Vicksburg National Military Park
Encyclopedia
Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the site of the American Civil War
Battle of Vicksburg
, waged from May 18 to July 4, 1863. The park, in Vicksburg, Mississippi
, and Delta, Louisiana
, also commemorates the greater Vicksburg Campaign
, which preceded the battle. Reconstructed forts and trenches evoke memories of the 47-day siege that ended in the surrender of the city. Victory here and at Port Hudson
gave the United States control of the Mississippi River
.
The park includes 1,325 historic monuments and markers, 20 miles (32.2 km) of historic trenches and earthworks, a 16 miles (25.7 km) tour road, a 12.5 miles (20.1 km) walking trail, two antebellum homes, 144 emplaced cannons, restored gunboat USS Cairo
(sunk on December 12, 1862, on the Yazoo River, recovered successfully in 1964), and the Grant's Canal site, where the Union army attempted to build a canal to let their ships bypass Confederate artillery
fire. The Cairo, also known as the "Hardluck Ironclad," was the first U.S. ship in history to be sunk by a torpedo/mine. It was raised in 1964. The Illinois State Memorial has 47 steps, one for every day Vicksburg was besieged.
, a detached section of the military park, are located across from Vicksburg near Delta, Louisiana
. Union Army
Major General
Ulysses S. Grant
ordered the project, started on June 27, 1862, as part of his Vicksburg Campaign, with two goals in mind. The first was to alter the course of the Mississippi River in order to bypass the Confederate
guns at Vicksburg. For various technical reasons the project failed to meet this goal. The river did change course by itself on April 26, 1876. The project met its second goal, keeping troops occupied during the laborious maneuvering required to begin the Battle of Vicksburg.
was established on February 21, 1899, to commemorate the siege and defense of Vicksburg. The park sprawls over 1800 acres (7.3 km²) of land. The park and cemetery were transferred from the War Department
to the National Park Service
(NPS) on August 10, 1933. Of the park's 1,736.47 acres (not including the cemetery), 1729.63 acres (7 km²) are federally owned.
In the late 1950s, a portion of the park was transferred to the city as a local park in exchange for closing local roads running through the remainder of the park. It also allowed for the construction of Interstate 20
. The monuments in land transferred to the city are still maintained by the NPS. As with all historic areas administered by the NPS, the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on October 15, 1966. Over a million visitors visit the park every year.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Battle of Vicksburg
Battle of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
, waged from May 18 to July 4, 1863. The park, in Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, and Delta, Louisiana
Delta, Louisiana
Delta is a village in Madison Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 239 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tallulah Micropolitan Statistical Area.As the birthplace of Madam C.J...
, also commemorates the greater Vicksburg Campaign
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
, which preceded the battle. Reconstructed forts and trenches evoke memories of the 47-day siege that ended in the surrender of the city. Victory here and at Port Hudson
Siege of Port Hudson
The Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
gave the United States control of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Battlefield
USS Cairo (1861)
USS Cairo was a City class ironclad gunboat constructed for the Union Navy by James B. Eads during the American Civil War. She was the first vessel of the City class ironclads, also called the Cairo class....
(sunk on December 12, 1862, on the Yazoo River, recovered successfully in 1964), and the Grant's Canal site, where the Union army attempted to build a canal to let their ships bypass Confederate artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
fire. The Cairo, also known as the "Hardluck Ironclad," was the first U.S. ship in history to be sunk by a torpedo/mine. It was raised in 1964. The Illinois State Memorial has 47 steps, one for every day Vicksburg was besieged.
Campaign against Vicksburg
- Battle of Chickasaw BayouBattle of Chickasaw BayouThe Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, also called Walnut Hills, fought December 26–29, 1862, was the opening engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign during the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton repulsed an advance by Union Maj. Gen. William T...
- Battle of Arkansas Post
- Battle of Grand GulfBattle of Grand GulfThe Battle of Grand Gulf was fought on April 29, 1863, during the American Civil War. In the Vicksburg Campaign of Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Union naval forces under Rear Adm. David D. Porter led seven ironclads in an attack on the Confederate fortifications and batteries at Grand Gulf, downriver...
(April 29, 1863) - Battle of Snyder's BluffBattle of Snyder's BluffThe Battle of Snyder's Bluff was fought from April 29 to May 1, 1863, during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. William T...
(April 29 – May 1) - Battle of Port GibsonBattle of Port GibsonThe Battle of Port Gibson was fought near Port Gibson, Mississippi, on May 1, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
(May 1) - Battle of RaymondBattle of RaymondThe Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, near Raymond, Mississippi, during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The bitter fight pitted elements of Union Army Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee against Confederate forces of Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton's...
(May 12) - Battle of Jackson (May 14)
- Battle of Champion HillBattle of Champion HillThe Battle of Champion Hill, or Bakers Creek, fought May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate Lt. Gen. John C...
(May 16) - Battle of Big Black River BridgeBattle of Big Black River BridgeThe Battle of Big Black River Bridge, or Big Black, fought May 17, 1863, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate Lt. Gen. John C...
(May 17) - Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4)
Cemetery
The 116.28 acre (0.4705688808 km²) Vicksburg National Cemetery, is within the park. It has 18,244 interments (12,954 unidentified); grave space is not available. Date of Civil War interments: 1866-1874.Grant's Canal
The remnants of Grant's CanalGrant's Canal
Grant's Canal was located near Delta, Louisiana. Ulysses S. Grant ordered the project, started on June 27, 1862, with two goals in mind. The first was to alter the course of the Mississippi River in order to bypass the Confederate guns at Vicksburg, Mississippi. For various technical reasons the...
, a detached section of the military park, are located across from Vicksburg near Delta, Louisiana
Delta, Louisiana
Delta is a village in Madison Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 239 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tallulah Micropolitan Statistical Area.As the birthplace of Madam C.J...
. Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
ordered the project, started on June 27, 1862, as part of his Vicksburg Campaign, with two goals in mind. The first was to alter the course of the Mississippi River in order to bypass the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
guns at Vicksburg. For various technical reasons the project failed to meet this goal. The river did change course by itself on April 26, 1876. The project met its second goal, keeping troops occupied during the laborious maneuvering required to begin the Battle of Vicksburg.
Administrative history
The national military parkNational Military Park
National Military Park, National Battlefield, National Battlefield Park, and National Battlefield Site are four designations for 24 battle sites preserved by the United States federal government because of their national importance...
was established on February 21, 1899, to commemorate the siege and defense of Vicksburg. The park sprawls over 1800 acres (7.3 km²) of land. The park and cemetery were transferred from the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
to the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(NPS) on August 10, 1933. Of the park's 1,736.47 acres (not including the cemetery), 1729.63 acres (7 km²) are federally owned.
In the late 1950s, a portion of the park was transferred to the city as a local park in exchange for closing local roads running through the remainder of the park. It also allowed for the construction of Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
. The monuments in land transferred to the city are still maintained by the NPS. As with all historic areas administered by the NPS, the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on October 15, 1966. Over a million visitors visit the park every year.
External links
- Official NPS website: Vicksburg National Military Park
- Main park map links: 32°20′39"N 90°51′6"W
- Grant's Canal map links: 32°19′14"N 90°56′0"W
- Guide to records (allotment ledger) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (correspondence files) from Vicksburg National Cemetery
- Guide to records (correspondence of the Park Architect relating to construction) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (correspondence relating to construction bids and bonds) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (employee time records) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (invoices) from the Vicksburg National Cemetery
- Guide to records (land purchases) from the Vicksburg National Cemetery
- Guide to records (ledgers) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (letters received by the Commission Chairman) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (letters received by the Park Engineer) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (letters received by Superintendent) from the Vicksburg National Cemetery
- Guide to records (letters sent by the Commission Chairman) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (letters sent by the Park Engineer) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (letters sent by the Superintendent) from the Vicksburg National Cemetery
- Guide to records (list of headstones) from the Vicksburg National Cemetery
- Guide to records (minutes of Commission meeting) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (paid bills) from the Vicksburg National Military Park
- Guide to records (expenditures) from the Vicksburg National Cemetery