The 75th anniversary of the Battle of Brice's Cross Roads was celebrated Sunday afternoon, with the speaking at Baldwhn and the decoration at the battle ground.

    There was some confusion in the announcements made. It was first est for Saturday afternoon and changed to Sunday after-noon and the first place was at Bethany and later changed to Baldwyn.

        A large crowd assembled in the Baldwyn Theater where they heard many interesting talks. Bro W.S. Boyce led the devotional exercises and was followed by the introduction of many visitors. Hon. Tom Collier of Memphis was chairman of the meeting. The principal address was delivered by Dr. W.A. Evans of Aberdeen, who told of the battle and gave many facts concerning General Bedford Forrest who led the victorous army on the 10th of June 1864. Some facts were given about Beauvoir, the Old Home of Jefferson Davis.

    An interesting talk was made by Mrs. Mary Forrest Bradley great-granddaughter of General Forrest . Hons. W.K. Herrin of Clarksdale and Simon Rubel of Corinth made short talks.
Three aged Confederate Veterans were present.One of them Mr.Herndon of Pontotoc was a special courier for General Forrest in the battle. Another was Mr Henderson, a 95 year old veteran of Pontoc and our own John Ashcraft, 91 years of age, was seated on the platform.
Many interesting things were told of the battle and how that it became one of the greatest victories of the Southern Armies. It is a noted fact that this is the only battlefield where the Southern Army was victorious that has been marked by a monument erected by the United States Government.

    Since Highway 45 comes to Baldwyn, there should by all means be a paved road from Baldwyn to Bethany to allow visitors to reach this place, the yea' around regardless of weather conditions and it is to be hoped that later the battlefield will be made a park. There is no place in northeast Mississippi with more interesting history than this section. It was a center in the early development of the section and there are many interesting events centering around Bethany of Brice's Cross Road and the Brice old home, in the forks of the roads,. The old home is gone, but many tender memories still cling about it.
Another neede road is one to Ripley over the Route used by the invading army and the same road used in their hurried get-a-way.

SOURCE: The Booneville Independent 15 June 1939

Submitted by:  Ruby Rorie