Raymond National Military Park?

Raymond National Military Park?

Permanent preservation of the Raymond, Port Gibson, and Champion Hill battlefields of the Vicksburg Campaign is being sought through legislation sponsored by Mississippi's Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker. The bill was introduced on February 3, 2011, in order to preserve endangered battlefield properties, and while the timing may be viewed as inopportune due to the current round of budget cuts, it is in reality well-considered. If the Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the American Civil War is not the appropriate time to save key elements of the Vicksburg Campaign, when is?

The Vicksburg Campaign has been called "the most brilliant campaign ever fought on American soil" by the U.S. Army. In fact, the military still uses this campaign for teaching leadership and decision-making skills to its leaders. Soldiers, airmen, and Marines from bases across the nation regularly visit Mississippi to conduct on-site study, both in the Vicksburg National Military Park and on the outlying maneuver areas and battlefields.

But how long will these training sites remain? The only true Northern battlefield, Gettysburg , has been viewed as hallowed ground (not to mention as a major tourist attraction) since November 19, 1863, the day of Lincoln 's Gettysburg address. All the while the sites of the Vicksburg Campaign have been disappearing--being swallowed up by urban expansion or commercial or private development. Another major preservation problem for the Vicksburg Campaign is that it is in the "Western Theater of Operations;" in other words, not in the high-profile, Washington , DC , accessible areas of Virginia , Maryland , and Pennsylvania . But that problem is being remedied.

Recently, such books as Terry Winschel's Triumph and Defeat (volumes 1 and 2) and the late Warren Grabau's 2002 work, Ninety-Eight Days: A Geographer's View of the Vicksburg Campaign, explained the terrain and the tactics in terms that the general readership could embrace. These works were followed by Michael Ballard's Vicksburg: The Campaign that Opened the Mississippi, and Tim Smith's work, Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg. Then, in 2010 the nationally-known author of Forrest Gump, Winston Groom, published Vicksburg : 1863, which greatly expanded the exposure of the campaign to the public. Also in 2010, the internationally-known National Geographic Society released Receding Tide: Vicksburg and Gettysburg, co-authored by Ed Bearss and Parker Hills. Bearss, a nationally renowned historian, and Hills, a Mississippian and retired military officer, have for decades been exploring the intricacies and terrain of the Vicksburg Campaign. Army magazine, Receding Tide "establishes a standard for literary excellence" and provides and "excellent analysis of the Civil War's turning point." But at least one other Vicksburg book is in the works.

This year a new work, Vicksburg Blitzkrieg, will be published, and will provide assessments of the Vicksburg Campaign from various subject matter experts. Chapters will be written by area residents Michael Ballard, Tim Smith, Gary Joiner, and Parker Hills, and others, while the well-respected Stephen Woodworth will edit the book. Interest in the Vicksburg Campaign is greatly increasing, and a much greater number of readers will be coming to Mississippi . The passage of this legislation will help to ensure that they find what they seek.

With public interest on the rise during the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the opportunity to permanently preserve much of the Vicksburg Campaign for both professional study and historical tourism has now been presented to Congress. But, time is running out as the properties are being gobbled up. To save at least one portion the campaign, Friends of Raymond (FOR) has been working for over a decade to preserve the Raymond battlefield from the urban expansion of the Jackson area. Working with Miss. Dept. of Archives and History, the Civil War Trust, and Vicksburg National Military Park , FOR has so far been successful in preserving 135 battlefield acres. But there is much more to do before the window of opportunity closes forever. Last year the FOR Board of Directors, upon being queried as to its opinion of the proposed legislation, voted unanimously to support the possibility of inclusion of the Raymond battlefield into the National Military Park system in order to ensure perpetual preservation. Now that the legislation has been presented, FOR is looking forward to its passage and then working with the National Park System in the interpretation and management of the Raymond battlefield.

The Raymond battlefield--in fact the entire Vicksburg Campaign--should be permanently preserved so that future generations can see, learn, and ponder as they travel the ground. The campaign is a marvelous training ground for our military, and is a potential gold mine for tourism dollars. The time has come for us to commit to permanently preserving our history while enhancing our economy. Members of FOR are encouraged to contact their Congressional representatives in support of this legislation.

If not now, when?

Click here for contact information for Mississippi's Congressional delegation

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 3, 2011

CONTACT: Chris Gallegos (Cochran)

(202) 224-6414

Rick Curtsinger (Wicker)

(202) 224-6253

COCHRAN & WICKER REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND

VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK

Bill Authorizes Park Expansion in Three Mississippi Civil War Battlefield Units

WASHINGTON , D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today reintroduced his legislation to authorize the expansion of the Vicksburg National Military Park in Claiborne and Hinds counties.

Cochran and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, the measure’s primary cosponsor, indicated their intent to push for Senate consideration of the Champion Hill, Port Gibson and Raymond Battlefield Addition Act. First introduced in November, the legislation was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“I am hopeful that the Senate will be able to soon consider this measure to protect more of the battlefields associated with the Vicksburg Campaign,” Cochran said. “The battle for Vicksburg and its position on the Mississippi was a critical chapter of the Civil War. As such, this measure was written to protect additional areas that represent an important time for the history of our nation and our state.”

“I am glad to join Senator Cochran and state and local officials in this effort to protect historic Civil War battlefields in Mississippi ,” said Wicker. “Expanding the Vicksburg National Military Park is an important way we can preserve the history of our state.”

The Cochran-Wicker bill would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to acquire—through voluntary sale, donation or exchange—approximately 10,000 acres of property determined to be significant to the preservation of historic battlefield sites.

The measure addresses three separate parcels: the Port Gibson Unit in Claiborne County and the Raymond Unit and Champion Hill Unit, both in Hinds County . Designated “modified core battlefield” sites by the NPS, these properties also encompass several historic homes, such as the Shaifer House at Port Gibson and the Coker House at Champion Hill. The NPS would assume maintenance and security responsibilities for these structures once they are included in the Military Park .

The legislation was developed with input from the NPS, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Civil War Preservation Trust and local officials.

While few so-called lands bills were enacted in the 111th Congress, both Cochran and Wicker believe the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War might help propel their legislation in the new 112th Congress.