Heading to Vicksburg tomorrow.

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On my way back though Louisiana,I had intended to stop at Frogmore Plantation near Ferriday that I saw on the way up and at least drive through the complex. I knew the museum was closed but I thought I could drive through there. Nope! They had it chained off. Next time. I did however go to the roadside historical marker closeby that I saw on the way up to read and snap a pic of. In the first pic,Frogmore Plantation is in the background to the left.

http://www.louisianatravel.com/articles/making-history-frogmore-plantation

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Turns out that the Park Ranger on duty that day is a regular attendee at the Jefferson Annual Civil War Symposium and is familiar with the Houston Civil War Round Table and Hood's Texas Brigade Association Re-activated. We know a lotta the same people. I believe he occasionally speaks at events like Jefferson and CWRT meetings. He told me that he is working on a book too but I don't recall the subject matter. The Museum/Visitor Center there is bigger than I thought it was and he explained to me that they were in the process of rotating some of the artifacts on display and some were not even labelled yet. I took a lotta pics and read what I could but I was a bit pressed for time. Didn't read or photograph everything because I was somewhat pressed for time and there is definitely a reason to go back. There is a living history/re-enactment event there this weekend but I can't make it. Thumbnail pics of some of the exhibits:
 

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Way back in the beginning of this neverending thread,I said that originally I had intended to stop at Fort Randolph on the inbound leg to Vicksburg but decided to push on instead and that it turned out to be the right call for a coupla reasons. The first was that I got to Vicksburg earlier on Thursday and had time to do a lot there that day. The second reason was revealed to me on the return leg. The Park Ranger told me that Fort Randolph was temporarily closed because a pair of bald eagles decided to nest there and start a new family. Fort Buhlow it was. :D
 
I was the only one there that Saturday afternoon and it really was a nice day to be there. I love how the Confederate Cemetery has it's own enclosure within the Raymond Cemetery. The front half of the cemetery is very old. I walked the grounds of the cemetery to the right of the Confederate Cemetery facing it. Some of the graves have collapsed. Lotta very old and many broken gravestones. The back half of the cemetery is the modern part. Didn't even know it was there until I was walking and saw it. Can't see it from the highway. Not sure if the Confederate Cemetery is where the soldiers were actually buried or if it's a memorial cemetery. Maybe a Friend Of Raymond will answer that question in this thread. I kinda like that second picture.

As I remember this is another cemetery that received its markers around the same time as the one in Vicksburg, so the markers have nothing to do with where they're placed. (The first time I saw these they were proverbially white as snow because they were brand-new.) But like at Vicksburg, I believe they ARE in the correct area and that the fence predates them and indicates the area of the Confederate graves.
 
As I remember this is another cemetery that received its markers around the same time as the one in Vicksburg, so the markers have nothing to do with where they're placed. (The first time I saw these they were proverbially white as snow because they were brand-new.) But like at Vicksburg, I believe they ARE in the correct area and that the fence predates them and indicates the area of the Confederate graves.
Another member asked about the flag flying in front of the Raymond Confederate Cemetery. I can zoom on the pic and see the flag but I don't know what it is. Do you?
 
The elevated walkway to Fort Randolph begins on the far right of this pic just past the cannon.

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Another member asked about the flag flying in front of the Raymond Confederate Cemetery. I can zoom on the pic and see the flag but I don't know what it is. Do you?

I don't know and can't really tell much about it from the photo, but I'd bet it's some kind of municipal flag.
 
@alan polk . Do you know what the flag is that flies at the Raymond Confederate Cemetery?
 
Getting to Fort Buhlow is another matter. Quite a walk from the Visitor Center. The Park Ranger knew I was pressed for time and some generous philanthropist had just donated an 8-seater golf cart to the Park so he drove me over there. We talked a good bit about our mutual acquaintances and interests during the trip. Interpretive signage on the elevated walkway to Fort Buhlow is very helpful. I must admit that I don't know a whole lot about either Fort Randolph or Fort Buhlow,but according to the Park Ranger,the forts and outer protective earthworks there are well preserved and all original. They are not reconstructions. I like that and need to do some reading on those fortifications.

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According to the interpretive signage Fort Buhlow was 30 feet high and surrounded by deep and wide trenches/ditches. The elevated walkway actually starts down in the protective outer works and winds it's way up to the top of the fort. As at Port Hudson,trees and other vegetation hold off the natural forces of erosion. It was February and the vegetation was down some,but we had a mild winter here in the deep South and it was still kinda hard to get good pics but you can still see how deep the outer works are and how high and steep the fort walls are.

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Seems to be a common skip for people. No worries...it's not going anywhere! I think 30 minutes tops to travel it all, way less than that to just drive the main action area.
I did take out a 2 year subscription to Blue And Gray magazine a few days after I got back and ordered the back issue on Chickasaw Bayou. Haven't gotten it yet. A friend told me there are some good maps in it.
 
I did take out a 2 year subscription to Blue And Gray magazine a few days after I got back and ordered the back issue on Chickasaw Bayou. Haven't gotten it yet. A friend told me there are some good maps in it.
Best maps I've seen. I love how they go day by day. You can really keep track of the action. The article is still the best I've read about the battle.
 
Another member asked about the flag flying in front of the Raymond Confederate Cemetery. I can zoom on the pic and see the flag but I don't know what it is. Do you?

I don't know and can't really tell much about it from the photo, but I'd bet it's some kind of municipal flag.

The flag at the Raymond cemetery is known as the "Mississippi Magnolia Flag".
It was the state flag adopted during 1861.

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Well, I hate this thread has come to an end. I really enjoyed it and looked forward to each post everyday these past weeks! It was one great escape, for sure! Thanks so much!

I'll look forward to you return to Mississippi! And hope to meet you then over a good steak!
 
That's it y'all. Thanks for looking. It was a great trip.

Bravo !

Well, I hate this thread has come to an end. I really enjoyed it and looked forward to each post everyday these past weeks! It was one great escape, for sure! Thanks so much!

I'll look forward to you return to Mississippi! And hope to meet you then over a good steak!
Ditto !

Include me in the reservations when it comes to the steak dinner. :wink:
 
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