Hi Greg,

I wrote an article for the Daily Corinthian that ran on December 16, 2014 with the title "Pontoons, torpedoes played key roles in Civil War." (I write the article, the editor chooses a title.) The article is about Major Dietrich Wintter, a Confederate engineer who was in Corinth to support Hood's campaign. Wintter (yes, his name has two "T"'s) and his company of sappers and miners placed the Memphis & Charleston in operation from Corinth eastward to Cherokee, AL. They built the one-hundred pontoon boats Hood needed to cross the Tennessee River, and afterwards they repaired the massive Battery Williams, the Union built fort that played a key part in the October 1862 battle. He and his men were also busy building torpedoes to be used in the Tennessee River and which were also shipped down the Mobile & Ohio to be used in Mobile Bay.

In addition, to support the logistics of the campaign, department commander P.G.T. Beauregard returned to Corinth for about a week to ensure the supply line was operating efficiently. While he was in town he stayed at the home of William Duncan. William's son Thomas is quoted on the new Tennessee State Monument at Shiloh. Hood stayed in the Verandah House, home of William Simonton. This house recently re-opened for visitation having been closed for eight years. (It was also heaquarters for Bragg, Van Dorn, Halleck and Grenville Dodge.) The Duncan House, which is privately owned, is also going through a major restoration. I used to live in this house and expect to move back in this coming spring. William S. Rosecrans used the home as his HQ at the time of the October battle.

Corinth was a major depot for supplies during the campaign and most of the army passed through the city on the retreat from Nashville to Tupelo, many staying here for the better part of a week in early January. In fact there were such an abundance of supplies in the city that when the final move to Tupelo took place there was an insufficient number of railroad cars to haul it all away. The surplus stores were gathered into the Tishomingo Hotel and the building was torched. The burning took place on January 13, 1865. I wrote a story about the hotel as well which appeared in the Daily Corinthian on January 11, 1865. The story was supposed to appear on the 150th anniversary of the burning but the editor ran it two days early.

Looking forward to seeing you in April.

All the best,

Tom Parson
Corinth, MS