Battle of Okolona Historical Marker

Battle of Okolona Historical Marker

Continue along Jefferson Street to its end at Church Street (Route 245). Turn right and proceed until you see:

Site 5—BATTLE OF OKOLONA HISTORICAL MARKER on the left, set back from the road. Just beyond it on the left are two prominent brick gateposts from the old Okolona College, where you can park. You can walk back to the marker. (The college, founded by Dr. William Battle in 1902, was a strong educatio nal re source, particularly in teacher education in northeast Mississippi, until it closed in 1965.) The historical marker describes Forrest leading Barteau's brigade in its great charge on the Union rear guard, drawn up here to protect the Union retreat up the Pontotoc Road, just to the northwest. The marker's interpretation is accurate: the charge struck home just when the Union line began to form into columns to move out. Forrest's pursuit up the Pontotoc Road
began here.