The Battle of Brice's Cross Roads, fought near Baldwyn, Mississippi on June 10, 1864, was a significant Confederate victory during the American Civil War. The confrontation ensued when a Union force of roughly 8,100 soldiers, under Brigadier-General Samuel D. Sturgis, was dispatched to engage and potentially destroy Major-General Nathan B. Forrest's Confederate cavalry, which numbered around 3,500. The battle culminated in a decisive Confederate win with Forrest inflicting heavy casualties on the Union side, capturing over 1,600 prisoners, 18 artillery pieces, and numerous supply wagons. Following this defeat, Sturgis requested to be relieved from his command.

This battle was a component of the wider strategic theater that was unfolding in 1864. Union leaders, Lieutenant-General Ulysses Grant and Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman, had coordinated a strategy targeting the Confederate heartlands, particularly aiming to seize Atlanta. As Sherman's forces advanced, there were concerns that Forrest's Confederate cavalry would disrupt the Union supply lines stretching back to Nashville. In response, Sturgis was ordered out of Memphis into North Mississippi to engage Forrest, aiming to keep him occupied and if feasible, neutralize his force. This move coincided with Forrest's plans to strike Middle Tennessee, but upon learning of Sturgis's advance, he reversed to defend Mississippi.

The actual battle at Brice's Cross Roads began with an initial skirmish between both sides' cavalry units. As the battle intensified, Union infantry arrived to reinforce their lines, momentarily gaining an advantage. However, Forrest's aggressive tactics, coupled with strategic use of artillery, pushed the Union forces into a retreat, which soon turned into a chaotic rout. Factors contributing to the Union's defeat included their extended supply lines, exhaustion, the wet conditions, and the Confederate advantage in local intelligence. Contrary to some rumors, reports confirmed that Sturgis was not intoxicated during the battle.