62298 58*-75* Blue sky 20.5 mpg 165 miles Raceway gas-$3.09 BP gas-$3.12
We began our day at the Vicksburg Visitors Center in the National Military Park. We saw a short historical video to get the gist of the events that happened here in 1863. The self guided motor tour is 16 miles long so we spent nearly 4 hours in the park. We learned about military "redoubts" and "redans" though our teacher couldn't say which one was U shaped or rectangular. Ulysses S Grant had been trying unsuccessfully to gain a stronghold in Vicksburg to choke the Confederate supply route. Vicksburg was well defended but after a 47 day siege, Lieutenant General John Pemberton surrendered to Grant. In town, we went to the Old Depot Museum where we could see a diorama of the entire battlefield which gave more perspective. We marveled at the logistics of managing 70,000 men. One story recounts how the Federal bombing of the town let up each day at 8 AM, noon and 8 PM-meal times. Just planning and feeding such a large group is boggling.
Since we had an extra hour of daylight, we turned East on US 84 for Laurel, MS, a "certified retirement community" as deemed by the city council. We saw more "Fred's Dollar" stores, piney woods, a guy selling "sweet taters", a town named "Soso" and a church sign that said "Lost time is never found."
Warmer weather is coming!
 |
| Sonny checks out the view finder |
 |
| Our truck behind a row of cannons. |
 |
Shirley House is the only surviving wartime structure. It was the
headquarters for the 45th Illinois infantry who built hundreds of bomb
proof shelters around the house to protect it. |
 |
| Hand dug trenches |
 |
| USS Cairo exhibit |
 |
| Iron clad being restored was raised in the 50s from the nearby Yazhoo River |
 |
The boat sunk quickly but no lives were lost. Salvage crews were able to
bring up most all artifacts including there 3 wooden fifes. |
 |
| Sonny was hoping to follow this truck but I interceded. |
 |
| Old Depot Museum in downtown Vicksburg |
 |
| Mississippi River Tour boat |
 |
This painting intrigued us. It says "Raid on Portland, ME" July 28, 1863.
The boat is named "Caleb Cushing" out of Portland. Any ideas? |
 |
We should have taken more time to see these murals. They decorate the
levee along the river with historical scenes. |
 |
| Many interesting areas in town. |
No comments:
Post a Comment