​Ulysses S. Grant's 
Campaign for Vicksburg
with historian Terry Winschel
Tour Dates: November 2–5, 2023
(Vicksburg, Mississippi)

— TOUR   CANCELLED --

Join us for two and one-half days following U.S. Grant's unrelenting efforts to get his army in position to besiege, and ultimately capture, the "Gibraltar of the Confederacy. The former Chief Historian of Vicksburg National Military Park will guide us on a comprehensive tour of the complicated campaign culminating in the fall of Vicksburg. Special guest presentation by Jim Woodrick, a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Vicksburg, and former Archivist with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.  

General Itinerary

November 2 (Thursday night):  6:30 p.m. we’ll convene at our headquarters hotel (to be announced), enjoy a pizza and beer reception, and hear a talk by Jim Woodrick, Licensed Battlefield Guide at Vicksburg National Military Park, to set the stage for the touring to follow.
November 3 (Friday) 8:00-4:00: First stop: Louisiana Circle to get us oriented, and discuss the Naval Siege of Vicksburg. We'll then drive north through Vicksburg, past the Warren County Courthouse, Pemberton's Headquarters, and various river battery sites, and out to Chickasaw Bayou Battlefield. From there we will proceed across the river to the Williams-Grant's Canal to talk about the Bayou Expeditions and the Grant's march south through Louisiana. After lunch we will visit Grand Gulf and Port Gibson battlefields.
November 4 (Saturday) 8:00-4:00: Tours of the Raymond, Champion Hill and Big Black River Bridge battlefields. After lunch in Vicksburg we will tour the Union siege lines around the city making stops at key sites as time permits.
November 5 (Sunday) half day: First stop: the U.S.S. Cairo Museum, then we'll spend the remainder of the morning touring the Confederate defense line, making stops at Stockade Redan and Railroad Redoubt. Tour adjourns around mid-day (return to hotel).
U.S.S. Cairo, Vicksburg National Military Park.
Photo by Carol Highsmith
​Library of Congress
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Photo at top: Carol Highsmith, Library of Congress. 

Registration

Included in your registration: battle map booklet/program, a seat on our luxury motor coach, entrance fees to any museums or other pay sites, all tours, professional coordination and assistance by your on-board tour host, and the services of our indispensable, expert guide. Also included: box lunch Friday and Saturday, bottled water on the bus, and opening night Pizza Reception and presentation by our special guest. 

About our guide

Terry retired as Chief Historian of Vicksburg National Military Park. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. In his many years at the National Park Service he served at Gettysburg National Military Park, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and Valley Forge National Historical Park before ending his career at Vicksburg. He is the author of several full-length works, including The Civil War Diary of the Common Soldier, Vicksburg: Fall of the Confederate Gibraltar, and Triumph & Defeat: The Vicksburg Campaign as well as almost fifty articles about the Civil War [Biography from American Battlefield Trust. See a menu of their videos of Terry here].
Terry Winschel on the Vicksburg waterfront, the Father of Waters at his back [Photo by David Woodbury]