Vicksburg

Wednesday April 29, 2009 -

We went to the National Battlefield Park at Vicksburg, Mississippi. It was free because I had my one time purchase senior pass for National Parks. Our arrival coincided with the start of the film at the visitors center. At the conclusion of the film we walked through a small museum and gift shop, then toured the grounds.

It is a 16 mile car ride about the battlefield. There are many, many monuments to both individuals and units. They are placed where the unit was positioned during the campaign. I believe every state, N&S, who had units there, also had a major state monument. Illinois had the grandest, in my opinion. Pennsylvania's was impressive with four bronze faces on the granite. There was a separate pedestal with the bust of the governor atop. Mississippi's was one of the last erected and the posted sign spoke of the difficulty in the state legislature in passing the approval for its construction.

Recreated battlefields are always too peaceful. Birds chirp, the lawns are well manicured, all is bright and shinny with crisp signs indicating where troops were at the particular time, who attacked who, who won, who lost, and the casualty rate. There are no scared hands, no bits of bodies, no smell of death and wounds, no screams of fear or pain, no clouds of powder or roar of guns. The battlefield is now a place of peace, a place for picnics, a place where kids play soldier and shot with their thumb and forefinger at an unseen enemy.

I was glad we took the tour. I thought of Mel.

Our decision was to drive straight through to Memphis, catching Crossroads and Tunica on Thursday. Tonight, Wednesday, we would visit AutoZone field and see the minor league Red Birds. We arrived in Memphis with an hour to spare for the 7:05 start But it appears the Red Birds is for Thursday, not tonight.

There was some sort of festival on Beale street. Two blocks were only open to pedestrians. We were enticed by a hostess into Pigs on Beale. It turned out to be an outstanding choice.. We followed her suggestion, selecting a full rack with two sides, onion rings and beans. Since Den was driving he had the 12 oz and I the 32 oz beer. Our waitress took our picture we returned to the Knights Inn (the low end of Super 8). But that is a later story.