In June of 1861, as the Civil War began, Henderson County's citizens voted against secession. But as the armies clashed, most in the area cast their support with the South. As the war progressed, both Union and Confederate regiments were recruited in the county. The most important fight to take place in Henderson County occurred December 31, 1862 at Parker's Crossroads.

Having cut Union communication lines on a raid into West Tennessee, a Confederate cavalry force of 1,800 men under the command of Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest camped the night of Dec. 30 just northwest of the crossroads. Union troops were in pursuit of Forrest, and Dec. 31 a 1,500-man brigade led by Col. Cyrus L. Dunham barred Forrest's line of march to the southeast. As the fight progressed, the Confederate forced the Federal troops to withdraw to a position south of the crossroads known as Red Mound.

Having surrounded the Union force, Forrest was parlaying with Dunham for the surrender of the Union brigade when Col. John W. Fuller's Ohio brigade arrived from the north and attacked Forrest's rear elements. When told he was between two Union brigades, Forrest's order was, "Charge them both ways!" With but 75 cavalrymen, he charged into the left flank of the Ohio brigade, disrupting its attack and enabling the Confederate force to withdraw from the field and escape across the Tennessee River at Clifton.

Other Henderson County Historical Highlights

Andrew Jackson's men planted what has become North America's third largest pecan tree in what is now Natchez Trace State Park.

Davy Crockett of Alamo fame was Congressional Representative from the county. His campaign was conducted on foot while he reportedly visited each of his constituents to ask for their vote.

People from all over the country came to Henderson County in the early 1900's to bathe in the medicinal waters at Hinson Springs, then the South's largest resort.

One of the largest - if not the largest person who ever lived resided in Henderson County. Mills Darden was over seven feet tall, and his maximum weight was more than 1,000 pounds. The graves of Darden, who died in 1857, and his wife are located in Henderson County and have been restored by the Beech River Watershed Development Authority.