Vicksburg

It took a couple of hours to make breakfast, breakdown the campsite and shower. I filled up the gas tank across the street and started the long trip north to Vicksburg.

Vicksburg National Memorial

The Vicksburg National Memorial is a historical park located in Vicksburg, Mississippi that commemorates the Battle of Vicksburg, one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War. The park covers an area of over 1,800 acres and contains a variety of monuments, markers, and plaques that commemorate the events of the battle and the soldiers who fought in it.

I drove directly to the park and stopped at the front desk of the visitors center. The person at the front desk was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of useful information. I had 2 hours before the park closed. I watched the 20 minute video which gave a very good overview of why Vicksburg was so critical for both the North and the South.

Park Entrance

I downloaded the self guided tour app and began the tour in my car. As I drove towards the first point on the self-guided app, I came to a field that looked like a war zone. The park is used by local walkers and joggers and I asked one of them what was up with the burned fields. I got several answers, but it seems the park does a controlled burn of the grass. Apparently, the grass gets very high and it’s difficult to cut. I’m not sure why they need to cut it.

Chard field In Front Of Illinois Memorial

North Line Signs

One of the most distinctive features of the park is the use of blue and red signs to indicate the positions of the Union and Confederate lines during the battle. These signs are placed throughout the park and provide a clear visual representation of the battle lines and the movement of troops during the course of the battle. This really provides a clear indication where the troops were located.

In addition to the blue and red signs, the park also contains a variety of monuments and markers that commemorate the actions of specific units and soldiers during the battle. These monuments are located throughout the park and provide a detailed record of the movements and actions of various units during the course of the battle.

Many of these monuments were erected by the states that were involved in the battle, including Mississippi, Illinois, and Iowa, among others. These monuments typically include the names of the units and soldiers that fought in the battle, as well as information about their actions and movements during the course of the battle. Together, these monuments and markers provide a comprehensive and detailed record of the events of the Battle of Vicksburg and the soldiers who fought in it.

As I was photographing the sunset, the park ranger stopped and told me the park closed 30 minutes ago.

Evening

After stopping at Starbucks to develop some photos, I drove to Cracker Barrel where I grabbed a salad. I setup the car to overnight at Cracker Barrel and spent an hour reading before drifting off.