U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

American Battlefield Protection Program 

 Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission 

 Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields

 State of Mississippi

Washington, DC

October 2010
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 

Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission 

Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

State of Mississippi 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

American Battlefield Protection Program 

Washington, DC 

October 2010 

Authority 

The American Battlefield Protection Program Act of 1996, as amended by the Civil War 

Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016, 17 December 

2002), directs the Secretary of the Interior to update the Civil War Sites Advisory 

Commission (CWSAC) Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields. 

Acknowledgments 

NPS Project Team Paul Hawke, Project Leader; Kathleen Madigan, Survey Coordinator; 

Tanya Gossett and January Ruck, Reporting; Matthew Borders, Historian; Kristie Kendall, 

Program Assistant 

Battlefield Surveyor(s) Matthew Borders and Kathleen Madigan, American Battlefield 

Protection Program 

Respondents Rebecca Blackwell Drake, The Sid J. Champion Heritage Foundation; Patsy 

Gregory, Friends of the Battle of Okolona; Haywood Harrell, Shiloh National Military Park; 

Ray Herndon, The Conservation Fund; Parker Hills, Friends of Raymond; Michael Madell 

and Terrence Winschel, Vicksburg National Military Park; Harry McMillin, Friends of 

Vicksburg National Military Park; Kathy Robertson, Civil War Preservation Trust; Thomas 

Ross, Grand Gulf Military Monument Commission; Cameron Sholly, Natchez Trace Parkway 

Cover: With the exception of resources protected within the boundaries of Vicksburg National 

Military Park, most of the Vicksburg battlefield landscape has been destroyed by modern 

development. The Confederate and Federal trench networks around Vicksburg, along with the vast 

majority of earthworks in Vicksburg National Military Park (pictured), are reconstructions built by 

the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. Photograph by Kathleen Madigan, 2009. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 

Table of Contents 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................... 1 

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3 

SYNOPSIS ........................................................................................................................ 5 

METHOD STATEMENT ..................................................................................................... 8 

RESEARCH AND FIELD SURVEYS ...................................................................................................... 8 

QUESTIONNAIRES ....................................................................................................................... 12 

SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS OF MISSISSIPPI’S CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS ................. 13 

QUANTIFIED LAND AREAS ........................................................................................................... 13 

CONDITION ASSESSMENTS ........................................................................................................... 14 

REGISTRATION ........................................................................................................................... 19

STEWARDSHIP ............................................................................................................................ 20 

PUBLIC ACCESS AND INTERPRETATION........................................................................................... 22 

LOCAL ADVOCACY ..................................................................................................................... 24

INDIVIDUAL BATTLEFIELD PROFILES.................................................................... 27 

APPENDICES ................................................................................................................. 76

APPENDIX A. CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION ACT OF 2002 ............................................... 76 

APPENDIX D. BATTLEFIELD QUESTIONNAIRE ................................................................................. 79 

APPENDIX C. CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD LAND ACQUISITION GRANTS ................................................ 83 

APPENDIX D. AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM PLANNING GRANTS .......................... 84 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 3 

Introduction 

The information in this report fulfills, in part, the purposes of the Civil War Battlefield 

Preservation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016). Those purposes are: 

1) to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect nationally significant 

Civil War battlefields through conservation easements and fee-simple 

purchases of those battlefields from willing sellers; and 

2) to create partnerships among state and local governments, regional entities, 

and the private sector to preserve, conserve, and enhance nationally 

significant Civil War battlefields. 

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 directs the Secretary of the Interior, 

acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) of the National Park 

Service, to update the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) Report on the Nation’s 

Civil War Battlefields. The CWSAC was established by Congress in 1991 and published its 

report in 1993. Congress provided funding for this update in FY2005 and FY2007. 

Congress asked that the updated report reflect the following: 

• Preservation activities carried out at the 384 battlefields identified by the 

CWSAC during the period between 1993 and the update; 

• Changes in the condition of the battlefields during that period; and 

• Any other relevant developments relating to the battlefields during that period. 

In accordance with the legislation, this report presents information about Civil War 

battlefields in Mississippi for use by Congress, federal, state, and local government 

agencies, landowners, and other interest groups. Other state reports will be issued as 

surveys and analyses are completed. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 4 

Figure 1. CWSAC Battlefields in Mississippi 
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Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 5 

Synopsis 

There are 16 CWSAC battlefields in the State of Mississippi – Big Black River Bridge, 

Brice’s Cross Roads, Champion Hill, Chickasaw Bayou, Corinth, Siege of Corinth, 

Grand Gulf, Iuka, Jackson, Meridian, Okolona, Port Gibson, Raymond, Snyder’s 

Bluff, Tupelo, and Vicksburg. Historically, these battlefields encompassed more than 

194,000 acres.1

 Today, 57 percent of this land remains intact, retaining sufficient 

significance and integrity to make the battlefields worthy of preservation.2 

At present, only about 7,940 acres (nearly four percent) of these historic landscapes are 

permanently protected. Federal, state, and local governments, along with nonprofit 

organizations, serve as the stewards of Mississippi’s Civil War battlefields. The National 

Park Service manages more than 3,000 acres of battlefield land in Mississippi. These 

holdings include land at Brice’s Cross Roads (Brice’s Cross Roads National Battlefield 

Site,) Champion Hill (part of the Natchez Trace Parkway), Chickasaw Bayou (within the 

boundaries of the Vicksburg National Military Park), Corinth and the Siege of Corinth

(Shiloh National Military Park’s Corinth Unit), Okolona (part of the Natchez Trace 

Parkway), Port Gibson (part of the Natchez Trace Parkway), Tupelo (Tupelo National 

Battlefield and part of the Natchez Trace Parkway), and Vicksburg (Vicksburg National 

Military Park and Vicksburg National Cemetery). The USDA Forest Service manages more 

than 600 acres at Okolona. Although the landscape is not preserved specifically for its 

association with events of the Civil War, this portion of the Okolona battlefield is 

protected from development within the boundaries of Tombigbee National Forest, 

Chickasaw Wildlife Management Area. Similarly, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, 

Fisheries, and Parks protects more than 83 acres of Iuka battlefield within the boundaries 

of the Divide Section Wildlife Management Area. The State’s Grand Gulf Military 

Monument Commission manages more than 450 acres at Grand Gulf Military Park, and the 

Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) owns more than 870 acres of 

battlefield land across the state, including land at Big Black River Bridge, Champion 

Hill, and Port Gibson. The City of Jackson protects one acre of the Jackson battlefield 

within the boundaries of Battlefield Park and manages the preservation of an additional 

one acre on the University of Mississippi Medical Center campus. Non-profit organizations 

such as Brice’s Cross Roads National Battlefield Commission, Civil War Preservation Trust, 

Friends of Raymond, and Sid J. Champion Heritage Foundation own additional battlefield 

land in Mississippi. 

As easement holder for the State, the MDAH has worked with a variety of nonprofit 

organizations and private landowners to preserve more than 2,700 acres of land in 

Mississippi. Private partners including the Brice’s Cross Roads National Battlefield 

Commission, Civil War Preservation Trust, Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth, 

Friends of Raymond, Iuka Battlefield Commission, Okolona Development Foundation 

Charities, Inc., and The Conservation Fund have preserved battlefield land through 

participation in the MDAH easement program. Despite these efforts, most of the historic 

battlefield terrain that retains integrity in Mississippi is still held in private, unprotected 

ownership. 

Ten of Mississippi’s battlefields benefit from the efforts of a nonprofit group dedicated 

solely to the preservation of Civil War landscapes. Throughout the country, such 

organizations provide consistent, long-term support in the absence of, or in support of, 

 

1

Using GIS software, and accounting for overlapping areas, ABPP calculated that the Study Areas for the 16 battlefields in Mississippi 

represent 194,294.42 acres. 

2

 Using GIS software, and accounting for overlapping areas, ABPP calculated that the Potential National Register Boundaries for the 

battlefields of Mississippi represent 111,999.41 acres. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 6 

state action. The development of additional battlefield-specific preservation groups could 

help mitigate foreseen and unforeseen future threats at the Mississippi battlefields that 

are currently unrepresented by a non-profit group (especially Big Black River Bridge, 

Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, and Snyder’s Bluff). 

In 1993, the CWSAC used a four-tiered system that combined historic significance, current 

condition, and level of threat to determine priorities for preservation among the 

battlefields. Table 1 indicates how the CWSAC prioritized Mississippi’s Civil War 

battlefields in their study. 

Table 1: CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993

CWSAC Priority Battlefield County/City 

I Critical Need Brice’s Cross Roads (MS014)

Chickasaw Bayou (MS003) 

Siege of Corinth (MS016) 

Port Gibson (MS006) 

Raymond (MS007) 

Vicksburg (MS011) 

Lee, Tippah, Prentiss, and Union 

Counties 

Warren County 

Alcorn and Tishomingo Counties; 

Hardin and McNairy Counties, TN 

Claiborne County 

Hinds County 

Warren County 

II Comprehensive 

Preservation Possible

Grand Gulf (MS004)

Okolona (MS013) 

Snyder’s Bluff (MS005) 

Claiborne County; Tensas Parish, LA

Chickasaw, Pontotoc, and Monroe 

Counties 

Warren County

III Additional Protection 

Needed 

Big Black River Ridge 

(MS010) 

Champion Hill (MS009) 

Hinds and Warren Counties

Hinds County 

IV Fragmented/Destroyed Corinth (MS002)

Iuka (MS001) 

Jackson (MS008) 

Meridian (MS012) 

Tupelo (MS015) 

Alcorn County; McNairy County, TN

Tishomingo County 

Hinds County 

Lauderdale County 

Lee County

Six of Mississippi’s battlefields ranked among the nation’s top priorities for preservation, 

three ranked as battlefields where comprehensive preservation could be achieved, and 

two ranked as battlefields needing additional protection. The CWSAC considered five 

battlefields – Corinth, Iuka, Jackson, Meridian, and Tupelo – to be fragmented and 

completely destroyed. 

Today, most of the battlefields identified as Priority I landscapes in 1993 still retain more 

than 50 percent of their integrity (100 percent of the Study Area at Brice’s Cross Roads, 

100 percent of the Study Area at Port Gibson, more than 79 percent of the Study Area at 

Raymond, nearly 66 percent of the Study Area at Chickasaw Bayou, and more than 65 

percent of the Study Area at Siege of Corinth). Only Vicksburg, with approximately 18 

percent of the landscape retaining integrity, has lost significant integrity since 1993. 

Of the CWSAC’s Priority II battlefields, Okolona retains the most integrity (nearly 82 

percent of the Study Area). The Study Areas of Grand Gulf and Snyder’s Bluff retain 50 

percent and 45 percent of their integrity, respectively. 
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Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 7 

The two battlefields ranked as Priority III landscapes in 1993 are among the most intact 

battlefields in Mississippi. More than 90 percent of the Big Black River Bridge landscape 

retains integrity, and more than 86 percent of the Champion Hill battlefield retains 

integrity. 

While the ABPP agrees with the CWSAC’s determination that Jackson and Meridian no 

longer retain sufficient integrity to merit preservation, reevaluation of Corinth, Tupelo, 

and Iuka resulted in different conclusions. With reexamination of primary source 

documentation, the ABPP determined the 1993 study did not include the full extent of the 

historical boundaries for Corinth and Tupelo in the Study Areas evaluated for those 

battlefields. Field surveys of these additional areas by the ABPP revealed the existence of 

intact historic features (more than 45 percent of the battlefield at Corinth and nearly 7 

percent of the battlefield at Tupelo). Because the CWSAC did not draw a Study Area for 

Iuka in 1993, the ABPP identified the battlefield’s historical boundaries for this study and 

evaluated the integrity of the landscape. As with Corinth and Tupelo, the ABPP found 

integrity at Iuka (nearly 43 percent of the historic battlefield landscape). 

Based on these findings, 14 of the state’s battlefields are candidates for protection. The 

National Park Service will issue updated priority rankings after all of the CWSAC 

battlefields nationwide have been surveyed and all state reports have been completed. 

Figure 2. Much of the 

landscape at 

Champion Hill retains 

its historic integrity, 

with more than 29 

percent of the 

battlefield currently 

listed in the National 

Register of Historic 

Places. Photograph by 

Kathleen Madigan, 

2009. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 8 

Method Statement

Congress instructed the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American Battlefield 

Protection Program (ABPP), to report on changes in the condition of the battlefields since 

1993 and on “preservation activities” and “other relevant developments” carried out at 

each battlefield since 1993. To fulfill those assignments, the ABPP 1) conducted a site 

survey of each battlefield, and 2) prepared and sent out questionnaires to battlefield 

managers and advocacy organizations (see Appendix B). 

The 1993 significance rankings for each battlefield stand. Significance was assigned by the 

Civil War Sites Advisory Commission and the ABPP sustains the CWSAC’s opinions as to the 

relevant importance of each battle within the larger context of the war. 

Research and Field Surveys 

The ABPP conducted the field assessments of Mississippi battlefields in September of 2009. 

The surveys entailed additional historical research, on-the-ground documentation and 

assessment of site conditions, identification of impending threats to each site, and site 

mapping. Surveyors used a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to map historic 

features of each battlefield and used a Geographic Information System (GIS) program to 

draw site boundaries. The ABPP retains all final survey materials. Each battlefield survey 

file includes a survey form (field notes, list of defining features, list of documentary 

sources, and a photo log), photographs, spatial coordinates of significant features, and 

boundaries described on USGS topographic maps. The surveys did not include 

archeological investigations for reasons of time and expense. 

Study Areas and Core Areas 

With the exception of Iuka, the CWSAC established a Study Area and a Core Area for each 

of Mississippi’s principal battlefields in 1993 (see Figure 3 for definitions). The CWSAC 

boundaries have proven invaluable as guides to local land and resource preservation 

efforts at Civil War battlefields. Since 1993 however, the National Park Service has refined 

its battlefield survey methodology, which include research, working with site stewards, 

identifying and documenting lines of approach and withdrawal used by opposing forces, 

and applying the concepts of military terrain analysis to all battlefield landscapes. The 

ABPP’s Battlefield Survey Manual explains the field methods employed during this study.3

 

The surveys also incorporate the concepts recommended in the National Register of 

Historic Places’ Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic 

Battlefields, which was published in 1992 after the CWSAC completed its original 

assessments of the battlefields.4

Using its refined methodology, the ABPP was able to validate or adjust the CWSAC’s Study 

Area and Core Area boundaries to reflect more accurately the full nature and original 

resources of these battlefields (see Table 2). For Iuka, the ABPP researched and delineated 

new boundaries. At many of Mississippi’s surveyed battlefields, the refined methodology 

resulted in significant increases to the sizes of the Study Area and Core Area. It is 

important to note however, that the Study Area and Core Area boundaries are simply 

historical boundaries that describe where the battle took place; neither indicates the 

current integrity of the battlefield landscape, so neither can be used on its own to identify 

surviving portions of battlefield land that may merit protection and preservation. 

 

3

 American Battlefield Protection Program, “Battlefield Survey Manual,” (Washington, DC: National Park Service, revised 2007). 4

 National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic Battlefields, 1992 , Revised 

1999 (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources Division).
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 9 

Figure 3: Boundary Definitions

The Study Area represents the historic 

extent of the battle as it unfolded across the 

landscape. The Study Area contains resources 

known to relate to or contribute to the battle 

event: where troops maneuvered and 

deployed, immediately before, during, and 

after combat, and where they fought during 

combat. Historic accounts, terrain analysis, 

and feature identification inform the 

delineation of the Study Area boundary. The 

Study Area indicates the extent to which 

historic and archeological resources 

associated with the battle (areas of combat, 

command, communications, logistics, medical 

services, etc.) may be found. Surveyors 

delineated Study Area boundaries for every 

battle site that was positively identified 

through research and field survey, regardless 

of its present integrity. 

The Core Area represents the areas of 

fighting on the battlefield. Positions that 

delivered or received fire, and the intervening 

space and terrain between them, fall within 

the Core Area. Frequently described as 

“hallowed ground,” land within the Core 

Area is often the first to be targeted for 

protection. There may be more than one 

Core Area on a battlefield, but all lie within 

the Study Area. 

Unlike the Study and Core Areas, which are 

based only upon the interpretation of historic 

events, the Potential National Register 

(PotNR) boundary represents ABPP’s 

assessment of a Study Area’s current integrity 

(the surviving landscape and features that 

convey the site’s historic sense of place). The 

PotNR boundary may include all or some of 

the Study Area, and all or some of the Core 

Area. Lands within PotNR boundaries should 

be considered worthy of further attention, 

although future evaluations may reveal more 

or less integrity than indicated by the ABPP 

surveys. 

Potential National Register Boundaries 

To address the question of what part of the 

battlefield remains reasonably intact and 

warrants preservation, this study introduced a 

third boundary line that was not attempted 

by the CWSAC: the Potential National 

Register boundary (see Figure 3).

Looking at each Study Area, the surveyors 

assigned PotNR boundaries where they 

judged that the landscape retained enough 

integrity to convey the significance of the 

historic battle. In a few cases, the PotNR 

boundary encompasses the entire Study Area. 

In most cases, however, the PotNR boundary 

includes less land than identified in the full 

Study Area. 

In assigning PotNR boundaries, the ABPP 

followed National Register of Historic Places 

(NRHP) guidelines when identifying and 

mapping areas that retain integrity and 

cohesion within the Study Areas.5

 Because the 

ABPP focuses only on areas of battle however, 

the Program did not evaluate lands adjacent 

to the Study Area that may contribute to a 

broader historical and chronological 

definition of “cultural landscape.” Lands 

outside of the Study Area associated with 

other historic events and cultural practices 

may need to be evaluated in preparation for a 

formal nomination of the cultural landscape. 

Most importantly, the PotNR boundary does 

not constitute a formal determination of 

eligibility by the Keeper of the National 

Register of Historic Places.

6

 The PotNR 

boundary is designed to be used as a planning 

tool for government agencies and the public. 

Like the Study and Core Area boundaries, the 

PotNR boundary places no restriction on 

private property use. 

 

5

 For general guidance about integrity issues and National Register of Historic Places properties, see National Park Service, How to 

Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, revised 1997). The survey 

evaluations described above do not meet the more stringent integrity standards for National Historic Landmark designation. See

National Park Service, How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, 

1999), 36-37. 

6

 See 36 CFR 60.1- 14 for regulations about nominating a property to the National Register of Historic Places and 36 CFR 63 for 

regulations concerning Determinations of Eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 10 

The term integrity, as defined by the NRHP, is “the ability of a property to convey its 

significance.”7

 While assessments of integrity are traditionally based on seven specific 

attributes – location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association – 

battlefields are unique cultural resources and require special evaluation.“ Generally, the 

most important aspects of integrity for battlefields are location, setting, feeling and 

association,” and the most basic test for determining the integrity of any battlefield is to 

assess “whether a participant in the battle would recognize the property as it exists 

today.”8

 

Other conditions contribute to the degree of integrity a battlefield retains: 

• the quantity and quality of surviving battle-period resources (e.g., 

buildings, roads, fence lines, military structures, and archeological 

features); 

• the quantity and quality of the spatial relationships between and among 

those historic resources and the landscape that connects them; 

• the extent to which current battlefield land use is similar to battle-period 

land use; and 

• the extent to which a battlefield’s physical features and overall character 

visually communicate an authentic sense of the sweep and setting of the 

battle. 

The degree to which post-war development has altered and fragmented the historic 

landscape or destroyed historic features and viewsheds is critical when assessing integrity. 

Changes in traditional land use over time do not generally diminish a battlefield’s 

integrity. For example, landscapes that were farmland during the Civil War do not need to 

be in agricultural use today to be considered eligible for listing in the NRHP so long as the 

land retains its historic rural character. Similarly, natural changes in vegetation – woods 

growing out of historic farm fields, for example – do not necessarily lessen the landscape’s 

integrity. 

Some post-battle development is expected; slight or moderate change within the 

battlefield may not substantially diminish a battlefield’s integrity. A limited degree of 

residential, commercial, or industrial development is acceptable. These post-battle “noncontributing” elements are often included in the PotNR boundary in accordance with 

NRHP guidelines.9

Significant changes in land use since the Civil War do diminish the integrity of the 

battlefield landscape. Heavy residential, commercial, and industrial development; cellular 

tower and wind turbine installation; and large highway construction are common 

 

7

 National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic 

Battlefields, 1992, Revised 1999 (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources 

Division), http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/pdfs/NRB40.pdf. Archeological integrity was not examined during this 

study, but should be considered in future battlefield studies and formal nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. 8 National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic 

Battlefields, 1992, Revised 1999 (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources 

Division). 

9

 The ABPP looks only at the battle-related elements of a cultural landscape. Post-battle elements, while not contributing to the 

significance of the battlefield, may be eligible for separate listing in the National Register of Historic Places on their own merits.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 11 

examples of such changes. Battlefield landscapes with these types of changes are 

generally considered as having little or no integrity. 

The PotNR boundaries therefore indicate which battlefields are likely eligible for future 

listing in the NRHP and likely deserving of future preservation efforts. If a surveyor 

determined that a battlefield was entirely compromised by land use incompatible with the 

preservation of historic features (i.e., it has little or no integrity), the ABPP did not assign a 

PotNR boundary.10 

In cases where a battlefield is already listed in the NRHP, surveyors reassessed the existing 

documentation based on current scholarship and resource integrity, and, when 

appropriate, provided new information and proposed new boundaries as part of the 

surveys. As a result, some PotNR boundaries will contain or share a boundary with lands 

already listed in the NRHP. In other cases, PotNR boundaries will exclude listed lands that 

have lost integrity (see Table 4.)11

The data from which all three boundaries are drawn do not necessarily reflect the full 

research needed for a formal NRHP nomination. PotNR boundaries are based on an 

assessment of aboveground historic features associated with the cultural and natural 

landscape. The surveys did not include a professional archeological inventory or 

assessment of subsurface features or indications. In some cases, future archeological 

testing will help determine whether subsurface features remain, whether subsurface battle 

features convey important information about a battle or historic property, and whether 

that information may help to confirm, refine, or refute the boundaries previously 

determined by historic studies and terrain analysis. 

The ABPP survey information should be reassessed during future compliance processes 

such as the Section 106 process required by the National Historic Preservation Act 12 and 

Environmental Impact Statements/Environmental Assessments required by the National 

Environmental Policy Act.13 Likewise, more detailed research and assessments should take 

place when any battlefield is formally nominated to the NRHP or proposed for designation 

as a National Historic Landmark (NHL). New research and intensive-level surveys of these 

sites will enlighten future preservation and compliance work. Agencies should continue to 

consult local and state experts for up-to-date information about these battlefields. 

Mississippi sets an excellent example for other states, as 13 of its 16 battlefields have 

already been formally recognized as historically significant landscapes. Four of 

Mississippi’s battlefields have been designated as National Historic Landmarks (Champion 

Hill, Corinth, Siege of Corinth, and Port Gibson), and 9 others are listed in the National 

 

10 National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic 

Battlefields, 1992 , Revised 1999 (http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/pdfs/NRB40.pdf), offers recommendations 

regarding "Selecting Defensible Boundaries." While this document indicates that "generally, boundaries should not be drawn to 

include the portion of the route taken to the battlefield where there were no encounters," the Guidelines also state that "a basic 

principle is to include within the boundary all of the locations where opposing forces, either before, during or after the battle, took 

actions based on their assumption of being in the presence of the enemy." The ABPP interprets this latter guidance to mean all

military activities that influenced the battle. See the individual battlefield profiles for information about military actions taken along 

the routes included. In accordance with the methodology of this study, if routes included in the Study Area retain integrity, they are 

included within the Potential National Register boundary for the battlefield landscape. 11 The ABPP’s surveys and PotNR assessments do not constitute formal action on behalf of the office of the National Register of 

Historic Places. PotNR assessments are intended for planning purposes only; they do not carry the authority to add, change, or

remove an official listing. 

12 16 USC 470f. 

13 42 USC 4331-4332.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 12 

Register of Historic Places (Big Black River Bridge, Brice’s Cross Roads, Chickasaw 

Bayou, Grand Gulf, Iuka, Raymond, Snyder’s Bluff, Tupelo, and Vicksburg).14 

The ABPP has identified more than 110,000 acres at these battlefields however, that could 

be added to existing listings. The Study Areas of Jackson and Meridian are completely 

destroyed and offer no potential for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The 

ABPP estimates nearly 82 percent of the Okolona Study Area has enough integrity to 

merit future nomination. 

Questionnaires 

While the ABPP maintains data about its own program activities at Civil War battlefields, 

most preservation work occurs at the local level. Therefore, to answer Congress's directive 

for information about battlefield preservation activities, the ABPP sought input from local 

battlefield managers and advocacy organizations. The ABPP distributed questionnaires 

designed to gather information about the types of preservation activities that have taken 

place at the battlefields since 1993. The Questionnaire is reproduced in Appendix B. 

In Mississippi, representatives from eight organizations responded to ABPP’s inquiries. 

Their responses, combined with the survey findings, allowed the ABPP to create a profile 

of conditions and activities at Mississippi’s Civil War battlefields. 

 

14 The National Historic Landmark designation “Siege and Battle of Corinth Sites” (#91001050) includes resources from both the 

Corinth (October 3-4, 1862) and Siege of Corinth (April 28-May 30, 1862) battlefields. The battle of Corinth also has a separate, 

individual National Register listing, “Battle of Corinth, Confederate Assault Position” (#76001088). 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 13 

Summary of Conditions of Mississippi’s Civil War Battlefields 

Quantified Land Areas 

Using Geographic Information Systems, the ABPP calculated the amount of land 

historically associated with the battle (Study Area), the amount of land where forces were 

engaged (Core Area), and the amount of land that may retain enough integrity to be 

eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and that remains to be 

protected (Potential National Register boundary). 

As noted above and as Table 2 illustrates, the Study Areas and Core Areas of Mississippi’s 

Civil War battlefields have been established in accordance with ABPP research and field 

survey methodology. Particular attention was paid to identifying the routes of approach 

and withdrawal associated with each battle, and to identifying areas of secondary action 

that influenced the course or outcome of the battles.15 The Study Area and Core Area 

boundaries established for each battlefield take these movements and actions into 

account, recognizing the extent to which theses ancillary areas serve as battlefield 

features. 

 

15 National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America's Historic Battlefields 

(http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/pdfs/NRB40.pdf), offers recommendations regarding "Selecting Defensible 

Boundaries." While this document indicates that "generally, boundaries should not be drawn to include the portion of the route

taken to the battlefield where there were no encounters," the Guidelines also state that "a basic principle is to include within the 

boundary all of the locations where opposing forces, either before, during or after the battle, took actions based on their assumption 

of being in the presence of the enemy." The ABPP interprets this latter guidance to mean all military activities that influenced the 

battle. See the individual battlefield profiles for information about military actions taken along the routes included. In accordance 

with the methodology of this study, if routes included in the Study Area retain integrity, they are included within the Potential 

National Register boundary for the battlefield landscape.

Table 2. Battlefield Area Statistics

   Battlefield Study Area Core Area 

PotNR 

Boundary

   Big Black River Bridge (MS010) 2,931.47 679.83 2,649.76

   Brice’s Cross Roads (MS014) 3,237.80 1,070.36 3,237.78

   Champion Hill (MS009) 13,696.80 5,981.16 11,862.77

   Chickasaw Bayou (MS003) 22,949.49 5,521.98 15,109.02

Corinth (MS002) 15,987.39 8,039.95 7,275.38

Grand Gulf (MS004) 9,349.60 1,759.20 4,698.79

Iuka (MS001) 3,261.17 705.16 1,328.40

Jackson (MS008) 11,170.71 2,703.28 0.00

Meridian (MS012) 3,087.57 0.00 0.00

Okolona (MS013) 38,415.04 2,325.29 31,451.19

Port Gibson (MS006) 7,959.41 3,223.64 7,959.41

Raymond (MS007) 5,643.83 1,381.16 4,467.02

Siege of Corinth (MS016) 29,463.63 3,756.32 20,385.48

Snyder’s Bluff (MS005) 6,917.92 1,788.19 3,121.39

Tupelo (MS015) 13,053.94 2,009.45 895.73

   Vicksburg (MS011) 27,611.64 12,591.96 5,123.09

                 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 14 

In Mississippi, Civil War armies waged numerous battles over the same ground. Thus, the 

total number of battlefield acres in the state is lower than a straight tally of the figures in 

Table 2 would indicate. Calculating for the overlapping areas in the battlefields, there are 

nearly 194,300 total Study Area acres, more than 52,300 total Core Area acres, and almost 

112,000 total acres likely eligible for listing in the National Register in Mississippi.16 Please 

see the individual battlefield profiles for more information about the extent of and 

reasons for the established boundaries.

Condition Assessments 

Using field survey data, the ABPP assessed the overall condition of each battlefield’s Study 

Area. While no battlefield remains completely unaltered since the Civil War, many of 

Mississippi’s battlefields have retained significant character defining features over the past 

150 years.17 

Table 3: Battlefield Condition Summary

Condition Battlefield 

Land use is little changed (2) Brice’s Cross Roads (MS014), Champion 

Hill (MS009) 

Portions of landscape have been altered, but 

most essential features remain (7)

Big Black River Bridge(MS010), 

Chickasaw Bayou (MS003), Grand Gulf 

(MS004), Okolona (MS013), Port Gibson 

(MS006), Raymond (MS007), Siege of 

Corinth (MS016) 

Much of the landscape has been altered and 

fragmented, leaving some essential features 

(4) 

Corinth (MS002), Iuka (MS001), Snyder’s 

Bluff (MS005), Vicksburg (MS011) 

Landscape and terrain have been altered 

beyond recognition (3)

Jackson (MS008), Meridian (MS012), 

Tupelo (MS015)

Portions of the Big Black River Bridge landscape have been altered, but most essential 

features remain. Several swamps along the approach route have been drained for use as 

farmland. Light residential development on the approach and withdrawal routes could 

increase over time, but the current condition offers good opportunity for preservation. 

The course of the Big Black River has shifted only slightly since 1863, and the swampland, 

along with a number of the creeks and bayous that flow into the Big Black River, remain 

intact. 

Land use is little changed at Brice’s Cross Roads. Most of the historic road network, 

including the crossroads itself, retains integrity. In addition to the Brice’s Cross Roads 

National Battlefield Site, a state monument marking the location of the Brice House (no 

longer extant) commemorates the battle. The rolling terrain, which characterized the 

landscape in 1864, retains integrity, though farmland has replaced tree cover in large 

portions of the battlefield. Only light residential and commercial development intrudes 

 

16 Using GIS, and accounting for overlapping areas, the ABPP calculated, for the 16 battlefields in Mississippi, that the Study Areas 

represent 194,294.42 acres, the Core Areas represent 52,363.06 acres, and the PotNR boundaries represent 111,999.41 acres.

17 The condition of archeological resources within the battlefields was not assessed. Future studies are needed to determine the

degree of archeological integrity associated with subsurface battle deposits. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 15 

upon the landscape, making Brice’s Cross Roads Mississippi’s greatest opportunity for 

comprehensive battlefield preservation. 

Figure 4. Brice’s Cross 

Roads, with 17 percent of 

its landscape protected, 

retains the highest degree 

of integrity of all Civil War 

battlefields in Mississippi 

Photograph by Matthew 

Borders, 2009. 

At Champion Hill, the westernmost portion of the Study Area surrounding the town of 

Edwards no longer retains integrity as a battlefield landscape. In addition, a large food 

production and distribution center located on the southern edge of the Confederate 

battle line and a gravel pit on the eastern edge of the Core Area have damaged some of 

the landscape. Most of the historic roads that crossed the battlefield in 1863 are intact, 

and the modern railroad route follows that of the historic Southern Railroad of Mississippi 

line. Baker's and Jackson creeks are unchanged since the time of battle. The ridge upon 

which Confederate forces deployed, including Champion Hill, remains rural. Residential 

development on the southern and northern edges of the Study Area threatens to expand 

onto the battlefield. Prompt action should be taken to protect Champion Hill, 

considered to be among the most significant Civil War battles fought in Mississippi. 

North of the city of Vicksburg, the Walnut Hills remain as a defining feature of the 

Chickasaw Bayou battlefield. The Yazoo River, its tributaries, and surrounding bayous 

also retain integrity. Modern transportation routes – US Highway 61 and the Illinois 

Central Railroad – pass through the battlefield’s Core Area, bringing development north 

from Vicksburg. Housing, light commercial development, and large-scale industry from 

the Port of Vicksburg have damaged the battlefield terrain and viewshed around the 

Walnut Hills. As the city of Vicksburg continues to grow, the Confederate battery 

locations on the hills will face increasing threat. The heights, which are privately owned, 

unprotected, and vulnerable, should be the focus of preservation efforts at Chickasaw 

Bayou. 

Much of the October 1862 battle of Corinth landscape has been altered, but some 

essential features remain. U.S. Highways 45 and 72 cut through the southern and western 

portions of the battlefield, while a new rail line, the Illinois Central Gulf Rail Road (ICG), 

also passes through the city. Residential and commercial development has destroyed the 

southern and eastern portions of the Study Area, but portions of the historic road network 

remain, particularly in the northwest portion of the battlefield where many of the historic 

creeks still crisscross the landscape. Batteries manned by US forces during the battle retain 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 16 

integrity (Battery F is in particularly excellent condition), but the sprawl of development 

from the city threatens to destroy any unprotected intact battlefield land. 

Large portions of the April-June 1862 Siege of Corinth landscape have also been altered, 

but many essential features remain. U.S. Highways 45 and 72 cut through the southern 

and western portions of the battlefield, while a new rail line, the ICG, also passes through 

the city. Industrial complexes east of the city (below the heights used by US forces to 

bombard Corinth and within the Farmington Core Area) have destroyed significant 

portions of the battlefield. Rapid residential development, especially along Bridge Creek 

and eastward toward Farmington, has destroyed large sections of earthworks, but a 

significant number of earthworks to the north and east of the city survive. The creeks that 

slowed the pace of US forces advancing from the east are unchanged since the battle, and 

much of Corinth’s historic downtown is intact. Portions of the historic road network 

remain, particularly along the US approach routes in the northeast. Fragments of the 

battlefield are protected throughout the Study Area as components of the National Park 

Service’s Corinth Unit. Additional residential and commercial development sprawling from 

the city however, threatens unprotected battlefield land. If left unchecked, further 

fragmentation will destroy the integrity of the siege landscape. 

At Grand Gulf, portions of the landscape have been altered, but most essential features 

remain. During the 1863 battle, the town of Grand Gulf was positioned beside the 

Mississippi River at the point of a sharp westward turn in the waterway’s course. Today, 

the riverbank has shifted west, away from Grand Gulf. This shift, along with construction 

of a modern levee, makes understanding and interpreting the battlefield problematic. 

Residential development along the approach route undermines the battlefield’s integrity. 

In the town of Grand Gulf, few historic features remain intact, but much of the battlefield 

landscape has been protected within the boundaries of the Grand Gulf Military Park. The 

heights on which the Confederacy built fortifications still exist, dominating the landscape 

as they did during the time of the battle. Both Fort Wade and Fort Cobun are intact, 

including most of their supporting earthworks. Protection of intact battlefield land 

surrounding the existing park offers the greatest opportunity for preservation. 

Figure 5. Within the 

boundaries of the Grand 

Gulf Military Park, the 

Grand Gulf Military 

Monument Commission 

protects and interprets 

earthworks used during 

the 1863 battle of Grand 

Gulf. Photograph by 

Matthew Borders, 2009. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 17 

Portions of the Iuka battlefield have been altered, but most essential features remain 

intact. US Highway 72 and State Route 25 have divided the battlefield’s largest Core Area 

into four segments. These highways have destroyed much of the historic road network, 

including the crossroad epicenter where the battle’s most intense fighting took place. 

Portions of the US advance along the Jacinto Road still retain integrity, but modern 

commercial development on the route poses the greatest threat to the battlefield. The 

ridgeline upon which US forces organized their battle line remains intact and several creek 

beds in the Study Area are unchanged. Preservation efforts must be swift to prevent 

further development from fragmenting Iuka so severely that it is no longer identifiable as 

a battlefield landscape.

The landscape of Jackson has been altered beyond recognition. The system of 

earthworks that once surrounded the city has been destroyed, except for remnants 

protected within the boundaries of a small park in the battlefield’s southern Core Area 

and on the campus of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. With most of the 

Jackson battlefield lost, stewards are challenged to protect what remains of intact 

approach routes, and give attentive care to the battlefield’s surviving earthworks. 

At Meridian, the city’s unchecked growth has obliterated its historic road networks and 

landscape. Given the dearth of intact historic features dating to the time of the battle, 

there can be neither threat of future destruction nor opportunity for resource protection. 

Portions of the Okolona battlefield have been altered, but most essential features remain. 

Much of the historic road network in the City of Okolona has been destroyed. The same is 

true for the town of West Point at the southern end of the Okolona Study Area. While 

residential and commercial development has damaged the battlefield landscape in these 

more urban areas, land protected within the boundaries of the Tombigbee National Forest 

and the Natchez Trace Parkway retains integrity. In addition, the heights near Prairie 

Mount and the Little Owl Creek, along with Ivey’s Hill, are still identifiable as historic 

landscape features. Development along State Highway 41 and US Alternate 45 is still 

limited, but the potential for sprawling growth between the cities of Okolona and West 

Point represents the greatest threat to this battlefield. 

The historic road network west of Port Gibson and within the town retains integrity. 

James and Widows creeks, as well as Bayou Pierre, are unchanged since the time of battle, 

and the surrounding landscape with thick undergrowth and deep crevasses is little 

changed. The Mississippi River, however, has shifted significantly since 1863. The 

riverbank’s westward movement has since led to the desertion of the town of Bruinsburg, 

the landing point on the Mississippi river used by the Federal army before the battle. 

Interpreting the final phase of battle at Centers Creek is difficult now – much of the 

ridgeline along the creek has been altered. A proposal by the Mississippi Department of 

Transportation to widen US Highway 61, which runs through the middle of the Port 

Gibson community, could threaten what land remains intact within the eastern half of the 

battlefield Study Area. Rapid response to this threat is necessary if Port Gibson, a 

nationally significant landscape, is to retain its cohesion and remain a well-preserved, 

interpretable battlefield. 

At Raymond, the Federal position along Artillery Ridge is intact, and Fourteenmile Creek 

is still recognizable as the ground used by counter-attacking Confederates during the 

battle. Portions of the historic Utica Road retain integrity, as does some of the historic 

road network within the city of Raymond. Commercial development expanding from 

Raymond along State Route 18 threatens the northern portion of the Study Area. This 

road, which follows a portion of the old Utica Road trace, bisects the battlefield. Within 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 18 

the next five years, land within the Core Area, which retains integrity, should be the focus 

of preservation efforts at Raymond.

Figure 6. Fourteenmile Creek 

proved to be a significant 

obstacle during the battle of 

Raymond in 1863. Today, 

the creek remains as one of 

the battlefield’s identifiable 

features. Photograph by 

Kathleen Madigan, 2009.

Much of the landscape at Snyder’s Bluff has been altered and fragmented. The site of 

the Walnut Hills batteries, which is privately owned, has been destroyed, but the hills and 

bluff themselves remain dominant topographical features. US Route 61, a modern 

highway, runs through the Study Area at the base of the Walnut Hills, connecting 

Vicksburg with the community of Redwood. Just beyond Redwood, a new bridge over the 

Yazoo River significantly alters the historic viewshed. Although construction of this bridge 

has caused extensive erosion along the riverbank, much of the Yazoo River, tributaries, 

and surrounding swamp between the Walnut Hills and Yazoo River, retain integrity. The 

opportunity for preservation is good here, but must be performed with haste. 

Development pressures from Vicksburg threaten to advance north via US Route 61 towards 

what remains of the intact landscape at Snyder’s Bluff battlefield. 

Little land retains integrity at Tupelo. Extensive development around the city has 

flattened or covered many of the battlefield’s defining features, particularly those 

associated with the main battle line. Aside from the one-acre battlefield fragment 

protected by the National Park Service and land protected by the Brice’s Cross Roads 

National Battlefield Commission, only the railroad and Kings Creek remain intact in the 

primary Core Area. North of the city at the battlefield’s secondary Core Area, Town Creek 

and the surrounding heights also retain some integrity. The growth of residential 

subdivisions near Town Creek foreshadows future threat, which could lead to complete 

destruction of the battlefield. Preservation efforts should focus on immediate protection 

for what remains of the secondary Core Area, its associated viewsheds, and setting. 

The City of Vicksburg has grown well beyond its Civil War footprint, but its hilltop position 

still gives visitors a good impression of the massive undertaking that was required to lay 

siege to Vicksburg in 1863. Aside from resources protected within the boundaries of 

Vicksburg National Military Park and Vicksburg National Cemetery, the only battlefield 

features that retain integrity are the Walnut Hills (northeast of the city) and a portion of 

the Yazoo River (north of the city). The Confederate and Federal trench networks around 

Vicksburg, along with the vast majority of earthworks in Vicksburg National Military Park, 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 19 

are reconstructions built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. Residential 

and commercial development threatens trenches south of the city where most of the 

historic battlefield has already been lost. 

Shifting riverbanks and heavy industrial development along the Mississippi River (south of 

the city) and the Yazoo River Diversion Canal (west of the city) have destroyed most of the 

historic waterfront. Given the limited potential for preservation and the intense threat to 

what remains, efforts to protect battlefield land outside National Park Service boundaries 

must be swift. 

Figure 7. 

Development along 

the Mississippi river 

has destroyed most of 

the Vicksburg 

battlefield not 

protected within 

Vicksburg National 

Military Park. 

Photograph by 

Kathleen Madigan, 

2009. 

Registration 

The nation’s official method for recognizing historic properties worthy of preservation is 

listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Registered battlefields meet 

national standards for documentation, physical integrity, and demonstrable significance to 

the history of our nation. Federal, state, and local agencies use information from the 

NRHP as a planning tool to identify and make decisions about cultural resources. Federal 

and state laws, most notably Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 

require agencies to account for the effects their projects (roads, wetland permits, 

quarrying, cell towers, etc.) may have on listed and eligible historic properties, such as 

battlefields. Listing allows project designers to quickly identify the battlefield and avoid or 

minimize impacts to the landscape. 

Properties listed in the NRHP may also be eligible for federal and state historic 

preservation grant programs. Recognition as a registered battlefield can advance public 

understanding of and appreciation for the battlefield, and may encourage advocacy for its 

preservation.18 

As Table 4 indicates, three of Mississippi’s Civil War battlefields have been designated as 

National Historic Landmarks, while 10 others are listed in the NRHP. In addition to these 

registered lands, the ABPP has found more than 110,900 acres eligible for listing based on 

association with the Civil War battles of Mississippi. 

 

18 There are three levels of federal recognition for historic properties: Congressional designations such as national park units, 

National Historic Landmarks, and listings in the National Register of Historic Places. Congress creates national park units. The 

Secretary of the Interior designates National Historic Landmarks (NHL) – nationally significant historic sites – for their exceptional 

value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is 

the nation’s official list of cultural sites significant at the national, state, or local level and worthy of preservation. Historic units of 

the National Park System and NHLs are also listed in the National Register. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 20 

Table 4: Acres Registered Compared with Acres Potentially 

Eligible to be Registered

 Battlefield Designation

ABPP 

PotNR Acres

* Existing 

Registered 

Acres

Acres 

Potentially 

Eligible to be 

Registerted

Big Black River Bridge (MS010) NRHP 2,649.76 977.49 1,652.27

Brice’s Cross Roads (MS014) NPS, NRHP 3,237.80 1.00 3,236.80

Champion Hill (MS009) NHL 11,862.77 6,963.04 4,899.73

Chickasaw Bayou (MS003) NRHP 15,109.02 1,067.00 14,042.02

Corinth (MS002) NPS, NRHP 7,275.38 198.88 7,076.50

Grand Gulf (MS004) NRHP 4,698.79 505.00 4,193.76

Iuka (MS001) NRHP 1,328.40 70.00 1,330.18

Jackson (MS008) 0.00 0.00 0.00

Meridian (MS012) 0.00 0.00 0.00

Okolona (MS013) 31,451.19 0.00 31,451.19

Port Gibson (MS006) NHL 7,959.41 3,404.17 4,648.24

Raymond (MS007) NRHP 4,467.02 936.42 3,530.60

Siege of Corinth (MS016)** NHL 20,385.48 383.58 20,001.90

Snyder’s Bluff (MS005) NRHP 3,121.39 514.01 2,607.38

Tupelo (MS015) NPS, NRHP 895.73 1.00 894.73

Vicksburg (MS011) NPS, NRHP 5,123.09 1,750.24 3,372.85

* Note that some National Register lands may have lost integrity since they were listed. 

**NHL boundaries for the Siege and Battle of Corinth include land associated with fighting at Hatchie’s Bridge, Tennessee, which 

occurred the day after the Battle of Corinth in October 1862.

Stewardship 

For the purposes of this update, public lands managed as historic sites in order to preserve 

battlefield resources are protected. Other public land, not managed for the preservation 

of the battlefield landscape, still has potential for damaging threats. The land is subject to 

state and federal preservation law, preventing private development, but its primary use 

may not be compatible with preservation of the battlefield landscape. It may also be 

threatened by natural processes. 

Through fee simple ownership and purchase of development rights, federal, state, and 

local government stewards, along with nonprofit organizations, have permanently 

preserved more than 7,650 acres of battlefield land in Mississippi. With 17 percent of its 

landscape protected, Brice’s Cross Roads is the most completely protected battlefield in 

the state. At the majority of Mississippi’s battlefields, less than ten percent of the 

landscape is protected. This includes Champion Hill, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Iuka, 

Okolona, Port Gibson, Raymond, Siege of Corinth, Tupelo, and Vicksburg. Less than 

one percent of the battlefield landscapes of Big Black River Bridge, Chickasaw Bayou, 

and Jackson are preserved. The ABPP has identified early 106,000 acres of historic 

battlefield terrain that retain integrity, but remain in private, unprotected ownership. 

Federal, state, and local governments protect much of the preserved battlefield land in 

Mississippi. The National Park Service manages more than 2,700 acres of protected 

battlefield land in Mississippi. These holdings include: one acre at Brice’s Cross Roads

(Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site); more than 102 acres at Corinth (within the 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 21 

boundaries of the Shiloh National Military Park’s Corinth Unit); more than 238 acres at 

Siege of Corinth (within the boundaries of the Shiloh National Military Park’s Corinth 

Unit)19; more than 45 acres at Port Gibson (part of the Natchez Trace Parkway); more than 

67 acres at Champion Hill (part of the Natchez Trace Parkway); more than 107 acres at 

Chickasaw Bayou (within the boundaries of Vicksburg National Military Park); nearly 108 

acres at Okolona (part of the Natchez Trace Parkway); nearly 607acres at Tupelo (one acre 

at the Tupelo National Battlefield and nearly 606 acres of the Natchez Trace Parkway); and 

nearly 1,740 acres at Vicksburg (Vicksburg National Military Park and Vicksburg National 

Cemetery). 

The USDA Forest Service protects more than 601 acres of the Okolona battlefield within 

the boundaries of the Tombigbee National Forest Chickasaw Wildlife Management Area 

and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries , and Parks protects more than 83 

acres of the Iuka battlefield within the boundaries of its Divide Section Wildlife 

Management Area. Although land owned by the USDA Forest Service and the Mississippi 

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is not preserved for its association with 

historical events, these lands are considered by the ABPP to be protected. The wildlife 

habitat conservation missions of these sites are compatible with the interests of battlefield 

landscape preservation. 

The State’s Grand Gulf Military Monument Commission owns more than 450 acres of the 

Grand Gulf battlefield and manages the Grand Gulf Military Park, while the Mississippi 

Department of Archives and History owns more than 28 acres at Big Black River Bridge, 

more than 830 acres at Champion Hill, and nearly 15 acres at Port Gibson. The City of 

Jackson protects one acre of the Jackson battlefield at Battlefield Park, and manages 

another one acre segment of the battlefield located on the University of Mississippi 

Medical Center campus. 

In addition to public land, portions of many Mississippi battlefields are owned and 

protected by nonprofit organizations. The Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield 

Commission owns more than 583 acres of land at Brice’s Cross Roads battlefield and 

more than 13 acres at Tupelo. The Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth owns more 

than 490 acres of land associated with Corinth and more than 354 acres associated with 

the Siege of Corinth. At Okolona, the Okolona Development Foundation Charities, Inc. 

owns nearly 270 acres. The Sid J. Champion Heritage Foundation protects more than 144 

acres of the Champion Hill battlefield, while, also at Champion Hill, the Civil War 

Preservation Trust owns an additional 58 acres. At Iuka, the Iuka Battlefield Commission 

owns nearly 56 acres. The Friends of Raymond owns approximately 132 acres at Raymond 

and, in addition to this land, holds an easement on more than three acres belonging to a 

private property owner on the battlefield. 

As a preservation tool, easements provide protection without burdening the holder with 

obligations associated with fee simple ownership while compensating owners who 

relinquish the development rights of their property with tax incentives. The Mississippi 

Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has protected more than 2,700 acres of 

battlefield land by purchasing or holding donated easements. As holder of preservation 

easements for the state, MDAH holds easements on the property of private landowners 

 

19 As authorized by P.L. 106-271, the Corinth Battlefield Preservation Act of 2000, and based on findings published in the 2003 Special 

Resources Study for the Corinth Unit of the Shiloh National Military Park, Mississippi-Tennessee. 

(http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/shil/corinth_unit_srs.pdf), land purchased by the Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth can 

be donated to the National Park Service. Concurrent with the drafting of this document, FSBC lands were pending transfer to NPS ownership. 

Upon the completion of that transaction, this additional land within the boundaries of the Corinth and Siege of Corinth Study Areas will be 

managed as part of the Shiloh National Military Park’s Corinth Unit. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 22 

including 622 acres at Port Gibson and 200 acres at Champion Hill. The MDAH also 

holds easements on battlefield land owned by nonprofit groups including Brice’s 

Crossroads National Battlefield Commission, the Civil War Preservation Trust, Friends of 

Raymond, Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth, Iuka Battlefield Commission, and 

Okolona Development Foundation Charities, Inc. 

There are no protected lands at Meridian or Snyder’s Bluff. While Meridian is entirely 

destroyed and offers no opportunity for preservation, there are more than 3,000 

unprotected acres at Snyder’s Bluff that could benefit from stewardship efforts. 

Table 5. : Protective Stewardship of Intact Battlefield Land 

  

Battlefield Permanently 

Protected Acres

ABPP PotNR 

Acres

Unprotected, 

Intact Acres 

Remaining

   Big Black River Bridge (MS010) 28.07 2,649.76 2,621.69

   Brice’s Cross Roads (MS014) 572.02 3,237.80 2,665.78

   Champion Hill (MS009) 1,300.17 11,862.77 10,562.60

   Chickasaw Bayou (MS003) 107.28 15,109.02 15,001.74

   Corinth (MS002) 593.02 7,275.38 6,682.36

Grand Gulf (MS004) 450.00 4,698.79 4,248.79

Iuka (MS001) 139.19 1,328.40 1,261.02

Jackson (MS008) 2.00 0.00 0.00

Meridian (MS012) 0.00 0.00 0.00

Okolona (MS013) 978.81 31,451.19 30,472.38

Port Gibson (MS006) 682.45 7,959.41 7,276.96

Raymond (MS007) 135.60 4,467.02 4,331.42

Siege of Corinth (MS016) 592.99 20,385.48 19,792.49

Snyder’s Bluff (MS005) 0.00 3,121.39 3,121.39

Tupelo (MS015) 619.34 895.73 895.73

Vicksburg (MS011) 1,739.56 5,123.09 3,634.09

Totals 7,940.50 119,565.21 112,568.44

Public Access and Interpretation 

In its questionnaire, the ABPP asked battlefield stewards about the types of public access 

and interpretation available at the battlefield. The ABPP did not collect information about 

the purpose or intent of the interpretation and access, such as whether a wayside exhibit 

was developed for purely educational reasons, to promote heritage tourism, or to boost 

local economic development. 

The ABPP asked respondents to indicate the type of interpretation available at or about 

the battlefield. The categories included brochures, driving tours, living history 

demonstrations, maintained historic features or areas, walking tours and trails, wayside 

exhibits, websites, and other specialized programs. The results indicate that 12 of 

Mississippi’s 16 Civil War battlefields offer some degree of public interpretation, with 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 23 

Brice’s Cross Roads, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Siege of Corinth, and Vicksburg also 

including visitor center facilities.20 Unfortunately, the battlefields of Big Black River 

Bridge, Chickasaw Bayou, and Meridian provide no battle interpretation. 

Table 6: Interpretation Summary

On-site Interpretation Battlefield

Battlefields with public interpretation, 

including visitors center (5)

Brice’s Cross Roads (MS014), Corinth 

(MS002), Grand Gulf (MS004), Siege of 

Corinth (MS016), Vicksburg (MS015) 

Battlefields with public interpretation, 

but no visitors center (8)

Champion Hill (MS009), Iuka (MS001), 

Jackson (MS008), Okolona (MS013), Port 

Gibson (MS006), Raymond (MS007), Snyder’s 

Bluff (MS005), Tupelo (MS015) 

Battlefields with no public interpretation 

(3)

Big Black River Bridge (MS010), Chickasaw 

Bayou (MS003), Meridian (MS012) 

The National Park Service provides public access to eight Mississippi battlefields. Less than 

one percent of the total battlefield Study Area of Brice’s Cross Roads is accessible at 

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site. More than four percent of the total Study 

Area of Tupelo is accessible, including one acre at Tupelo National Battlefield and more 

than 605 acres of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Natchez Trace Parkway also provides 

public access to lands associated with three additional Civil War battlefields: Champion 

Hill (less than one percent of the total Study Area), Okolona (nearly two percent of the 

total Study Area), and Port Gibson (less than one percent of the total Study Area). Less 

than one percent of the total battlefield Study Area of Corinth and less than one percent 

of the total battlefield Study Area of Siege of Corinth are publicly accessible at the 

Shiloh National Military Park’s Corinth Unit. More than six percent of the total Study Area 

of Vicksburg is publicly accessible at the Vicksburg National Military Park and Vicksburg 

National Cemetery, while less than one percent of the total Study Area of the Chickasaw 

Bayou battlefield is also accessible within the northwestern boundaries of the park. 

At the USDA Forest Service’s Tombigbee National Forest Chickasaw Wildlife Management 

Area, more than 601 acres (about one percent) of the Okolona battlefield are accessible 

to the public. The Grand Gulf Military Park, managed by the State’s Grand Gulf Military 

Monument Commission, also provides access to approximately 450 acres (nearly three 

percent of the battlefield Study Area) of Grand Gulf. The Friends of Raymond manages 

the Raymond Military Park, which provides public access to approximately 135 acres, more 

than two percent of the Raymond battlefield. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, 

Fisheries and Parks provides access to more than 83 acres (more than two percent of the 

battlefield Study Area) of Iuka for public visitation within the boundaries of the Divide 

Section Wildlife Management Area. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History 

provides access to 5 acres (less than one percent of the battlefield Study Area) of 

Champion Hill at its Coker House site. The MDAH also provides access to nearly 15 acres 

 

20 Concurrent with the drafting of this report, construction of a new interpretation gallery for the Battle of Tupelo at the Brice’s Crossroads 

Visitor’s and Interpretive Center was underway. The project – a 1,200-square foot addition to the existing facility – has been funded by money 

from the U.S. Department of Transportation Act through a $1.5 million grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 24 

(less than one percent of the battlefield Study Area) of Port Gibson at the Shaifer House 

and Magnolia Church (more than 3 acres) sites. 

At Jackson, one acre (less than one percent of the total battlefield Study Area) is 

publically accessible via the City of Jackson’s Battlefield Park, along with another small 

artillery earthwork site on the campus of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 

There is no public access at Big Black River Bridge, Meridian, or Snyder’s Bluff

battlefields beyond public right-of-ways. 

Local Advocacy

Nonprofit organizations play important roles in protecting historic battlefields. These 

organizations step in to preserve historic sites when public funding and management for 

historic preservation are absent. When public funding is available, nonprofits serve as vital 

partners in public-private preservation efforts, acting as conduits for public funds, raising 

critical private matching funds, keeping history and preservation in the public eye, and 

working with landowners to find ways to protect battlefield parcels. 

More than half of Mississippi’s battlefields – Brice’s Cross Roads, Champion Hill, 

Chickasaw Bayou, Corinth, Iuka, Okolona, Raymond, Siege of Corinth, Tupelo, and

Vicksburg – benefit from the efforts of a private nonprofit group. Since 1993, the Brice’s 

Crossroads National Battlefield Commission, Inc., has worked with the Mississippi 

Department of Archives and History to preserve the battlefield landscapes of Brice’s 

Cross Roads and Tupelo. Similarly, the Iuka Battlefield Commission, Inc., and Friends of 

the Battle of Okolona have also worked with the State to purchase land and development 

rights at the Iuka and Okolona battlefields, respectively. 

The Sid J. Champion Heritage Foundation has worked with the Civil War Preservation Trust 

to preserve land at Champion Hill since 2005. The organization hosts a bi-annual event, 

which invites tourists to visit the battlefield, and raises funds to sponsor the placement of 

commemorative markers. 

Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth was established in 1993 to promote and preserve 

Civil War sites in and around the city of Corinth. Since its inception, the group has worked 

diligently to purchase and protect battlefield land identified by the Siege and Battle of 

Corinth National Historic Landmark Study. Recent additions to National Park Service land 

holdings at Shiloh National Military Park’s Corinth Unit have been donations made by the 

Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth. 

The Friends of Raymond is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and 

interpretation of Raymond battlefield. At the Raymond Military Park, the group 

maintains a 3/4-mile walking trail with an educational kiosk and interpretive signage, and 

offers battlefield tours regularly, among other efforts. 

In 2008, the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign formed to raise 

funds that are still used to maintain monuments and support preservation efforts at 

Vicksburg National Military Park (including portions of Chickasaw Bayou that fall within 

the park’s boundaries). Most recently, the group replaced 22 of the 150 cast iron 

interpretive tablets removed during a World War II scrap metal drive in 1942. 

While other organizations with more general historical interests may also play important 

roles in preserving Mississippi’s battlefields, these seven groups are the only known local 

organizations in Mississippi dedicated solely to the goals of battlefield preservation, 
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Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 25 

interpretation, and promotion.21 The battlefields of Big Black River Bridge, Grand Gulf, 

Jackson, Meridian, Port Gibson, and Snyder’s Bluff do not have nonprofit groups to 

advocate for preservation interests. 

Table 7: Active Battlefield Friends Groups

Battlefield Friends Group(s) 

Year 

Founded 

Big Black River Bridge (MS010) None 

Brice’s Cross Roads (MS014) Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield 

Commission, Inc. 

1993

Champion Hill (MS009) Sid J. Champion Heritage Foundation 2005

Chickasaw Bayou (MS003) Friends of Vicksburg National Military 

Park and Campaign 

2008

Corinth (MS002) Friends of the Siege and Battle of 

Corinth 

1993

Grand Gulf (MS004) None

Iuka (MS001) Iuka Battlefield Commission, Inc. 2002

Jackson (MS008) None

Meridian (MS012) None

Okolona (MS013) Friends of the Battle of Okolona 2001

Port Gibson (MS006) None

Raymond (MS007) Friends of Raymond, Inc. 1998

Siege of Corinth (MS016) Friends of the Siege and Battle of 

Corinth 

1993

Snyder’s Bluff (MS005) None

Tupelo (MS015) Brice’s Cross Roads National Battlefield 

Commission, Inc. 

1993

Vicksburg (MS011) Friends of Vicksburg National Military 

Park and Campaign 

2008

 

21 For example, the state’s historic preservation office, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, provides staff to the Mississippi Civil 

War Battlefield Commission, and administers the Civil War Site’s Program and the “Mississippi Civil War Trails” program. 
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Figure 8. More than 2,600 acres of battlefield land in Mississippi have been protected through the 

ABPP’s Civil War Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program (see Appendix C). Photograph by 

Kathleen Madigan, 2009
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Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 76

Appendices

Appendix A. Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 

Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016, 17 December 2002 

Amends the American Battlefield Protection Program Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 469k) 

An Act 

 

To amend the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 

to establish a battlefield acquisition grant program. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ``Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002''. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 

 (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following 

 (1) Civil War battlefields provide a means for the people of 

 the United States to understand a tragic period in the history 

 of the United States. 

 (2) According to the Report on the Nation's Civil War 

 Battlefields, prepared by the Civil War Sites Advisory 

 Commission, and dated July 1993, of the 384 principal Civil War 

 battlefields-- 

 (A) almost 20 percent are lost or fragmented; 

 (B) 17 percent are in poor condition; and 

 (C) 60 percent have been lost or are in imminent 

 danger of being fragmented by development and lost as 

 coherent historic sites. 

 (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- 

 (1) to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect 

 nationally significant Civil War battlefields through 

 conservation easements and fee-simple purchases of those 

 battlefields from willing sellers; and 

 (2) to create partnerships among State and local 

 governments, regional entities, and the private sector to 

 preserve, conserve, and enhance nationally significant Civil War 

 battlefields. 

SEC. 3. BATTLEFIELD ACQUISITION GRANT PROGRAM. 

The American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 469k) is amended-- 

 (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as paragraph (3) of 

 subsection (c), and indenting appropriately; 

 (2) in paragraph (3) of subsection (c) (as redesignated by 

 paragraph (1))-- 

 (A) by striking ``Appropriations'' and inserting 

 ``appropriations''; and 

 (B) by striking ``section'' and inserting 
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 ``subsection''; 

 (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 

 ``(d) Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program.-- 

 ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection 

 ``(A) Battlefield report.--The term `Battlefield 

 Report' means the document entitled `Report on the 

 Nation's Civil War Battlefields', prepared by the Civil 

 War Sites Advisory Commission, and dated July 1993. 

 ``(B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 

 means a State or local government. 

 ``(C) Eligible site.--The term `eligible site' means 

 a site-- 

 ``(i) that is not within the exterior 

 boundaries of a unit of the National Park System; 

 and 

 ``(ii) that is identified in the Battlefield 

 Report. 

 ``(D) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 

 Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American 

 Battlefield Protection Program. 

 ``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 

 battlefield acquisition grant program under which the Secretary 

 may provide grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share 

 of the cost of acquiring interests in eligible sites for the 

 preservation and protection of those eligible sites. 

 ``(3) Nonprofit partners.--An eligible entity may acquire an 

 interest in an eligible site using a grant under this subsection 

 in partnership with a nonprofit organization. 

 ``(4) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the total 

 cost of acquiring an interest in an eligible site under this 

 subsection shall be not less than 50 percent. 

 ``(5) Limitation on land use.--An interest in an eligible 

 site acquired under this subsection shall be subject to section 

 6(f)(3) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 

 U.S.C. 460l-8(f)(3)). 

 ``(6) Reports.-- 

 ``(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the 

 date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the 

 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 

 activities carried out under this subsection. 

 ``(B) Update of battlefield report.--Not later than 

 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 

 subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 

 report that updates the Battlefield Report to reflect-- 

 ``(i) preservation activities carried out at 

 the 384 battlefields during the period between 

 publication of the Battlefield Report and the 

 update; 

 ``(ii) changes in the condition of the 

 battlefields during that period; and 

 ``(iii) any other relevant developments 

 relating to the battlefields during that period. 

 ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.-- 

 ``(A) In general.--There are authorized to be 

 appropriated to the Secretary from the Land and Water 

 Conservation Fund to provide grants under this 

 subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 
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Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 78

 through 2008. 

 ``(B) Update of battlefield report.--There are 

 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

 out paragraph (6)(B), $500,000.''; and 

 (4) in subsection (e)-- 

 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``as of'' and all 

 that follows through the period and inserting ``on 

 September 30, 2008.''; and 

 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and provide 

 battlefield acquisition grants'' after ``studies''. 

-end- 
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Appendix D. Battlefield Questionnaire 

State 

Battlefield 

Person Completing Form 

Date of completion 

I. Protected Lands of the Battlefield (“Protected lands” are these “owned” for historic 

preservation or conservation purposes. Please provide information on land protected since 1993.) 

1) Identify protected lands by parcel since 1993. Then answer these questions about each parcel, 

following example in the chart below. What is the acreage of each parcel? Is parcel owned fee 

simple, by whom? Is there is an easement, if so name easement holder? Was the land purchased or 

the easement conveyed after 1993? What was cost of purchase or easement? What was source of 

funding and the amount that source contributed? Choose from these possible sources: Coin money, 

LWCF, Farm Bill, State Government, Local Government, Private Owner, Private Non-Profit (provide 

name), or Other (describe). 

Parcel Acres Owner Easement Year Cost Source 

Joe Smith Farm 194 Private SHPO 1995 $500,000 LWCF/$250,000 

 Private/$250,000 

Sue Jones Tract 16 Battlefield Friends, Inc. No 2002 $41,000 State/$20,000 

 BFI/$21,000 

2) Other public or non-profit lands within the battlefield? (Y/N) 

• If yes, describe 

• Name of public or non-profit owner or easement holder 

• Number of Acres owned/held 

3) Is the information in a GIS? (Y/N) 

 If yes, may NPS obtain a copy of the data? (Y/N) 
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II. Preservation Groups

1) Is there a formal interested entity (friends group, etc) associated with the battlefield? (Y/N)

 If yes 

 Name 

 Address 

 Phone 

 Fax 

 E-mail 

 Web site? (Y/N) 

 If yes, what is the URL? 

 Does the web site have a preservation message? (Y/N) 

 What year did the group form? 

III. Public Access and Interpretation

1) Does the site have designated Public Access? (Y/N) (Count public roads if there are designated 

interpretive signs or pull-offs) 

If yes, what entity provides the public access (Access may occur on lands owned in fee or under 

 easement to the above entities) 

F Federal government 

F State government 

F Local government 

F Private Nonprofit organization 

F Private owner 

F Other 

Name of entity (if applicable) 

Number of Acres Accessible to the Public (size of the area in which the public may physically visit 

without trespassing. Do not include viewsheds.) 

2) Does the site have interpretation? (Y/N) 

If yes, what type of interpretation is available? 

F Visitor Center 

F Brochure(s) 

F Wayside exhibits 

F Driving Tour 

F Walking Tour 

F Audio tour tapes 

F Maintained historic features/areas 

F Living History 

F Website 

F Other
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IV. Registration 

Applies only to the battlefield landscape, not to individual contributing features of a battlefield 

(i.e., the individually listed Dunker Church property of .2 acres does not represent the Antietam 

battlefield for the purposes of this exercise) 

1) Is the site a designated National Historic Landmark? (Y/N) 

 If yes, NHL and ID Number 

2) Is the site listed in the National Register? (Y/N)

 If yes, NRHP Name and ID Number 

3) Is the site listed in the State Register? (Y/N) 

 If yes, State Register Name and ID Number 

4) Is the site in the State Inventory? (Y/N) 

 If yes, State Inventory Name and ID Number 

5) Is the site designated as a local landmark or historic site? (Y/N) 

 Type of Designation/Listing 

V. Program Activities

What types of preservation program activities have occurred at the battlefield? Provide final 

product name and date if applicable (e.g., Phase I Archeological Survey Report on the Piper Farm, 

1994 and Antietam Preservation Plan, 2001, etc.) 

1) Research and Documentation 

2) Cultural Resource surveys and inventories (building/structure and landscape inventories, 

archeological surveys, landscape surveys, etc.) 

3) Planning Projects (preservation plans, site management plans, cultural landscape reports, etc.) 

4) Interpretation Projects (also includes education) 

5) Advocacy (any project meant to engage the public in a way that would benefit the preservation 

of the site, e.g. PR, lobbying, public outreach, petitioning for action, etc.) 

6) Legislation (any local, state, or federal legislation designed to encourage preservation of the 

battlefield individually or together with other similar sites) 

7) Fundraising 

a. To support program activities? 
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b. To support land acquisition/easements? 

8) Other 
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Appendix C. Civil War Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants 

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 (PL 107-359) amended the American 

Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 (16 USC 469k) to authorize a matching grant program to 

assist States and local communities in acquiring significant Civil War battlefield lands for 

permanent protection. Most recently, Congress showed its continued support for these 

grants through its reauthorization of this program within the Omnibus Public Land 

Management Act of 2009 (PL 111-11). 

Eligible battlefields are those listed in the 1993 Report on the Nation’s Civil War 

Battlefields prepared by the Congressionally-chartered Civil War Sites Advisory Commission 

(CWSAC). Eligible acquisition projects may be for fee interest in land or for a protective 

interest such as a perpetual easement. 

Since 1998, Congress has appropriated a total of $38.9 million for this Civil War Battlefield 

Land Acquisition Grants (CWBLAG) Program. These grants have assisted in the permanent 

protection of more than 15,700 acres at 61 Civil War battlefields in 14 states. The 

program’s funding has been used to protect 10 of Mississippi’s battlefields - Big Black 

River Bridge, Brice’s Cross Roads, Champion Hill, Corinth, Siege of Corinth, Iuka, 

Okolona, Port Gibson, Raymond, and Tupelo. Although all of the battlefields listed in 

this update are eligible to apply for CWBLAG funding, applications to protect land that 

retains integrity (within PotNR boundaries) will be the most competitive. 

Battlefield 

CWSAC 

Priority 

Total 

Acres 

Acquired

Total

CWBLAG

Total 

Non-Federal 

Leveraged Funds 

Total 

Acquisition

Costs

 

Big Black River II 28.07 $69,871.00 $34,936.00 $104,807.00

Brice’s Cross Roads I 566.92 $772,541.50 $446,253.00 $1,213,611.00

Champion Hill II 403.12 $311,764.52 $252,833.00 $543,000.00

Corinth/Siege of 

Corinth I/IV 524.91 $2,301,946.00 $1,144,353.00 $3,446,299.00

Iuka IV 55.98 $153,943.00 $76,971.00 $230,914.00

Okolona II 269.81 $213,020.00 $106,509.00 $319,529.00

Port Gibson I 622.00 $85,333.00 $42,667.00 $128,000.00

Raymond I 129.37 $364,935.00 $289,718.00 $650,653.00

Tupelo IV 12.00 $29,773.75 $29,500.00 $59,273.75

 

Total 2,612.18 $4,303,127.77 $2,423,740.00 $6,696,086.75
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Final DRAFT – State of Mississippi 84

Appendix D. American Battlefield Protection Program Planning Grants 

Since 1992, ABPP has offered annual planning grants to nonprofit organizations, academic 

institutions, and local, regional, state, and tribal governments to help protect battlefields 

located on American soil. Applicants are encouraged to work with partner organizations 

and federal, state, and local government agencies as early as possible to integrate their 

efforts into a larger battle site protection strategy. In Mississippi, the ABPP has awarded 

$362,277.00. 

Grantee Year Project Title Award 

 

Alcorn County Board of 1995 Corinth Civil War Interpretation Program $100,000.00

Supervisors 1995 Siege and Battle of Corinth Archaeological $10,000.00

 Survey 

 1993 Staff person for Siege and Battle of Corinth $15,000.00

 Commission

Brice’s Crossroads National 1996 Brice’s Cross Roads Conceptual Interpretive $20,000.00

Battlefield Commission, Inc. Site Plan 

City of Corinth 1996 Earthworks Stabilization Assessment at $16,000.00

 Corinth 

 1993 Document Contraband Camp at Corinth $10,000.00

 1992 Develop Battlefield Protection Plan and $19,977.00

 Establish Battlefield Commission 

Civil War Preservation Trust 1997 Strategic Planning for the Friends of $15,000.00

 Vicksburg Campaign and Historic Trail 

The Friends of Vicksburg 1999 Vicksburg Campaign Corridor Study $24,000.00

Campaign and Historic 1998 Strategic Plan for the Friends of Vicksburg $25,000.00

Trail, Inc. Campaign and Historic Trail, Inc.

Mississippi Department of 2002 Okolona Battlefield Study $7,300.00

Archives and History 1997 Champion Hill Battlefield Preservation Plan $15,000.00

 1997 Big Black River Bridge Battlefield $15,000.00

 Preservation Plan

 1996 Master Preservation Plan for Raymond $15,000.00

 Battlefield 

 1995 Port Gibson Preservation Plan $15,000.00

 1994 Port Gibson Historic Road Erosion Control $15,000.00

 Project 

The Countryside Institute 1995 Mississippi/Vicksburg Campaign Stewardship $25,000.00

 Exchange

Total ABPP Planning Grants to Mississippi Battlefields as of FY2009 $362,277.00