We weren't really planning on doing any sightseeing after leaving Louisiana. We had some seriously long driving days ahead of us to make it to DC by November 11th.
However, we couldn't resist making an unscheduled stop when we were cruising along I-20 in Mississippi and saw the signs for Vicksburg, MS. How could we pass by the hallowed ground of one of the most important strategic battles that proved to be a turning point in the Civil War?!?
We quickly downloaded the "app" and set a dest on the ol' map app for the Vicksburg National Military Park. Thank goodness for smart phones, and the Battle Apps put out by the Civil War Trust are amazing!
In case your Civil War history is a little rusty, Owen's synopsis of the significance of Vicksburg during the Civil War is as follows: "It was one of Grant's greatest career achievements during the Civil War. By laying siege to and capturing Vicksburg, he had taken control of the key Confederate-held Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two."
There's something about seeing the actual terrain on which a battle is fought that really brings history to life. The views of the Mississippi River from the Confederate works on the top of the hill were spectacular. Samuel was amazed at how many pieces of artillery they staged on these hilly positions because it had to be an arduous task trying to get the guns up the steep slopes.
We also saw the remains of the USS Cairo, a ironclad gunboat that was dredged up from the bottom of the Mississippi River about 50 years ago and was partially reconstructed for display in the park, and we paid our respects at the National Military Cemetery, where 17,000 Union souls were put to rest.
All-in-all, well worth the time and time well spent!
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