- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Location
- East Texas
Part I
Last month I paid a Sesquicentennial visit to Vicksburg National Military Park which I hadn't been to since my last trip there in 2007, subject of a recent post here on the Forum. Most sites remained familliar, like the line of 12-pounder Napoleons and howitizers and 6-pounder guns marking Battery DeGolyer, seen above and below, though there have been a few notable changes to others.
The most notable and positive change involves the NPS's ongoing "deforestation" program. Though it at first seems out-of-character for the nation's leading conservator to be deliberatly denuding some of its parks of vegetation, here at Vicksburg it makes perfect sense. Concieved as a commemorative park over a century ago, in Mississippi's fertile soil and humid climate trees and underbrush had all-but closed what had originally been broad, open vistas, thereby reducing a visitor's ability to understand or visualize the action.
The most dramatic opening is that between Battery DeGolyer and the 3d Louisiana Redan, above, topped by the Louisiana State Memorial column. Also, the view from here to the Illinois State Memorial "temple" is now cleared. Of course, ALL the land here during the siege had been cleared, first for agricultural use and then to create unobstructed military fields-of-fire.
Above, a closer look at the massive Illinois Monument. The nearby Shirley House is the only surviving wartime structure remaining on the battlefield. Last time I visited, it was closed indefinitely for further repairs and interior restoration, which I'm glad to report has been completed with the house now occasionally open to the public.
As noted elsewhere on the thread dedicated to the Union Navy Memorial, Gen. Grant's statue has been repaired, and though he seems to retain Acting Flag Officer Davis' sword, at least his horse Kangaroo, which he rode throughout the Vicksburg Campaign, once again has a full compliment of horse furniture!
Near Grant's statue in the area that served as his headquarters site are several state monuments to Eastern states who had member units in the IX Corps that served in the campaign but not actually here on the siege lines. They were mostly utilized farther east toward Jackson blocking any effort by Confederate forces under Joseph Johnston to relieve the besieged city. Above is the Rhode Island State Monument, dedicated to their ONE regiment which served here.
Between the Union and Confederate siege lines in the now-cleared area between Battery DeGolyer and the 3d Louisiana Redan stands this simple cannon barrel marking the spot beneath a straggling lone apple tree that rapidly disappeared to provide souvenirs for Union soldiers, that generals Pemberton and Grant met on July 3, 1863, while their nearby staffs worked out the details of the Confederate surrender.
Next time, Part II.
Last month I paid a Sesquicentennial visit to Vicksburg National Military Park which I hadn't been to since my last trip there in 2007, subject of a recent post here on the Forum. Most sites remained familliar, like the line of 12-pounder Napoleons and howitizers and 6-pounder guns marking Battery DeGolyer, seen above and below, though there have been a few notable changes to others.
The most notable and positive change involves the NPS's ongoing "deforestation" program. Though it at first seems out-of-character for the nation's leading conservator to be deliberatly denuding some of its parks of vegetation, here at Vicksburg it makes perfect sense. Concieved as a commemorative park over a century ago, in Mississippi's fertile soil and humid climate trees and underbrush had all-but closed what had originally been broad, open vistas, thereby reducing a visitor's ability to understand or visualize the action.
The most dramatic opening is that between Battery DeGolyer and the 3d Louisiana Redan, above, topped by the Louisiana State Memorial column. Also, the view from here to the Illinois State Memorial "temple" is now cleared. Of course, ALL the land here during the siege had been cleared, first for agricultural use and then to create unobstructed military fields-of-fire.
Above, a closer look at the massive Illinois Monument. The nearby Shirley House is the only surviving wartime structure remaining on the battlefield. Last time I visited, it was closed indefinitely for further repairs and interior restoration, which I'm glad to report has been completed with the house now occasionally open to the public.
Next time, Part II.
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