Louisiana Circle -- Vicksburg MS
N 32° 19.186 W 090° 53.840
15S E 697934 N 3577822
A National Park Service historic marker at the Louisiana Circle overlook, part of the Vicksburg National Military Park in this historic city.
Waymark Code: WMMKPT
Location: Mississippi, United States
Date Posted: 10/04/2014
Views: 4
Visitors to the Louisiana Circle overlook of the Mississippi River will get an idea of where the Confederates tried and failed to stop the Union Navy from "running the gauntlet" past Vicksburg, in furtherance of General Grant's plan to take Vicksburg from the east.
The marker reads as follows:
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
Lookouts spotted Union vessels on the Mississippi River and sounded the alarm. Within minutes, the night sky blazed with the light of burning cotton bales and tar barrels. In forts like the one you are in, the Confederate gunners knew just where to point their guns. One boat sank and all the others were hit – but the Federal fleet would run the gauntlet.
Union transports were on their way to ferry the army across the river. This was a critical piece of General Ulysses Grant’s plan to attack Vicksburg from the east. The problem – Confederate cannon along the city’s bluffs. On April 16, 1863, the Union flotilla successfully floated past this point. After over a year of trying, the Union Army was about to cross the Mississippi River."
Describe - Highway or Road number: US 61 Business
Closest town or city: Vicksburb MS
Number of parking spots available: 20
Name if a website describes this location.: [Web Link]
Winter View: yes
Summer View: yes
Year around access ?: yes
Comfort station on site: no
Is a photo of an "Information Sign"included?: Yes
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