Vicksburg this November

[Johnny Shafto]

Planning our first visit to Vicksburg early this November and wondering how the ongoing road repairs were coming along? The NPS website indicates North Union Avenue and Grant Circle may be nearing completion dependent upon weather but understandably details are limited. Unfortunately we only have two nights scheduled allowing for just one full day on site. Any updates and advice will be much appreciated. Very excited! Thank you. Norman Bayley aka. Johnny Shafto.

 

[Drew]

Good luck with your trip - I don't know about the roads, but recently read in the newspaper that someone gave the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park a multi-million dollar donation to renovate the Illinois Monument. It needs to be cleaned up and we need more deep pockets to step up and help with these monuments.

Cheers and safe travels.

 

[huskerblitz]

If you're driving, don't forget about Chickasaw Bayou, just a few miles north. While there is not much there yet (ABT just acquired more land there) you can drive around the battlefield area.

 

[Samwisep86]

Planning our first visit to Vicksburg early this November and wondering how the ongoing road repairs were coming along? The NPS website indicates North Union Avenue and Grant Circle may be nearing completion dependent upon weather but understandably details are limited. Unfortunately we only have two nights scheduled allowing for just one full day on site. Any updates and advice will be much appreciated. Very excited! Thank you. Norman Bayley aka. Johnny Shafto.

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I wouldn't expect the roads to be reopened by early November.

Would highly recommend getting a Licensed Battlefield Guide for the battlefield tour.

 

[iron bender]

Vicksburg is a great park (as is the town). You're gonna enjoy it. Have fun!

 

[bdtex]

Planning our first visit to Vicksburg early this November and wondering how the ongoing road repairs were coming along? The NPS website indicates North Union Avenue and Grant Circle may be nearing completion dependent upon weather but understandably details are limited. Unfortunately we only have two nights scheduled allowing for just one full day on site. Any updates and advice will be much appreciated. Very excited! Thank you. Norman Bayley aka. Johnny Shafto.

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Go anyway, even if those roads are still closed. Plenty to see. The Old Courthouse Museum, Soldiers Rest Cemetery, Navy Circle and Grant's Canal are in Vicksburg also.

 

[iron bender]

If any Civil War nerd has interest in a battlefield, this is my favorite. The terrain alone gives a perspective of how incredible and unusual this battle and siege must have been for the folks experiencing it. Elevation drops that are shocking, where civilians were hiding and Yank troops living. Rebs mostly held the high ground. Those soldiers must have had leg muscles like mountain goats when it was over, both sides

 

[Johnny Shafto]

Go anyway, even if those roads are still closed. Plenty to see. The Old Courthouse Museum, Soldiers Rest Cemetery, Navy Circle and Grant's Canal are in Vicksburg also.

Thank you Sir; and for all that you do. Reservations have been made and preparations are ongoing. After a brief visit to the Livingston La. area we will head north through Jackson turning west to follow in the footsteps of Grant's army. Excited and looking forward to the experience.

 

[FZ11]

Planning our first visit to Vicksburg early this November and wondering how the ongoing road repairs were coming along? The NPS website indicates North Union Avenue and Grant Circle may be nearing completion dependent upon weather but understandably details are limited. Unfortunately we only have two nights scheduled allowing for just one full day on site. Any updates and advice will be much appreciated. Very excited! Thank you. Norman Bayley aka. Johnny Shafto.

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Say, hello to the Widow Blakely for me.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

If any Civil War nerd has interest in a battlefield, this is my favorite. The terrain alone gives a perspective of how incredible and unusual this battle and siege must have been for the folks experiencing it. Elevation drops that are shocking, where civilians were hiding and Yank troops living. Rebs mostly held the high ground. Those soldiers must have had leg muscles like mountain goats when it was over, both sides

Thank you. After experiencing Shiloh I realized that to fully appreciate these cataclysmic events one must breath the air while standing on the ground where it happened. It was tantamount to removing a blindfold. It becomes real and the respect for those who lived it, both soldier and civilian, only deepens. I get chills just thinking about it. After Shiloh and Vicksburg comes Gettysburg.

 

[JohnG0609]

head north through Jackson

Get off 55N at Byram and head to Raymond, then on through Edwards to catch 20W.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Planning our first visit to Vicksburg early this November and wondering how the ongoing road repairs were coming along? The NPS website indicates North Union Avenue and Grant Circle may be nearing completion dependent upon weather but understandably details are limited. Unfortunately we only have two nights scheduled allowing for just one full day on site. Any updates and advice will be much appreciated. Very excited! Thank you. Norman Bayley aka. Johnny Shafto.

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I will take note of the replies to your inquiry. I've been to big and small Civil War sites from Gettysburg to Chickamauga to Shiloh to Olustee, but haven't been to Vicksburg YET.

 

[tony_gunter]

If any Civil War nerd has interest in a battlefield, this is my favorite. The terrain alone gives a perspective of how incredible and unusual this battle and siege must have been for the folks experiencing it. Elevation drops that are shocking, where civilians were hiding and Yank troops living. Rebs mostly held the high ground. Those soldiers must have had leg muscles like mountain goats when it was over, both sides

I grew up in Vicksburg and spent my youth running up and down those hills. I was skinny as a bean pole, but body builders would regularly ask me how I got my calves so huge.

 

[Booklady]

If it's still around, eat a meal at Walnut Hills on Adams Street. It's not far from the Old Courthouse Museum.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

If it's still around, eat a meal at Walnut Hills on Adams Street. It's not far from the Old Courthouse Museum.

Excellent, Thank you.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

Get off 55N at Byram and head to Raymond, then on through Edwards to catch 20W.

Oooohh I like it. Looks like a good road and I see the Raymond Military Park. Thank you for suggesting this! Definitely a major addition to the itinerary.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

I wouldn't expect the roads to be reopened by early November.

Would highly recommend getting a Licensed Battlefield Guide for the battlefield tour.

Good advice. At Shiloh we were fortunate to acquire the expertise of Mr. Larry DeBerry on both our first and the following year's return visit. His first tour was a general overview of the battle but on the second we gave him free rein to cover topics of his choosing in greater detail. We quickly learned that regardless of how much preparation, a good guide is indispensable for greater understanding. Recommendations for a guide at Vicksburg would be most welcomed.

 

[Samwisep86]

Good advice. At Shiloh we were fortunate to acquire the expertise of Mr. Larry DeBerry on both our first and the following year's return visit. His first tour was a general overview of the battle but on the second we gave him free rein to cover topics of his choosing in greater detail. We quickly learned that regardless of how much preparation, a good guide is indispensable for greater understanding. Recommendations for a guide at Vicksburg would be most welcomed.

I've met most of the Vicksburg LBGs, and they are all very good. If you want, you can also schedule a campaign tour, which focuses on the 5 battles of the lead up to the siege.

 

[JohnG0609]

Oooohh I like it. Looks like a good road and I see the Raymond Military Park. Thank you for suggesting this! Definitely a major addition to the itinerary.

I grew up in Raymond. Raymond Courthouse and St Marks Episcopal Church (side by side) were hospitals.

You can deviate off of Hwy 467 (Edwards-Raymond road) to Champion Hill battlefield. Also the Lloyd Tilghman monument is on Hwy 467. Right on the edge of the road.

 

[tony_gunter]

Oooohh I like it. Looks like a good road and I see the Raymond Military Park. Thank you for suggesting this! Definitely a major addition to the itinerary.

Or instead of catching I-20 in Edwards stay on Highway 80 and pass over the Big Black River battlefield, then catch I-20 in Bovina.