Editing Battle of Brice's Cross Roads (section)

==Aftermath==
In correspondence with Brigadier-General Sturgis, Colonel Alex Wilkin, commander of the [[9th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment|9th Minnesota]], listed several reasons for the loss of the battle. He stated that General Sturgis, knowing that his men were under-supplied, having been on less than half rations, had been hesitant to advance on the enemy, but had done so against his better judgment because he had been ordered to do so. When the cavalry had engaged the enemy, many of the infantry had been ordered to advance double-time to support the cavalry. In their weakened condition, many had fallen out in the advance. Those who did arrive were exhausted at the beginning of the battle, while the Confederates were fresh and well fed, owing to a large supply in their rear.<ref name=andrews/>

The roads to Tupelo were wet and sloppy due to six sequential days of rain, which slowed the advance of the supply wagons and ammunition train. Several men were detailed to try to make the roads passable.  Additionally, the horses pulling the trains were poorly fed because there had been little in the way of forage for them to eat along the way. This accounted for Major-General Forrest's capture of the artillery and supplies. Intelligence had entirely favored the South, because the Confederates had been constantly fed information about the position and strength of the Federals from civilians in the area, while Brigadier-General Sturgis had received no such intelligence. Because of this information, Forrest planned to meet the Federals at a place where he could ambush Sturgis and make retreat as difficult as possible. This location was close to his supply depot, and very far from the U.S. Army's. When the retreat had occurred, with food and supplies exhausted, many of the Federal soldiers were unable to retreat with the rest because of fatigue. This was why so many Federals were taken prisoner during the battle. Finally, Wilkin stated that the rumors that Sturgis had been intoxicated at the battle were false.<ref name=andrews/>

The Chippewa of G Co. 9th Minnesota were part of the [[rear guard]] at Brices Crossroads.<ref name="GCo">''One Drop In A Sea Of Blue'', John B. Lundstrom, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 345 Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN, 2012, p.10</ref>  There their [[marksmanship]] and [[skirmisher]] tactics enabled 400 men of the [[59th United States Colored Infantry Regiment|59th U.S. Colored]] to not be overtaken by the confederate cavalry at the Tishomingo bridge.  After which the Chippewa and African Americans fell back together.<ref name="GCo"/> {{Rp|p.198-204}}