Wok N Roll with us...Bob and Teri Along with Atlas and Kalani: Vicksburg, Mississippi 5/3-5/2015

May 1863, Maj. Gen. Ulysses Grant with his armies converged on Vicksburg, MS, entrapping a Confederate Army, under the direction of Lt. Gen. John Pemberton. On July 4, Vicksburg would surrender, the Confederacy would be split in half, marking this as one of the more brilliant military campaigns of the Civil war. More on this campaign can be read at: Starve Them To Death

In 1899 the Secretary of War was directed to mark the battle lines and allow states to erect monuments within Vicksburg National Military Park. The park at 116 acres is huge and contains over 1300 monuments or markers. Not all states are represented, however. Sadly during World War II, the demand for resources was at an all time high. At this time, 145 of the largest cast iron tablets were removed and melted down to support the construction of military supplies and equipment. As time progressed, the cost to replace these items became very expensive. Today, private funded efforts have only been successful at replacing 22 of the 145 tablets that were melted. Also within the Military park is the Vicksburg National Cemetery that holds the remains of 17,000 Civil War Union Soldiers.

The USS Cairo was the first ship to be sunk by an electrically detonated torpedo. December 12, 1862, the USS Cairo was trying to clear the channel of torpedoes and destroy Confederate Batteries. When it reached approximately 7 miles north of Vicksburg, it came under enemy fire and sustained major damage to her hull. Within 12 minutes she sank to 36 feet below the surface. No lives wee lost. Over the years she was covered with silt and sand and it was not until 1965 when she was located and pulled up from the channel. In 1972 the National Parks Service obtained title and began the restoration process. We viewed the restored ship and many of it artifacts and found the restoration effort to be quite a feat. More information on this gunboat can be read at:USS Cairo

The old Vicksburg Courthouse was built in 1858. Greats such as Ulysses Grant, Jefferson Davis, and Booker T. Washington have spoke from this building. The museum which is located within the courthouse contains many artifacts from the area. Upstairs the interior of the courtroom was a real gem to see. The jury chairs, the judges stand and the area for attorneys are all well preserved. Doors were opened to get cross ventilation when it was hot and wood was burned in the fireplaces when it was cold.

Last, we drove around the downtown area. Many beautiful old buildings line the downtown streets. There was even an old River boat there on the Mississippi river near downtown.