Our tour takes us around the city of Vicksburg. The town was settled in the 1700’s by the French on the East side of the Mississippi River.

There are beautiful murals telling the history in paintings that are displayed alongside the railroad tracks following the river.

Vicksburg was a thriving town of commerce on the Mississippi River because of both the river and rails.

Cotton was King in the south and several people in Vicksburg made their money through cotton as a commodity. Today the population is around 21,000 and not much is going on in the town, tourism definitely helps. Vicksburg had a population of 4500 residents at the time of the Civil War. These people did amazing things to survive the 47 day siege by the Union.

The union had 400 cannons surrounding the town and continued to bomb the town for 47 days until they surrendered. How did they survive? They built caves into the bluffs that the town was built on. One of the larger caves had a name but most were built by the residents who moved into their cave while the bombing went on.

There were lull’s in the bombing at meal times and that is when they would go back to their homes, pray in the church, and gather food and other items to take back to their caves. As a result only 30 people died during the siege.

Our next stop on the tour is Christ Episcopal Church, built in 1839-1843. Daily services were held during the Siege of Vicksburg. Only stained glass windows were broken during the siege, two windows survived. The church outside has been covered in stucco to protect the original red bricks that the church was built with. The current rector gave a nice talk about the church’s history, organ, stained glass windows, and prior rectors.

Just behind the church is the mansion of Duff and Mary Green. He was the smart man who gave his house to be used as a hospital for the confederate AND union soldiers. Thus, he saved his house and the buildings around 4 blocks around it from bombing.

The next tour stop is to visit the Duff Green Mansion. It is now a Bed and Breakfast. We were served punch and cupcakes while listening to the owner describe what it was like living in this home before the war. The antebellum history of the home was interesting and one of the only mansions in the town (versus Natchez where all the plantation mansions were saved because they surrendered before they could be destroyed). The current owner is a Vicksburg native who was determined to save a building with a rich history. Opening the home to tours is a good example of southern hospitality (and a smart tourism idea!).

As we return to the ship, other buildings built in the early 1800’s can be seen in various states and a Towboat used by the Army Corp of Engineers.

Tomorrow we will tour the Vicksburg National Military Park. Love learning/refreshing my history knowledge!

I was able to take a photo of our ship docked. You can see some the murals in front too.