Our RV Wanderings...: Vicksburg, MS, and the Vicksburg National Military Park

We detoured off the Natchez Trace Parkway to visit Vicksburg which lies right on the banks of the Mississippi River less than 50 miles north of Natchez. It had tremendous historical significance during the Civil War: control of the Mississippi River south of Cairo, IL, and free transport of goods. The Confederacy had seized control of the river, thereby denying the North its use of the river to move and supply its troops, but Union troops waged an enormous campaign to wrest that control away. The South defended its position throughout a valiant and exhaustive effort, the loss of many lives, destruction of property, and several months, but ultimately the North won. The campaign lasted from March 29 to July 4, 1863. To commemorate this pivotal and intense military campaign, a National Military Park was established in 1899 and is administered by the National Park Service (NPS).

The Park is liberally marked by plaques, monuments, statues and busts to honor every single company and/or regiment ever recorded as serving in this one campaign. I think I heard it has more of these commemorative tributes than any other military park in the country! It’s a bit overwhelming and impossible to read all of them. I’ve included a few samples further on.

Initially, the Park was a very large crescent-shape encompassing Vicksburg and incorporating the exact siege and defense lines occupied by both the Confederates and the Union troops during the Vicksburg Campaign. However, this crescent effectively closed off modern-day Vicksburg from any potential growth. An urgent appeal was made to the NPS, a deal was struck whereby the City of Vicksburg was given the southern third of what had been the Military Park, and the NPS was given additional land at the Park’s north end. The stranded monuments are still accessible along roadsides, in people’s back yards, and in the woods!

The park is well-designed. The main roadways are “Union Avenue” or Confederate Avenue”, appropriately located. Signage denoting location of troop movement is on either blue or red background.

Some states spared little to properly acknowledge the troops representing them. The State of Illinois’ monument was rather impressive.

The mosaic floor inside (seen below) was stunning!

This one on the hill represents only ONE of the monuments from Ohio!

This is a sample marble monument for Wisconsin’s 17th Infantry.

Here’s a typical plaque:

And an example of the statues:

This one below remembers Mississippians and, particularly, all the African American troops who served in the war after being “freed” by their slave owners.

The official State of Mississippi Monument for the National Military Park (seen below) almost didn’t get funded! It was approved at the very last minute!