The Battle of Farmington
May 9, 1862 in Farmington, Mississippi
 |
| Strength |
Killed |
Wounded |
Missing / Captured |
| ± ? |
16 |
148 |
192 |
|
| Strength |
Killed |
Wounded |
Missing / Captured |
| ± ? |
8 |
189 |
110 |
|
| Conclusion: Confederate Victory |
|
No one was ready for the morning of May 9, 1862, when war was brought with full force to Farmington.
The Union forces led by Maj. Gen. John Pope and the Confederate forces led by Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn were ready for battle. One account of the battle relates/On the 8th of May, General Pope, commanding the advance of the Federal Army, moved with two full Brigades and occupied Farmington. Gen. Beauregard determined to accept the guage of battle thus thrown down to him, and at once moved out to the attack. Generals Bragg and Hardee were to attack the right and center while General Van Dorn attacked the left and rear.
General Price moved out with his force to within an easy march of the rear of Pope's command without molestation or even the knowledge of the enemy. Early on the morning of the 9th, the signal guns were fired and the whole army began to advance. General Hardee attacked the enemy with such spirit as drove him at once from his line of works, and the Missourians coming in contact with one of those Mississippi swamps that is almost impassable, the enemy made safe his retreat before his rear could be reached. But he left his Headquarters tent, telegraph operator and office, with all his dead and wounded in the hands of Confederate General Halleck. Although more than double the force of the Confederates, Pope absolutely refused to come out into the open ground and give battle. General Beauregard withdrew his forces inside the fortifications around Corinth. The battle was familiarly known as 'The Farmington Races'.
