February 27
Hiking and walking, not sure how much!
An early morning departure on a chilly but very bright day. We stopped at the Cypress and Tupelo Swamp and hiked the trail. The trees are amazing and we saw our second ever Red-headed Woodpecker:
We got to Vicksburg around 11 and saw the mighty Mississippi for the first time this trip:
After lunch, we spent more than three hours touring the Vicksburg National Military Park. It’s on the site of the battle for Vicksburg, which controlled the Mississippi and all supplies to both Confederate and Union soldiers. After a bloody battle, the South surrendered. The Park is partially a historical display of the battles as well as the glory of the states, generals and soldiers involved.
There are magnificent tributes to the states:
…many leaders, especially this guy who looks like Billy Connolly (whom I met, in L.A. with Alana and Heather!):
The cemetery holds 13,000 Union dead (the Confederates are at another cemetery in town). Some graves are unmarked, and some feature the greatest names:
There was also the preserved USS Cairo, sunk then recovered from the Yazoo (yep, “up the”) River:
It was beautiful and poignant and a great stop for Civil War buffs like us.
We picked up really good Mississippi BBQ at Goldie’s and enjoyed good food and TV to end our visit here.
Here’s the view of our campsite (it WAS mid 60’s but no sitting outside yet). Our first Mockingbirds sat in that tree and woke us this morning!)
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