Siege on Vicksburg

First of all I need to make you envious by telling you I am outside writing this at 6:00 P.M. and it is still 66 degrees outside. Nice!

Well we did not go to the Ag Museum today. Dennis was visiting with the neighbors last night. They had been to Vicksburg and the Vicksburg National Military Park yesterday and took a private guided tour. Dennis thought that was pretty neat so we went to Vicksburg today.

It was about a 45 minute drive to Vicksburg and the park. We arrived just before noon. The tours are given by licensed battlefield guides. The park contacted an available guide. While we waited for him we watched a 20 minute movie about the siege on Vicksburg. David Warren was our tour guide and he arrived shortly after the movie ended.

David was a great story teller and provided lots of information that you just don't get when you drive around these sites yourself. I have done tours similar to this at both Gettysburg and the Bighorn Battlefield and they are always interesting and informative. He is also a Navy veteran and could provide insight from a military point of view.

The tour guides charge $25 an hour for their services. Our tour was supposed to be 2 hours long but was closer to 3. Because our “contract” was for 2 hours we only paid for 2. It was very interesting and we saw and learned a lot.

This Civil War event was not really a battle but a siege. The Union Army made multiple attempts to remove the Confederates from their fortresses high on the bluffs and ridges surrounding Vicksburg. After failed attempts and severe loss of men Maj. General Grant decided the only way to win Vicksburg was to starve the Confederate Army out. After 45 days and his men threatening mutiny because of lack of food and disease, Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton had no choice but to surrender.

We spent about 4 hours there and could have spent another 3 to 4 hours to really experience all parts of the park.

We headed back to the camper as we where both getting hungry. We had beef vegetable soup for supper that I had made earlier in the day. Maybe the Ag Museum tomorrow!?

PS-I was so engrossed in the tour I forgot to take pictures! Bummer!