Monument Monday, May 13, 2019

[James N.]

Since May is the anniversary of Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's campaign to capture Vicksburg and reopen the Mississippi River for Northern commerce, I thought I'd revisit the monument to him erected by the State of Illinois at the site of his headquarters on what is now Grant Circle in Vicksburg National Military Park. Grant's headquarters tents were pitched here in this shaded ravine behind the Union lines throughout the siege, and it was here he entertained visitors like Assistant Secretary of War Charles Dana - a spy for War Secretary Edwin Stanton - and Grant's patron, Illinois Senator Elihu Washburne.

The equestrian statue of Grant sits atop a hill and is flanked by two stone benches. These photos were taken during a visit at the time of the Sesquicentennial of the siege in July, 2013.

 

[James N.]

I've always thought this was a great statue of Grant - here are three similar views taken in the previous decade in 2007 prior to the restoration and replacement of the vandalized reins on the General's horse, Cincinnati.

 

[rebel brit]

Winstead Hill, Franklin TN.

 

[JOHN42768]

All very nice, thanks

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

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Since May is the anniversary of Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's campaign to capture Vicksburg and reopen the Mississippi River for Northern commerce, I thought I'd revisit the monument to him erected by the State of Illinois at the site of his headquarters on what is now Grant Circle in Vicksburg National Military Park. Grant's headquarters tents were pitched here in this shaded ravine behind the Union lines throughout the siege, and it was here he entertained visitors like Assistant Secretary of War Charles Dana - a spy for War Secretary Edwin Stanton - and Grant's patron, Illinois Senator Elihu Washburne.

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The equestrian statue of Grant sits atop a hill and is flanked by two stone benches. These photos were taken during a visit at the time of the Sesquicentennial of the siege in July, 2013.

View attachment 307175

I've always loved this statue.

and replacement of the vandalized reins on the General's horse, Cincinnati.

Yeah . . . that was a problem for many years.
If not the reins, it was the General's sword.

At least the National Park Service has upgraded security during the last few years, so I hope vandalism is no longer a problem.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Very nice James N. Don't think I've seen this one before.

 

[James N.]

Winstead Hill, Franklin TN.

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I see you had the same problem as I did trying to photograph Pat Cleburne's monument without it being obscured in shadow!

I had a little (not much) better luck last April:

 

[James N.]

I've always loved this statue... If not the reins, it was the General's sword.

At least the National Park Service has upgraded security during the last few years, so I hope vandalism is no longer a problem.

I didn't bother to mention this time that Grant still has a NAVAL officer's sword hanging by his side, to replace his own that was stolen some time in the past and never recovered. The naval sword formerly "belonged" to either Charles Davis or Andrew H. Foote on the Union Navy Monument who are now both missing theirs; no doubt it was thought by the NPS that it was more important for the Union commander to have a sword - even if it was the WRONG one - than these lesser-known naval officers!

 

[rebel brit]

I didn't bother to mention this time that Grant still has a NAVAL officer's sword hanging by his side, to replace his own that was stolen some time in the past and never recovered. The naval sword formerly "belonged" to either Charles Davis or Andrew H. Foote on the Union Navy Monument who are now both missing theirs; no doubt it was thought by the NPS that it was more important for the Union commander to have a sword - even if it was the WRONG one - than these lesser-known naval officers!

Great facts and great pics James. Even though I've visited Vicksburg twice before I've never been to Grants statue, something I plan on rectifying in Oct at the CWT meet-up.

 

[James N.]

Great facts and great pics James. Even though I've visited Vicksburg twice before I've never been to Grants statue, something I plan on rectifying in Oct at the CWT meet-up.

It requires a bit of climbing if you want to get up close & personal like this - the reason my photos from years apart are SO similar is that it's perched atop a hill and takes up most of the summit, leaving something to be desired for camera angles. Grant Circle branches off from Union Avenue and a short drive brings you into the heavily wooded ravine and a traffic loop which completely encircles this hill. Along the drive are several monuments dedicated to units that formed part of Grant's forces but were not actually engaged in the siege itself: the newest is the USCT Monument whose members were engaged across the Mississippi at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana; while both Massachusetts and Rhode Island have smallish State Monuments here for their few regiments with the Ninth Corps facing Joe Johnston at the Big Black River.