July 4, 2013 in Vicksburg

[Championhilz]

I spent a wonderful independence day in Vicksburg and thought I would share a few photos. In the morning I was speaker at a National Park Service sponsored event at the Old Court House Museum. They had a reenactment of the lowering of the Confederate flag and raising of the stars and stripes over the building:

Bonnie Blue Flag flying from the balcony:

The Bonnie Blue was replaced with the U.S. Flag - yes it is a modern 50 star flag, not the Civil War period flag, and yes, the National Park Service was aware of this. They said they wanted the modern flag as it represented the reunited nation.

 

[Championhilz]

The Old Court House has an amazing collection of Civil War artifacts, and I thought I would share a few of them:

They do have a few artillery shells:

Flag of Company I, 28th Mississippi Cavalry - this flag was donated to the museum by the family of Sidney Champion, of Champion Hill fame. He was an officer in the 28th Mississippi:

A pair of pants worn by a cadet at the Georgia Military Institute during the Civil War:

Reunion uniform worn by local child L.C. Swafford - his father was a Union soldier from Illinois, and his mother was from Vicksburg, so they made the uniform of blue and gray cloth:

 

[Championhilz]

Flag of the 21st Mississippi Infantry - they served in Barksdale's/Humphrey's Brigade, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia:

Ambrotype & CDV of Augustus Borchert, who served in the Confederate Navy:

Ketchum hand grenades - the one that still has it original stick was sent home by an Illinois chaplain to his wife as a souvenir:

 

[Lnwlf]

Thanks for sharing. A lot of interesting stuff there.

 

[Stephen Terry]

Great pictures! Thanks.

 

[mt155]

The Courthouse Museum is a definit must for anyone visiting Vicksburg. I spent the 4th back in 2010 in Vicksburg. Great time.

 

[RobertP]

Very nice. I've been through Vicksburg so many times but one thing I regretfully haven't done is visit the Courthouse Museum. Maybe next time in Mississsippi.

 

[rickvox79]

I was there at the end of May. This is supposedly a chair that Grant used.

 

[Blessmag]

Just a few shells. LOL

Thanks for posting. I've been once and did not have time that trip to see this stuff.

 

[nitrofd]

that is a definite must visit spot. thanx for the post

 

[Perry Cuskey]

Thanks for the great pictures. Vicksburg is a beautiful park, and the courthouse is a definite must-see. The pictures I've seen from the illumination they had at the park on July 3rd are just gorgeous. Made me wish I could have been there.

Perry