennessee
Also know as the Battle of Hatchie Bridge
October 5, 1862 | Southwest Tennessee
Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn vs Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord
“By late spring 1862, United States forces in the West threatened to cut the Confederacy in two, having captured both New Orleans and Memphis on the Mississippi River, and the vital railroad hub at Corinth, Mississippi, thereby severing the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, the South’s only east-west connection linking the Atlantic to the Mississippi Valley. Efforts to complete the split stalled that summer when Union naval forces failed to capture Vicksburg, and the field armies struggled to control the vast territory occupied in the spring offensive. The Confederates seized on this lull to launch General Bragg’s invasion into Kentucky, and, in early October, sent an army to capture Corinth. However, repulsed there with heavy losses after two days of brutal fighting, this Southern force retreated back towards Davis Bridge on the Hatchie River in Hardeman County, Tennessee.
When the Southern Army blocked by Federals advancing from Bolivar, Tennessee, fierce fighting engulfed the crossing. The day-long conflict ended east of the river with the Confederates escaping to the south. The failure to retake Corinth proved the last Confederate offensive in Mississippi, as Union forces seized the initiative, and began a final relentless nine-months offensive to capture Vicksburg and take control of the Mississippi River”. – Davis Bridge Shiloh National Park
This very remote battle site is actually part of the Shiloh Military Park over 30 miles to the east. It’s very hard to find, not marked from Highway 57.
Davis Bridge: 1145 Essary Springs Rd. Pocahontas, TN 38061
Metamora Hill: 1845 Pocahontas Rd. Pocahontas, TN 38061
This 3D like virtual tour covers three point os the Battlefield: the Hatchie River bridge site, cemetery and Metamora Hill.
#davisbridge
No one is taking care of the Metamora Hill site. A friend and I visited yesterday, 8/15/22, and the grass is waist high at the markers at the car pull off. Please contact those persons responsible for mowing the area.
What needs to be done to refurbish the markers at Metamora Hill? They are in such poor condition that the information on them is illegible.
Someone did finally mow at the site and it does look much better. It is sad that the historical site isn’t taken better care of.