Bill Text: MS SC546 | 2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Farmington and recognize its reenactment.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-02-14 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC546 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-SC546-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Parks
Senate Concurrent Resolution 546
(As Adopted by Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF FARMINGTON AND TO RECOGNIZE THE GRAND REENACTMENT OF THIS IMPORTANT MAY 9, 1862, ENGAGEMENT.
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi witnessed critically important American Civil War military engagements on its soil, including the Siege of Vicksburg, the Battle of Champion Hill, the Battle of Iuka, the Battle of Corinth and the Battle of Farmington, and hosts historic sites related to these strategic engagements which are nationally recognized centers of expertise in the study of the American Civil War; and
WHEREAS, the Farmington, Mississippi, community and the Blue-Gray Alliance will be hosting a reenactment of the Battle of Farmington on September 13-16, 2012, on the same 160-acre field where the original battle was fought. This event will celebrate the history of the City of Farmington and step back in time to relive the military operations of May 9, 1862, with a large scale reenactment; and
WHEREAS, on April 6th and 7th of 1862, the Battle of Shiloh brought the sounds of booming guns and cannon fire to the citizens of Farmington. The dead, dying, wounded and survivors of the Confederate Armies marched through Farmington on the way to Corinth. On May 3rd, 4th, and 5th, skirmishes between Union and Confederate forces were fought at Farmington. No one was ready for the morning of May 9, 1862, when war was brought with full force to Farmington. Forces under Union Commander Major General John Pope and Confederate Commander Major General Earl Van Dorn met just west of the Town of Farmington. The battle was known as "The Farmington Races"; and
WHEREAS, one account of the Battle of Farmington relates that General Pope commanded the Federal Army to move up with two full brigades to occupy Farmington. Confederate General Beauregard at once moved out to attack. Generals Bragg and Hardee were to attack the right and center, while General Van Dorn and Sterling Price attacked the left and rear. On the morning of May 9, signal guns were fired and the whole army began to advance. General Pope's Federals made a safe retreat, leaving his telegraph operator and office headquarters, tent, other tents, wagons, and his dead and wounded in Confederate hands. Though he had twice as many troops as the Confederates, Pope refused to come out into the open ground and give battle. Beauregard withdrew inside the fortifications of Corinth. The casualties were: Union, 16 killed, 148 wounded, 192 missing; Confederates, 8 killed, 189 wounded, and 110 missing. Most, if not all, of the stores and homes in Farmington were destroyed. Two large oak trees still stood on the church property in 1944 and church members said that their tops had been blasted by cannons during the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, the records show that the State of Mississippi contributed 49 regular Infantry Regiments, 25 regular Cavalry and Artillery Regiments, 78,000 men in service of which 60,000 were lost in action or by disease, the Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Armies (President Jefferson F. Davis) and 33 Generals of the Confederate Army whose remains lie in Mississippi soil; and
WHEREAS, the Battle of Farmington reenactment has the potential to not only honor Farmington's rich Civil War heritage, but draw many heritage tourists that are taking advantage of the Mississippi Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Farmington, Mississippi, which occurred on May 9, 1862, and recognize and commend the organization and participation of hundreds of volunteers at the Grand Reenactment of the Battle of Farmington to be held on September 13-16, 2012, on the actual battlefield site.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Commission on the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, the Mississippi Battlefield Commission and the City of Farmington to encourage the education and participation of the citizens of the State of Mississippi in this important event, and to be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
