The drive from Iowa to Mississippi was long!!!! We woke up the next day in sunny and warm Vicksburg and walked a little around this historic town.
This was a big reason to visit Vicksburg. The visitors center was closed due to Covid so there were very few cars in the parking lot and on the tour road around the military park.
The battle of Vicksburg was one of the major important battles of the Civil War. The Mississippi River was an important for commerce and shipping goods from the North to the South and gaining control of that area was important for its goods to be distributed in the world. The Campaign of Vicksburg began in 1862. There were 48,000 casualties.
According to the NPS website, the Union Army laid siege to Vicksburg for 47 days forcing the surrender of the Confederate Army on July 4, 1863.
Union army that fought here:
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota
The Confederate army that fought here:
Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia
Illinois monument
Inside the Illinois monument
along the tour road
It was well marked with signs of different battles. The blue signs indicate Union and red signs were Confederate.
Over 1400 memorials and monuments are present in the park.
USS Cairo is the only remaining example of a City Class ironclad.
The National Cemetery
The tall stones were marked with names. The shorter stones indicate all of those who died who were not identified. It holds the remains of 17,000 Civil War Union soldiers, more than any other national cemetery. At this cemetery, 75% of the Civil War dead are unknowns. The 5,000 Confederate Soldiers that died have been re-interred in the Vicksburg City Cemetery in "Soldiers'
Rest".
Iowa memorial
We then traveled about a hour to the city of Natchez.
This is our Bed and Breakfast.
We checked in and were the only visitors tonight and so we had the house to ourselves. Our room was on the second floor.
We took a walk around the area.
We had some great views of the river and it was a beautiful night to explore.
Before the Civil War, Natchez had the most millionaires per capita of any city because of the owners of cotton plantation farming. On a tour, it was said they built these homes to "show off" their wealth. It is famous today for the annual pilgrimages showing off the beautiful and opulent antebellum homes that are now on a historical register and preserved. Southern hospitality was certainly apparent on our visit and people were kind, helpful and friendly!
The city was named for the tribe of Native Americans called the Natchez. The city of Natchez was established when colonized by the French in 1716. They then ceded this territory to Great Britain after the French and Indiana War. After the American Revolution, this area was then the United States.
Situated on a bluff on the Mississippi River made this area really important for trade, goods, and commerce.
It still is very important today...here is over 30 containers being pushed down the river!
The city was spared in the Civil War making it very well preserved.
Choctaw Hall
Stanton Hall
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