"160th Anniversary of the Vicksburg Campaign" Topic

The American Battlefield Trust made a series of videos commemorating the 160th anniversary (1863- 2023) of the Vicksburg Campaign. The YouTube videos can be accessed here:

YouTube link

Jim

Thanks for the link. I am planning a trip out west (Mississippi is west, right?) to visit Vicksburg among some other ACW sites along the Mississippi River. These links look like it will help out a lot on where to go.

I don't know where you're starting your trip from, but Shiloh is well worth adding to the itinerary if you haven't been. I know it's not on the Mississippi but it's close!

My great western trip (as of today):

Day 1: Fly to New Orleans (NO) and decamp
Day 2: See the 1812 battlefield and drive down to Fort Jackson and back
Day3: Go to the WW2 Museum in NO
Day 4: Drive to Vicksburg from NO with a stop at Port Hudson
Day 5: Do a tour of Vicksburg battlefield with tour guide. See stuff tour guide suggests outside of tour.
Day 6: More of the above. Battlefields around Vicksburg? Sites in the city? TBD.
Day 7: Do the stuff at the most compelling sites from previous days.
Day 8: go back to NO and fly home.

This is my best guess so far. Any thoughts would be welcome!

Enfant Perdue: I have been to Shiloh and want to go back, but that will be part of my Tennesee campaign. ;)

Panzer,
I made pretty much the same trip you are looking at last year. Drove from Florida and went to Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines at Mobile Bay. Visited the USS Alabama and museum (well worth it!).

On to New Orleans and visited Chalmette Battlefield (battle of New Orleans). Be careful trying to find the entrance though, it's in an industrial area and you have to cross the rail road tracks on a gravel road to get into the park. We passed it but the first time.

Take a walk down Jacksons gun line and fortifications, there's nice markers with information. Walk to the River to get a better picture of the position. Then drive around back to the British positions. It's not going to take up a lot of your time, and the museum is nothing special either. The monument is really neat though.

Fort Jackson may not have much to offer as a lot was damaged during hurricane Katrina and a lot of exhibits damaged. Did not go so you might get more info.

The WWII Museum is fantastic and will take a full day. They were adding a new section last year so it might be completed now. We did take the hop on hop off tour around the city that was well worth it as well and taking time to go to Bourbon St and the French Quarter. If you don't have a hotel yet, I highly recommend the Brakeman Hotel!

From there we drove to Vicksburg and spent the night then a full day at the battlefield. Lots to see. Down load the APP and do the auto tour is great. There is a separate museum on the tour just for the USS Cairo which is on display outside the entrance of the museum. The Vicksburg visitors center is very good and has lots of cannon outside including a not often seen 14# type II James rifle as well. Along the tour you will see more 30# Parrott rifles then you have ever seen!

A trip to downtown Vicksburg should be worthwhile. Also, you should take note on the tour as to the changes in course of the Mississippi river has changed since 1863.

As for other battlefields, Champions Hill is east within a short drive, but the its all on private land and not marked very well.

Make sure you visit the southern half of the Vicksburg battlefield (south of Clay Street).

Hope you have a great trip!

Kim

@panzerCDR Here's a piece of friendly advice. Do not go to Jackson, Mississippi. Vicksburg is nice, Jackson is not. And if you do go to New Orleans, be very, very careful. I passed through all three last summer, so I'm speaking from experience. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip!

There is the Louisiana Military Museum and over in Monroe is the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum.

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your ideas! I hope to do this in late spring next year (2024), not far from the time of Grant's actual attack.