Kicked off my 2015 running calendar & ‘Hillbilly Spring’ in Jackson, Mississippi.  After multiple flights, arrived just before noon Friday, picked up my rental & drove 45 minutes west to Vicksburg.  Today’s destination: Vicksburg National Military Park – commemorating the historic siege of Vicksburg in 1863.

The Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) 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 Vicksburg led by Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton into the defensive lines surrounding the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

 

The Confederate surrender following the siege at Vicksburg is sometimes considered, when combined with the defeat at Gettysburg by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade the previous day, the turning point of the war.  It cut off the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas from the rest of the Confederacy, as well as communication with Confederate forces for the remainder of the war.

The Park is near overloaded with monuments – first Union mausoleums & pillars, then Confederate commemorations.  Most interesting stops – the U.S.S. Cairo [pronounced K-Ro by locals] & National Cemetery.

The iron-clad U.S.S. Cairo sunk in December 1863, 12 minutes after hitting rebel mines.  Discovered in 1956, the ship was raised years later & moved to its current location for public display.  Fitted for cannons – super interesting.

A ranger at the Visitors Center recommended I visit the Old Courthouse Museum in downtown Vicksburg, along with a few antebellum homes of the era.  The Old Courthouse Museum was relic jammed with Vicksburg past – mostly Confederate items, including Jeff Davis photos & furniture (President of the Confederate States).  Since Gone with the Wind, had held romantic notions regarding the Confederate flag.  In person however, I found the flag itself disturbing.  Additionally, found their exhibit ‘Negro Wedding’ offensive.  I love history but in this instance, some things are better buried in the past.

Visited 4 nearby antebellum homes in historic Vicksburg.  The interior tour of Cedar Grove was interesting but again, found the back history disturbing so ended the day there.  Done.

Sorry for the negativity folks.  I met many friendly people in Mississippi – probably just not a great fit for me personally.

Back in Jackson, [Mississippi Blues] bib pickup & pasta dinner with Marathon Maniac peeps.  Temps expected to dip under 30 overnight – deep freeze in the Deep South, perfect race day weather 🙂