Steele's Bayou?

[davepi2]

Hello everyone. I am thinking of combining a return trip to Shiloh with a return trip to Vicksburg instead of Fort Donelson which will be a separate trip. I realize the river has changed the Louisiana side of the river but is there anything other then Grant's Canal (which I have already visited) worth seeing in the Pelican State? One website seemed to indicate there was a driving tour of Steele's Bayou but I wonder. Another indicates there are a few others dealing with the Vicksburg Campaign tour worth visiting that are not Steele's Bayou.

 

[Tompre]

Hello everyone. I am thinking of combining a return trip to Shiloh with a return trip to Vicksburg instead of Fort Donelson which will be a separate trip. I realize the river has changed the Louisiana side of the river but is there anything other then Grant's Canal (which I have already visited) worth seeing in the Pelican State? One website seemed to indicate there was a driving tour of Steele's Bayou but I wonder. Another indicates there are a few others dealing with the Vicksburg Campaign tour worth visiting that are not Steele's Bayou.

Grand Gulf and the Port Gibson battlefield are worth visiting.

 

[UCVRelics]

Hello everyone. I am thinking of combining a return trip to Shiloh with a return trip to Vicksburg instead of Fort Donelson which will be a separate trip. I realize the river has changed the Louisiana side of the river but is there anything other then Grant's Canal (which I have already visited) worth seeing in the Pelican State? One website seemed to indicate there was a driving tour of Steele's Bayou but I wonder. Another indicates there are a few others dealing with the Vicksburg Campaign tour worth visiting that are not Steele's Bayou.

Also Port Hudson LA is well worth the trip

 

[alan polk]

Hello everyone. I am thinking of combining a return trip to Shiloh with a return trip to Vicksburg instead of Fort Donelson which will be a separate trip. I realize the river has changed the Louisiana side of the river but is there anything other then Grant's Canal (which I have already visited) worth seeing in the Pelican State? One website seemed to indicate there was a driving tour of Steele's Bayou but I wonder. Another indicates there are a few others dealing with the Vicksburg Campaign tour worth visiting that are not Steele's Bayou.

As concerns the Louisiana side of the river, and excluding Grant's canal, there is very little to see between the vast area of Milliken's Bend/Young's Point area to Hard Times. The road from near Milliken's Bend through to Richmond, down Roundaway Bayou, Bayou Vidal, etc., is dotted with historical markers here and there but that's about it. Along Bayou Vidal, there is an old cemetery with a couple marble monuments that were once located at Somerset-Perkins plantation which are neat.

The same goes for Steele's Bayou and Yazoo Pass areas. At Fort Pemberton, some of the works are still visible, but I have not been there, and I do not think there are any interpretive markers there. I know @bdtex has been, maybe he knows more.

I have never be to Lake Providence area, so do not know what might be located there. Wish I knew.

If you come down, look me up. I'll be glad to show you around.

 

[bdtex]

At Fort Pemberton, some of the works are still visible, but I have not been there, and I do not think there are any interpretive markers there. I know @bdtex has been, maybe he knows more

That would be Greenwood, Mississippi. There is a monument at Fort Pemberton and part of the earthworks of the fort are there. There is a nice Confederate monument at the Courthouse, a Confederate burial section at the city cemetery and a nice Civil War section at the Museum Of The Mississippi Delta in Greenwood. There is some fine eating in Greenwood too.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

As concerns the Louisiana side of the river, and excluding Grant's canal, there is very little to see between the vast area of Milliken's Bend/Young's Point area to Hard Times. The road from near Milliken's Bend through to Richmond, down Roundaway Bayou, Bayou Vidal, etc., is dotted with historical markers here and there but that's about it.

I have never be to Lake Providence area, so do not know what might be located there. Wish I knew.

It's about the same in Lake Providence. Just a few roadside markers in Louisiana Delta cotton/soybean fields.
@ucvrelics is correct, Port Hudson is the main site in the immediate Louisiana area, but it's also on the East side of the Mississippi River.

Plus, there are so many more interesting places along Highway 61 ( Mississippi/East Louisiana ) between Vicksburg
and Baton Rouge. Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Natchez, St. Francisville, & Port Hudson to name a few.

 

[bdtex]

Hello everyone. I am thinking of combining a return trip to Shiloh with a return trip to Vicksburg instead of Fort Donelson which will be a separate trip. I realize the river has changed the Louisiana side of the river but is there anything other then Grant's Canal (which I have already visited) worth seeing in the Pelican State? One website seemed to indicate there was a driving tour of Steele's Bayou but I wonder. Another indicates there are a few others dealing with the Vicksburg Campaign tour worth visiting that are not Steele's Bayou.

If it's battlefields that you want to visit in Louisiana, the only significant battlefield acreage remaining open to the public is Port Hudson and Mansfield. There is no driving tour at Mansfield and not much of one at Port Hudson. Be prepared to hike at Port Hudson. The earthworks there are some of the best preserved Civil War earthworks. Both battlefield parks have good Visitor Centers.

 

[tony_gunter]

Have you been to Raymond since they've built the park? If not, I highly recommend it (the signage plentiful and detailed but is not all that accurate from an X's and O's perspective).

Lake Providence is pretty, but only a couple of historical markers along the lake.

Not much to see along Steele Bayou, but driving up to Valley Park would give you a glimpse of Deer Creek and give you an idea of the size of the waterway Porter was attempting to squeeze through. Chickasaw Bayou and Snyder's Bluff are on the way there / back.

 

[tony_gunter]

When are you planning on going?

 

[USS ALASKA]

WWAAAAYY late to this party but just stumbled upon this...

Steele's Bayou Expedition driving tour guide

Driving Directions
The following tour will allow you to follow the path of Union soldiers and sailors as they attempted a courageous and uncertain mission through the treacherous waters of the Mississippi Delta. Keep in mind that much of the land along the driving part of this tour was covered with several feet of water when the expedition was attempted...

https://www.lowerdelta.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SteeleBayou.ibrochure.pdf

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[Samwisep86]

WWAAAAYY late to this party but just stumbled upon this...

Steele's Bayou Expedition driving tour guide

Driving Directions
The following tour will allow you to follow the path of Union soldiers and sailors as they attempted a courageous and uncertain mission through the treacherous waters of the Mississippi Delta. Keep in mind that much of the land along the driving part of this tour was covered with several feet of water when the expedition was attempted...

https://www.lowerdelta.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SteeleBayou.ibrochure.pdf

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

Nice to see a digital copy.

Vicksburg NMP has hard copies of this brochure available.

 

[Ben Ford 987]

That would be Greenwood, Mississippi. There is a monument at Fort Pemberton and part of the earthworks of the fort are there. There is a nice Confederate monument at the Courthouse, a Confederate burial section at the city cemetery and a nice Civil War section at the Museum Of The Mississippi Delta in Greenwood. There is some fine eating in Greenwood too.

Lusco's and The Crystal Grill are long since "Gone with the Wind" Two of the best places to eat for many miles around.
Not sure what the fine food scene is like now.

 

[bdtex]

Lusco's and The Crystal Grill are long since "Gone with the Wind" Two of the best places to eat for many miles around.
Not sure what the fine food scene is like now.

That's disheartening. The Crystal Grill was great.

 

[alan polk]

Lusco's and The Crystal Grill are long since "Gone with the Wind" Two of the best places to eat for many miles around.
Not sure what the fine food scene is like now.

Miss them both! Giardinas and Fan and Johnny's are still there.

 

[DixieRifles]

That's disheartening. The Crystal Grill was great.

Yeah, the family sold it. I wonder if anyone will move in to start a new restaurant. I can ask around to find a place where you can get your frog legs again.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Lusco's and The Crystal Grill are long since "Gone with the Wind" Two of the best places to eat for many miles around.

I totally agree !
(Two classic Delta restaurants).

During my college days at Ole Miss, I got to know one of the Lusco daughters very well.
Plus, I will never forget the homemade pies at the Crystal Grill.

If the current leadership in the Delta region would properly develop a Civil War tourist plan, the economic benefits would enhance their successful "Blues" tourism.

 

[davepi2]

Grand Gulf and the Port Gibson battlefield are worth visiting.

I have visited Grand Gulf and enjoyed it (the first time, the second time the area was flooded and not possible). Port Gibson I don't have the guts to try the Shaifer Road.

 

[tony_gunter]

I have visited Grand Gulf and enjoyed it (the first time, the second time the area was flooded and not possible). Port Gibson I don't have the guts to try the Shaifer Road.

The first time I visited Port Gibson, I was using a topographical map and followed the line of march for Osterhaus in reverse. Turned off the paved road onto a gravel road, turned off the gravel road onto a dirt road. It was just after Katrina, and several times I had to go off road completely to get around fallen trees. Ended up behind a locked NPS fence by the Shaifer House and a passing ranger told me I'd have to back out the way I came.

 

[davepi2]

The first time I visited Port Gibson, I was using a topographical map and followed the line of march for Osterhaus in reverse. Turned off the paved road onto a gravel road, turned off the gravel road onto a dirt road. It was just after Katrina, and several times I had to go off road completely to get around fallen trees. Ended up behind a locked NPS fence by the Shaifer House and a passing ranger told me I'd have to back out the way I came.

You are braver than I, I confined my visit to Port Gibson to the flanks by the original church and over by Willow Creek. Also went to the Bethel Church to see the old road the Union Army marched on, and of course Windsor Ruins.

 

[Mississippian1861]

In 2002 some of my reenacting friends and I went down to Port Gibson to follow the route of the Union army to help plan for a "hardcore" reenactor preservation march the next year. It was incredibly tough terrain. In the end, I wasn't able to make the event because it fell on the weekend of my high school prom. Attached is a photo from the event, the impression was 21st Iowa, and they have bacon stuck to their bayonets and are carrying hardtack boxes.