Visiting Vicksburg National Military Park

It's a beautiful park with amazing monuments.

Watch the movie about the battle.

It's poignant.

 The park covers the entire battle.

 With a lot of monuments.

It starts with the Union line and you can tell this

by the blue plaques, that explain company, regiment and who's in charge.

They are throughout the park.

The red plaques that are also throughout the park

are the Confederate lines and

they have the same information.

All of which these are the only two photos that

have the plaques in them.

Shocking I know.

 This is an Illinois Monument commemorating

the soldiers that fought and died in this battle.

 Grant tried many many ways to take the town of Vicksburg

and failed in every attempt.

It appears that Vicksburg was the perfect stronghold.

They had the high ground.

Only because Grant "out camped" the Confederate soldiers

that they finally surrendered.

 This is the Shirley house that happened to be 

a Union sympathizer and was used

as a hospital.

 Chasing a butterfly at the Shirley house.

You know I love butterflies.

There were also a massive amounts of ladybugs too.

 Stunning monuments throughout.

 The surrender took place by an old oak tree near this

heritage garden and home.

 Sadly, as in all battles in was gruesome and bloody.

 Approximately 20,000 American casualties.

The park is beautiful.

I just can't imagine.