Vicksburg-The key to the South

I have been waiting for this one to share with you. We are in Vicksburg, MS. For those of you who aren't familiar with Vicksburg, it is the site of one of the most important battles of the Civil War. 

A little history.  Lincoln called Vicksburg the key to the South and he also stated that the war could not be won until that key was in our pocket. General Winfield Scott's strategy was to gain control of the Mississippi river to split the Confederacy.  By denying use of the Mississippi river, the South couldn't move supplies or men from the western Southern states to the eastern Southern states. The final linchpin in the strategy was Vicksburg. The Confederate army was well fortified and the natural topography all were conducive to stopping the march down the Mississippi. Grant tried over and over to take Vicksburg but with even the Navy bombarding the city, he was not able to take Vicksburg

. After the navy successfully ran the gauntlet of Vicksburg, Grant was able to move his troops across the Mississippi south of the city and began marching north. After throwing literally thousands of men against the wall, Vicksburg still stood. Ultimately, the only way for a victory was to conduct a siege, which he did, and 46 days later, Vicksburg surrendered. The beginning of the end for the Confederacy had started.

So, after that abbreviated history lesson, what does it have to do with our travels. Well, on Saturday, I had the privilege of visiting Vicksburg National Military Park. Perhaps the best example of an identified battlefield in the world.  I say privileged as this is truly hallowed ground.  Thousands of men fought and died here to restore the Union and ensure constitutional rights for all people. 

 I only wish that the new President who would be king, his millionaire cabinet and his locked stepped congress could come and visit this National Park. Let them walk the fields, ravines and hills. Let them see where men died so that our ideals would stand. Part of the park is the largest National Cemetery in the country. Over 17,000 Union soldiers are there. Over 13,000 are unknown. Who were they? People without names, pedigree or money. Freed black men, immigrants both documented and undocumented, men from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Massachusetts and every other northern state. As our constitutional rights are being trampled, it is unbelievable to see what real courage is.

The reason it is the best identified battlefield is that veterans from both sides were invited back after the war to show where they and their companies fought. There are over 1,300 monuments throughout the park. Some small, some large...but all dedicated to those that served.

If a walk through this park doesn't humble you and show what is really important than nothing will. You can walk the hills where artillery was placed, walk up the ravines where Union soldiers tried again and again to gain an advantage and look over the large fields of engagement.

And there is a park within a park. The USS Cairo has its own museum. The Cairo is the only ironclad ship of the Mississippi fleet left. Seven boats were built within 100 days and those ships helped win the river.  The ship had been sunk by electronically activated mines and went down in 12 minutes. All crew got off safely but left everything behind. The ship sat for 102 years and was finally raised, restored and put own display. The ship did not have all its metal cladding replaced, but rather the skeleton is in place so that you can see everything about the interior.

 Now here is the best part. There were 175 crew of sailors, officers and marines. The crew was more than half first generation immigrants from France, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, England and the Caribbean. Black and white. Farmers, teachers, and tradesmen. Most had no sailing experience but all came forward to serve their country. If Trump's immigrant ban was in place, who knows if the north would have won the Civil War. 

This wasn't supposed to be political but Vicksburg and the story of the people who lived and died here made it impossible. Hope you forgive my wanderings.