Vicksburg National Military Park and the USS Cairo
Pensacola, FL to Vicksburg, MS
An early start got us to The Vicksburg National Military Park around 1:30. Our car is so loaded down with gear that we are bottoming out on bumps…a very unnerving clunk that catches us by surprise now and again.
The siege of Vicksburg was a key victory that gave the union army control of the Mississippi River. The park includes much of the battlefield, and has over 1000 monuments to soldiers who served, were wounded, and died in the conflict.
Illinois was serious about building a grand monument! It was enormous.
The land is pitted by trenches and tunnels, as well as built up into forts and canon mounds.
Only one building on the site is original to the Civil War. The Ranger at the building said that the Confederates used all the houses in the area to build fortifications or simply destroyed them to keep them out of the hands of the union army. When they got to what became known as “the little white house” the lady who owned it came out with a gun and shot the person who was trying to burn it down. As others came to help destroy the house the union army came around the bend and they were forced to leave it alone. Unfortunately it was so badly damaged in the conflict that the owners never got to live there again.
One of the most impressive things in the park is the display and Museum of the USS Cairo, the only ironclad boat currently known to still exist. It was sunk by the explosion of a mine and encapsulated in the mud under 30+ feet of water. This created a time capsule. When it was pulled up from the bottom of the water they were able to retrieve everything that have been left on the boat as the crew abandoned it.
The boat was massive. I did not realize that they were so large. It was really cool to be so close to something that I have read about but never expect to see.
As we finished driving the trail around and through battleground we got to the old museum and park headquarters, where we found a lovely demonstration vegetable and herb garden. We both loved it! Definitely inspired for a future garden!
After getting to our campground and setting up the tent we had the opportunity to meet up with Stephen’s long-time friends, the Haight family.
Good food and good friends made for a great evening! Now it’s off to bed as we get ready to travel farther west.