Wiki has it 14 miles southAs to the location of Ellis Cliffs this article mentions it as "20 miles South of Natchez"* where Laurel Mansion was once located. St. Mary's Chapel^ is located where Laurel Hill was and is sited below.
Don't know about the artillery but perhaps @7th Mississippi Infantry might have some information as he lives down in that area?
Regards
David
*Lost Mansions of Mississippi, Volume II, Volume 2
Lost Mansions of Mississippi, Volume II
As preservationist Mary Carol Miller talked with Mississippians about her books on lost mansions and landmarks, enthusiasts brought her more stories of great architecture ravaged by time. The twenty-seven houses included in her new book are among the most memorable of Mississippi's vanished...books.google.com
^St. Mary’s Chapel
You Won’t Find Another Chapel Anywhere In The World Like St. Mary’s Chapel In Mississippi
This chapel is filled with beauty and history.www.onlyinyourstate.com
That's a very cool area.As to the location of Ellis Cliffs this article mentions it as "20 miles South of Natchez"* where Laurel Mansion was once located. St. Mary's Chapel^ is located where Laurel Hill was and is sited below.
Don't know about the artillery but perhaps @7th Mississippi Infantry might have some information as he lives down in that area?
Regards
David
*Lost Mansions of Mississippi, Volume II, Volume 2
Lost Mansions of Mississippi, Volume II
As preservationist Mary Carol Miller talked with Mississippians about her books on lost mansions and landmarks, enthusiasts brought her more stories of great architecture ravaged by time. The twenty-seven houses included in her new book are among the most memorable of Mississippi's vanished...books.google.com
^St. Mary’s Chapel
You Won’t Find Another Chapel Anywhere In The World Like St. Mary’s Chapel In Mississippi
This chapel is filled with beauty and history.www.onlyinyourstate.com
From the way Gen William's makes it sound, there were fortifications. I have never seen any that far south.Sorry I forgot to answer UCV's original question.
Ellis Cliffs is no where near Vicksburg. (The Media were confused back then . . . as they are today).
I know the CSA did not construct any earthworks down there. However, various irregular units harassed Union shipping along the Mississippi River until the end.
It's also well documented that Confederate cavalry would routinely move and fire howitzers all along the river to keep the United States
boat crews nervous 24/7.
They would fire a few rounds and then move to a different location.
That may be where the "disappearing guns" memories started.
From the way Gen William's makes it sound, there were fortifications. I have never seen any that far south.
Do you know the date of the conversation between Williams and Butler?Where exactly was Ellis Cliffs located and what type guns did the CS have there?
View attachment 383852
No it didn't have a date.Do you know the date of the conversation between Williams and Butler?
That's interesting!I know the Confederates had at least one large cannon on the bluffs at Fort Adams, MS on the Mississippi River.
My grandfather used to take us fishing on Lake Mary (at Fort Adams). He would always drive by a steep bluff and tell us about the Confederate cannon that had been up there. Supposedly, the Confederates spiked it.That's interesting!
I would love to hear more about this.
I do know the Union ironclad USS Chillicothe was anchored down there from 1864 until the end.
Another great article about the history of Fort Adams Here:
Stanley Nelson: Fort Adams on the Mississippi
In the wilderness of Loftus Heights on Oct. 21, 1798, U.S. soldiers assembled along the Mississippi River where Fort Adams in Wilkinson County, Miss., would soon be built to guardwww.hannapub.com
fishing on Lake Mary (at Fort Adams).
Yes, lots of intrigue and mystery. I haven’t been there in years. Id love to go back some day.I have many fond memories of Lake Mary.
Unfortunately, over the last 15 to 20 years that area floods worse than it ever has before. Hunting and fishing camps down there used to sell for a high price. Now many can be bought for "pennies on the dollar".
I've always been intrigued by the actual fort, but I have never been aware of a heavy Confederate artillery battery.
I'm not saying there was never a heavy gun up there, only that I would like to see some official documentation.
Off topic, but back in the late 90's I talked to some "old timers" at the little store at Fort Adams.
They all said a few remnants of the original 1798 Fort could still be seen as late as the 1950s and 60's.
I even tracked down the owner, who gave me permission to go up to the site. He kind of smiled and said . . .
"good luck getting up there"
He was right.
I never came close.
Anyway, CSA heavy gun or not . . . that area remains an extremely fascinating (and remote) part of the Deep South.
They all said a few remnants of the original 1798 Fort could still be seen as late as the 1950s and 60's.
I even tracked down the owner, who gave me permission to go up to the site. He kind of smiled and said . . .
"good luck getting up there"
He was right.
I never came close.