Staying in Miss was a bit diverse. Not only because of the virus but from being up yonder in New York, not from their neck of the woods, I felt a bit out of place like some of y’all thought “I was too big for my britches.” Being here we only saw one other license plate for NY and not many others from up yonder.  But on the other hand most of folks, especially the original Mississip’s made us feel “Happier than a tornado in a trailer park.” Should I be saying that?

Some  parting pictures of  Mississippi

Vicksburg Riverfront Murals located on Levee Street along the flood wall. right down by the Mighty Mississippi River.

 

Robert Dafford’s 32 life-like pictorial murals depict periods of history in Vicksburg. Also featured is an abstract mural by Vicksburg artist Martha Ferris which was the first mural to be painted along the floodwall in 2001. The murals recognizes three vital pathways  showing  Vicksburg’s diversity: the river, the railroad, and the highway.

Here are a couple of my favorite

Mural by Martha Ferris

 

THE FAMOUS BEAR HUNT:
“The Teddy Bear is Born”

On November 12, 1902, the Washington Post reported that President Theodore Roosevelt was headed to  Mississippi for a 4-day bear hunt.    I just love how the artist painted their faces, they look so real.

 

 

 The start of something big!

I bet he didn’t know back then that Coca Cola would be used to fertilize, tenderize and neutralize not only just to Drink!  Things go better with Coke!

 

1953 Tornado: “The Highest Award for Journalism” A disaster that won a Pulitzer Prize

On a warm Saturday afternoon in the winter of 1953, a tornado etched a path of destruction from Vicksburg’s waterfront through downtown and into a northeast residential area.

The Vicksburg Sunday Post Herald received journalism’s highest award, the Pulitzer Prize, for its courage under deadline pressure. The Sunday newspaper was printed and then delivered by its carriers the morning following the tornado. Mr. Pat Cashman is pictured below at the unveiling ceremony.

 

VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK:

The idea for the park can be credited to Civil War veterans of the Blue and Gray Association who, in 1895, formed the Vicksburg National Military Park Association.,   Veterans helped to mark the park.

WILLIE DIXON:   “The Blue are the Roots … the Rest are the Fruits”

The River she is still a risin

When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do‘

 

The Tomato Place

We heard so much about it we had to go and check it out.  We didn’t get any take out dinners although others were, everyone says their food is delicious.  We did sample some of their own special sauces and they were so good we bought some.  So glad we did! Ya never know what your gonna find in The Miss.

“Part old-fashioned produce stand, part cafe, and part craft gallery, this colorful, quirky place sits along US 61 just south of Vicksburg. It offers locally grown fruit and vegetables, homemade jams and preserves, all-fruit smoothies, and fresh squeezed lemonade. Diners can enjoy tasty po’ boys, BLTs, sweet potato fries, and peach cobbler.”

 

One of our Favorite Restaurants!

Dave and I first went to Abe’s about 14 years ago when we were in the area.  After passing Abe’s I told Dave we should go there for breakfast.  He reluctantly agreed.  He let me go in first and unwillingly followed.  To say the least we had a wonderful breakfast and went back after that.   Like all the reviews say “it’s an unexpected treat”

We’ve always talked about how unique a place and how delicious Abe’s food was.  We were very glad they were open for take-out this time around.   Abe’s is famous for his homemade biscuits and meat – pork, steak and ham.  I’m not a fan of meat, just don’t like the taste.  There one exception: Our friends Don & Mary’s steak dinner.  Don has a way of making a steak taste so good, it doesn’t taste like steak!  It’s the only steak I eat! Plus with Mary’s side dishes you can’t go wrong!  Dave had a pork sandwich and said I had to try it so I did! Abe’s pork sandwich was also so delicious, it melts in your mouth.  Top it off with his delicious Idaho French fires and sweet ice tea you just can’t go wrong!  In fact we went back twice !  Abe is the original owner and chef and it is always great to talk with him and his wife.  They have been in business for 47 years and still going strong!  See you next time around Abe, Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise!

Oh boy was it good!!

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Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.  `John Muir~

Besides eating …..We do go to great places to walk and enjoy our surroundings.

Bless Your Heart…. for peekin at my blog, I’ve been piddlin around like all tarnation to get it done, so darn tootin glad I it did!           Hopefully, my friend Sandy, when we see you next I won’t be talkin like this! 

 

 

 

 

We are now in Chattanooga Tn, sort of, the park we are at( Holiday Trav park) is actually in Georgia, less than 1/4 mile from Tennessee. The park is not one of our planned stops, we were to have stayed at Canyonlands State park in Georgia, close to Chattanooga, but they canceled our reservation, with all the non sense going on. So we booked our stay here at Holiday Trav park for 9 days.

We got here Saturday, after driving 235 mile east from Corinth Mississippi. The roads here are terrible to say the least. The park has a lot of pull thru’s which is nice, it also sits on a civil war skirmish area, where some fighting took place before the battle of Chickamaga in Georgia. More to come, below are pics of our spot.

Monument on the park property, where the troops of the 84th Indiana Vols, spent time.

We have been having an OK time here in Corinth. The weather had been in the low 70’s and sunny although tomorrow is going to rain. We have been here twice before, once in 2003 (We just saw some sites and left), and once in 2006, when we stayed a few days. Corinth is rated in the top 20 small cities to retire in, that is why we came down in 2006. It has changed somewhat here, seems a little more run down as in most of Mississippi, it’s a poor state.

Just like everywhere else, the visitor center, interpretive center, museums, shopping centers are all closed, and Restaurants are open for take out. There is also a lot of traffic here, not sure where people are going, plus not a lot of people wearing masks, OH well. Melissa will be making a better post of our outings here in a few days also.

Yes, Corinth has a lot of Civil War History. In early 1862 Corinth was a confederate stronghold. It has four railroad lines coming in and a number of roads. So it was a great place to move supplies further south and north. The confederates built 32 miles of earthwork fortifications around the city.

In early April 1862, when the confederates learned the union army was coming down the Tennessee river to Pittsford landing near Shiloh, they massed there troops and made a surprise attach at the union lines at Shiloh, just 30 miles to the north. They nearly took the field, but after a few days retreated back to Corinth to build up more defenses. In early May the union attached, the north fortifications at Corinth. After a few days of trying to break through, the union decided to lay siege to the city, for a month they starved the city and confederate soldiers. The city finally surrendard, the union moved in and set up there defenses in the same ones built by the confederates, months before. The union now had hold of the key railroad lines and roads of supply. The confederates however built up there forces and made a strong counter attack in Oct of 1862. The attack failed and the confederates retreated to the south. Corinth stayed in union hands toil the war ended.

The railroad crossing

As the battle looked at the railroad crossing.

Of the 32 miles of earthwork fortifications only about 9 miles are left, most of that on private property. There is a small section that is in the national park hands. Once you park off the road, it is a mile and a half walk to the earthworks. The day we walked it was 74 and nice and sunny, a very peaceful day for a history walk.

Red line is the earthworks surrounding Corinth. The part we saw you can see a close up on the upper right.

This is how it looked then, no trees anywhere.

As it looks now, in a forest, over the years, the earthworks which could have been 10 feet high, have now worn down to mere feet. They are however untouched and are original, which there are very few of left any more around the country.

We are now in Corinth Mississippi at the Cross Roads RV park. We left Vicksburg Saturday about 10 or so and got here at 4 . Corinth is in the very north east part of the state. Drove 312 miles, the most we have driven in a while. Roads were very empty of traffic, bit the roads themselves were very bumpy. This park has 15 spots, very small, but has full hook ups and is very pleasant to be at. Plus it’s only $24.00 a day. Below are pics of our site. More to come.

 

 

 

As I mentioned before, Vicksburg was not on our plans, as a place to stay, but with all the cancellations in Arkansas, due to the virus, this is where we decided to hunker down for a while. I origanaley wasn’t going to post a lot on the battle of Vicksburg, but now after going there 4 different days, and walking over 17 miles of the battlefield, I decided to post a little more in depth on the battle.

Yes, we have been here 4 different days now, the battlefield is closed, no visitor center, no museum and no gate guard. So that means you can park in there lot for free. There are 16 miles of roads in the park, the first time we went there I thought, that the park roads were open, no such luck, they are closed to all vehicular traffic. However you can walk, jog, bike and all that. So that’s what we did the 4 times we were there, we walked about 4 miles a day.

The battlefield has over 1,300 monuments, markers, and tablets, about half each for union and confederate. This is unlike Gettysburg which has over 1,100 but only about a dozen are confederate.

The was a siege more than a battle. The union army had been coming down south on the Mississippi, with union gunboats in the lead taking city after city, but when it got to Vicksburg, the confederate defenses were to strong. So Grant crossed over into Louisiana above Vicksburg marched his way down, crossed the Mississippi at about Port Hudson, below Vicksburg, marched north and east ,and came at Vicksburg by land by the east. By May 18 the battle lines looked like the map below. The confederates were well dug in.

( Red line is the 8 mile long Confederate defenses, surrounding Vicksburg, with the blue as union lines.)

 

Below,

(This map is how it is today with the tour roads in place.)Blue lines are the 16 miles of park roads built by the CCC in the 1930’s, they actually improved the dirt roads originally put in. It is also very hilly here.

 

 

Grant, then made 3 separate attacks at the confederate lines, all failed. After that he decided to lay siege to the city and it’s defender’s. For 47 days and nights, he bombarded the city and the confederate lines with over 200 cannons. Out on the Mississippi, above and below Vicksburg, union gunboats bombarded from the river. With the city cut off, soon there was no food, people starting eating, dogs, rats, horses anything they could. They also were running out of ammunition. Vicksburg residents soon were digging tunnels into the ground to live in as the city was pretty much destroyed( Unlike Natchez which has many beautiful 1800 style homes. They just gave up.) With Living conditions  horrible and the confederate army starving also, confederate General Pemberton asked General Grant for surrender terms. After there meeting the city was surrendered on July 4 1863. In a telegram to Lincoln, Grant said, I present you this fine fourth of July, “The Key” to the south, the city of Vicksburg. After this the union controlled the Mississippi and closed the door to supplies coming from the west to the confederates. This victory along with the victory at Gettysburg the day before was the doom of the south, although it would take two more years.

As I mentioned Grant made three separate attacks on different days. One of those attacks I would like to describe below. Remember that back then there were virtually no trees at the time, both sides had clear views of each other.

The confederates built a number of strong holds, or large earthen forts, along there lines. They overlooked a large area, within were many cannon, rifle pits bunkers and trenches were men could be covered by enemy fire. These would be manned by a couple thousand troops. One such fort was manned by the third Louisiana, it overlooked an area where the Shirley plantation house was. The union lines were at the Shirley house and on either side of it were large number of union cannon pits. From the Shirley house the union dug trenches towards the Confederate fort, once they got close they started digging a tunnel. They burrowed day and night until they were under the fort. They then placed 2,200 pounds of black powder and lit it. The explosion tour a big hole in the side of the fort, and union troops rushed in, only to be met with a terrific fire from the confederates. More troops poured in until it became hand to hand combat. Back and forth they went, with rifle butts, swords, bayonets flailing for almost 20 hours until finally a fresh unit of confederates came in and plugged the hole. It was a failed attack by the union. After this General grant, decided to lay siege to the city.

Above, shows the union trench lines, dug from the Shirley house and in the middle top the result of the explosion, with union troops moving in.

Above, confederate side of the third Louisiana fort.

 

A top of the earthen fort, out in the distance is the union line of cannon, and out of the picture to the left, is the Shirley house.

This is the union line looking toward the Shirley house in the distance, the cannon are pointing toward the third Louisiana fort

This is what it looked like at the time of the siege.

 

I thought this was very interesting. One battery of four cannon, fired 2368 rounds of artillery in the span of less than 10 days.

The Shirley house as it looks today. It is the only surviving civil war house left on the battle field. In the back and to the left are steep drop offs, look at the pics below to see how the union, dug in and lived.

How would you have liked to live like this. The area now is totally tree covered.

 

Another vintage view.

 

Below are a few of the monuments and terrain of the fields.

I think the Rebs are coming!!!!

Melissa STOP hugging a tree.

 

Cooper the mascot

 

 

 

Along the southern part of the battle field, there are few monuments. While there were confederate and union lines there, not a lot happened. So In 1960, that part was turned over to the state and then the federal government, to make way for interstate route 20.

Interstate 20 crossing over the Mississippi into Louisiana

At the very, very southern end there were at the time a 300 acre area that the union had positioned artillery batteries. They were there to stop the confederate from escaping and making there way across the Mississippi. All that is left now is a two acre area, with a few monuments, surrounded by commercial development.

 

 

 

We’ve been in Mississippi (The Sipp) for awhile now and I had a hankrin to write, so it’s time for you to Sit a Spell and enjoy!

 

 

What is she doing?  I’m mimicking  playing the saxophone,  it’s the birthplace of music!

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Across the street from the Campground is a park with a path and a dog park.  We’ve been going there daily for some “larking” and exercise.  There is also a large garden where they have planted some vegetables.  “Everything that suits your fancy.”

They have incentive signs to keep you movin and a groovin

 

 

 

 

Darn Tootin’ …….Cooper is having a blast running around in the dog park

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With all the  strange and “catawampus” occurrences going on in the world

It has been really nice to see flowers blooming all around in The Miss.

 

Another place we’ve been going to is Vicksburg National Military Park

It has been a great place to walk, it’s hilly, and you learn along the way

 

Dave is mapping out our walk for today !

 

                                Well, I declare Dave is trying to negotiate with these two gentlemen.

                          They have great food in The Miss!  “Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit.”

One of our favorite stops for food is the Gumbo Pot.

I’ve had Po’boy, Seafood Gumbo, Okra, Jambalaya, shrimp & grits and our favorite blackened catfish and delicious bread pudding!

A few things I learned in Miss, is that:    Nabs are peanut butter  crackers,   Goobers are Peanuts, Root can mean a potato and a Slug is a burger!    As they say here “Well slap my hand and call me silly”

 

A local business that is very unique on the outside. They must have very “Thingamajigger” that you need.   From what I read it’s nice in the inside and has local products and they even serve food that is suppose to be very good.

 

I can’t imagine where this came from?  I think someone was upset and removed it instead of pulling weeds.

Last but not least.  Are we suppose to be impressed!  “Funny as all get out”

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“Well I bess Hus up cause it’s time to Skedaddle”   

I hope you enjoyed my Mississippi Slang, yes they do talk different down yonder

So, what have we been up to for the last week or so , here in Vicksburg. Well, except for Easter Sunday, which I will talk abut below, the weather here has been fine, high 70’s and clear. We have done a lot of walking at the dog park, and finally at the Vicksburg National Military park, which I will post about later. We have also been renting movies from the Redbox, to watch most nights. We have also a few times ordered take out again from the Gumbo pot restaurant. Gas here is $1.39 lowest i have seen it anywhere in a few years. Also we have made a few reservations and started planning our trip back down to Florida this fall, and then out of Florida in the start of 2021 to Arizona. Maps are out all over the place and sometimes I get a little confused as to what i’m doing. Other than that we are just laying low like most other people.

Getting back to the weather, yep, Easter Sunday was interesting to say the least. We knew from watching the reports during the week, we were in for a alert day as they call it here. After we had our Sunday breakfast of eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast, I went out and hitched up the truck to the 5er, so that a lot of weight would be on it. Then we got a bag together of our wallets, medication and keys and put that in Melissa’s purse. Then we put, her purse, rain jackets, bike helmets and Cooper’s leash by the door. If the siren blew we were ready to scoot out the door and run to the bathhouse which is a tornado safe building, about 200 yards away. After that we turned on the TV to the weather channel, and had that on all day. The weather channel showed that all of Mississippi was in a Tornado watch, which means conditions are very likely to produce Tornado’s. If you get a Tornado warning you need to get somewhere safe fast.

The map below shows where we are, the big black circle. Just above is a curved oval, that’s where the first tornado’s came down from left to right. Started in Louisiana toward Vicksburg but turned north up to Yazoo city, which it hit pretty bad. This was about 2 o’clock or so. The weather channel at first had it coming toward Vicksburg which concerned us a lot, but then the tornado was pushed north of us. This tornado came within 30 miles of us or so. I do not believe any one was killed by this one, although more than 400 homes and businesses were destroyed. The big oval below is where two tornado’s came through, from left to right,about 4:30 or so,one right after the other, almost in the same path they said. These two were on the ground for over an hour each, traveling a couple hundred miles. These apparently were tornado’s in rain storms which they say you cannot see coming, and little warning. These were south of us 80 miles or so. I believe they killed 11 people. Mamma’s Café and Restaurant, had 4 people hiding in it. It was completely destroyed. A rescuer found two people dead, one man crawling out of the debris, saying there were 4 of us here. He later died. They found the 4th person 200 yards away hanging from a tree. Just like that gone.

Where we were ,we had some heavy rain, thunder and lightning and some wind, that was it and that was enough. After five or so, all the storms and tornado’s seemed to be moving north east, but until eight o’clock we were still in the tornado watch. A few days have passed  and we hear all the stories, coming out. Both of us are humbled at the power of nature, these tornado’s could have easily came our way.

This is the first time we have ever been in a tornado watch area. So, were we scared, no I don’t think so, I think we both were nervous and on edge. We ate a lot of junk food, and I had a few more drinks than I normally have. It was nice to crawl into bed that night, with Missy, we both prayed that we were safe and prayed for the lives lost.

The bad weather up north.

After the storms

Nice sunset view of the sky clearing.

 

 

 

We have now been at Rivertown Rv park for almost two weeks. We have extended our stay here until the 18th. We were to have gone to Memphis, but everything is closed . As this park is private the office, bathrooms, showers and all that are open.The park is quiet, there are a lot of units here that people live in full time, and some seasonals. We see them come and go to work and back. We have also seen a lot of travelers come in for one night and then gone on there way.

We have been out and about the city, not the historic part or the Vicksburg battlefield yet. Most everything is closed or open for take out, which we have done. We have been to the Dairy Queen, the Chic fila(for the first time, it was good) and a place called the Gumbo Pot. The Gumbo Pot is more of a fancy place, but with take out only, pic below shows how we got it. I have to say it was very good, I got Blackened catfish and fries, and Melissa got grits and schrimp. We will most likely order there again, if they stay open. The one place I miss the most is going to breakfast at the Waffle house, most are just closed around here. I feel really bad for resturants, having to do this, many, many will not reopen, because of the poor regulations put in place by the puppet government.

Shopping has been interesting. Have gone twice to the local Dollar General, it looks like a bomb went off in it with people just fumbling around. Will try not to go there again.We have been to the local Walmart three times, each time was worse, the second time about a week ago most people were all over each other, hacking and coughing all the while. Today was our third and last time there for at least two weeks. We made masks and wore them. They now only allow a certain number of people in at a time, so it wasn’t to crowded.

We have also been walking most every day, there is a dog park and walking trail right across the road. So we go there walk a few miles and let Cooper run in the dog run. The weather here has been nice , in the mid 70’s most days.

Our delicious dinner from the Gumbo Pot.

My new look around town.

Cooper sleeping, he likes to keep his nose warm.

Below, One of the sunsets the other night.

That is about it for now, not very exciting, but what is right now. We do have plans in the next week or so to go into the historic part of town and walk around, and also visit the Vicksburg National Military park. Even though most places are closed, the battlefield roads are still open for driving ,hiking and walking.

I saw this posted the other day. A 1920 made Tree RV. I wonder how long it lasted. Pretty neat too bad you can’t find a tree that big any more, I would make a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stayed at Natchez State Park.  From the entrance to the park to where the sites are was about 3 miles. It was all forest and the sites were also in the trees.  It was an OK place to stay, especially for someone who loves fishing.  There wasn’t a lot pf people there at all, just people fishing.  I don’t think it was due to the covid-19, I think it’s always very quiet there.

The best thing about the park was that the flowers were in bloom!

  

Dave & I were in Natchez years back but only for a brief time. We were disappointed being in Natchez this time and not doing and seeing what we wanted to due to the virus.  Especially Dave who is definitely a history buff and Natchez has plenty of that.

Natchez the town that looks over the Mississippi has lots of history dating back to 1716, it’s the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River. Even before Natchez was settled by Europeans, the city was home to the Natchez Indians. Natchez is home to some of the most well preserved and architecturally Southern Homes and plantations in the South and it was once the wealthiest city in America. Luckily, most of the homes in Natchez survived the Civil War.

We took a couple trips to the old part of Natchez.

We actually got to eat outside The Camp Restaurant right across from the Mississippi River before the virus.  It was very good!

 

 

The mighty Mississippi still above the sea level.

 

 

We visited the Natchez National Cemetery, a good spot to walk.