- Joined
- Mar 18, 2011
- Location
- Clinton, Mississippi
I took this picture of Battery Benton at Vicksburg about four years ago.
I rode over that old bridge so many times as a kid going from home in Jackson to the farm in Louisiana and back. As an aside, it's pretty hairy when a train is running right next to the two lane deck which itself is so narrow that semi's would have to pull in their side mirrors to keep from those on another truck going the opposite way. Still remember the toll tickets Dad would tear out of the book to get on the bridge.
I took this picture of Battery Benton at Vicksburg about four years ago.
Anyway, for years I thought that was Whistlin' Dick on one of the CS batteries but later learned it was a US Battery aimed at South Fort, just up the street. I've also wondered why the US did not make a more concerted effort on the south end of the Confederate defense. Was it the terrain, lack of roads or what?
I was going to say the same thing. Seige gun maybe?Big Gun.....
It is one of two 42 pounder rifled guns that were operated by Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery under Lieut. Joseph B. Atwater and a detail of men of the 34th Iowa Infantry, all under Acting Master J. Frank Reed of the gunboat "Benton".I was going to say the same thing. Seige gun maybe?
It is one of two 42 pounder rifled guns that were operated by Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery under Lieut. Joseph B. Atwater and a detail of men of the 34th Iowa Infantry, all under Acting Master J. Frank Reed of the gunboat "Benton".
"Light Artillery?" When do guns make the jump from light to heavy artillery?It is one of two 42 pounder rifled guns that were operated by Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery under Lieut. Joseph B. Atwater and a detail of men of the 34th Iowa Infantry, all under Acting Master J. Frank Reed of the gunboat "Benton".
"Light Artillery?" When do guns make the jump from light to heavy artillery?
HAha.Me too.Not many times,but once.My family was hauling a 22ft travel trailer out to California,one summer.I was maybe 16 at the time.My sister was in the trailer(illegal,I know),teying to make dinner,and we had to pull over after the bridge,she was so shaken,hehe.She never rode in that thing again while it was moving.The semis that passed going the other way were about a foot away!I rode over that old bridge so many times as a kid going from home in Jackson to the farm in Louisiana and back. As an aside, it's pretty hairy when a train is running right next to the two lane deck which itself is so narrow that semi's would have to pull in their side mirrors to keep from those on another truck going the opposite way. Still remember the toll tickets Dad would tear out of the book to get on the bridge.
Anyway, for years I thought that was Whistlin' Dick on one of the CS batteries but later learned it was a US Battery aimed at South Fort, just up the street. I've also wondered why the US did not make a more concerted effort on the south end of the Confederate defense. Was it the terrain, lack of roads or what?