Union Siege Line earthworks from May 17, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi
CORINTH CIVIL WAR DRIVING TOUR STOP 17
While advancing on Corinth in April 1862, Union General Henry Halleck was so apprehensive of another surprise Confederate attack like the one he experienced at Shiloh that at the end of each day’s march his troops dug trenches (earthworks) to help defend the ground they had covered. This site marks the Union Army’s forward progress as of May 17th.
The site is accessed by walking or riding a bike down a half-mile (one way) dirt road that is now carpeted with grass. The trail is flat and easy to hike, and there are no side trails to confuse you. In fact, it’s a perfectly straight road for the most part. The round trip takes about a half hour on foot, plus however long you spend exploring the site. There is a parking area at the trailhead.
Trail to the Union Siege Line earthworks from May 17, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi
At the end of the trail is a garbage can, a bench, and an old bike rack—at least that’s what I saw. The road continues further, but since the sign at the parking area claims the site is a half mile down the trail, and this was the half-mile point, I had no interest in venturing further. It all seemed like a big waste of time…
The end of the trail to the Union Siege Line earthworks from May 17, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi
However, after hiking to another Union siege line site later in the day and discovering that the remains of old trenches were hidden in the woods, it occurred to me that my untrained eye may have missed similar trenches here at the May 17th siege line. This is nothing to be ashamed of, for after 150+ years of erosion, unless the trenches are pointed out to you it is highly unlikely that you will spot them after a quick glance. Most will appear as nothing more than shallow gullies. So for those with enough interest in the Civil War to visit the site in the first place, be more observant. You may have to traipse around through the woods to find them…if they still exist.
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Last updated on February 3, 2022
