Vicksburg, MS (part 3 and last)

The best part of the Vicksburg Battle park tour is the U.S.S. Cairo museum and exhibit. The Cairo was a "city class" ironclad gunboat that sank on the Yazoo River north of Vicksburg.

 

 

It was commissioned in January 1862 and sank in December of 1862. It was the first ship to be sunk by an electrically detonated mine which was called a "torpedo" during the Civil War. It worked by having a soldier hide on the bank of the river and wait until a boat was over the mine. The mine was usually just a waterproof keg of gunpowder which was wired to a detonator on the bank of the river. The boat sank in 36 feet of water in 12 minutes. Fortunately, there was no loss of life. The boat was forgotten until the 1950's and 1960's when it was recovered and restored. It now rests in the Vicksburg National Military Park.

 Freedom parked at the U.S.S. Cairo

U.S.S. Cairo

 

 





Looking at the bow

 

Sloped Iron Clad with framing

 

 

Ships boilers

 

 

Hog cables that kept the fore and aft parts of the boat from sagging

 

 

Aft end of the boat showing the paddle wheel and rudders

 

 

I am ready to move on tomorrow. I guess I have what is called "hitch itch". Today's temperature was 85 degrees and it is clearly time to move north in search of the 72 degree line.

 

The next stop will not be a site-seeing stop. The campground seems to be tucked away in the woods. It should be a nice place to kick-back and relax. If I get adventurous, I can do some hiking  walking on the trails.

 

Ya'll take care of each other. Cya.