On this date in 1864, General Andrew Jackson Smith, commanding a Union force of around 14,000 men, including a brigade of African American troops, achieved a significant victory over Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest at the Battle of Harrisburg, near Tupelo, Mississippi.

This battle was part of the larger struggle in the western theater of the Civil War. Forrest, who was known for his daring cavalry raids, was forced to retreat after the defeat, and the Union victory helped secure Union control over key areas in Mississippi. The inclusion of Black troops in Smith’s forces marked an important moment in the war, highlighting the increasing involvement of African Americans in the Union army, a trend that would grow over the following years.

This battle, though not one of the largest or most well-known engagements of the Civil War, was a significant success for the Union in the context of their broader strategic goals.