Memorial Scenes At Union Cemetery

Bob and I took an afternoon drive through the Vicksburg National Military Cemetery yesterday and I took a few pictures so you could see the many flags that adorned the graves.  The cemetery encompasses 117.85 acres and includes over 18,000 interments. Graves of Civil War soldiers total 17,077, of which 12,909 are unknown. An additional 1,280 graves are occupied by soldiers who participated in the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean Conflict.  I have a distant relative, Mazerat, on my fathers side of the family, that is buried here.  This is a must see if you are ever in Vicksburg.

To the right coming into the cemetery is the The USS Cairo, a Union ironclad commanded by Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr., was named for Cairo, Illinois, and commissioned on January 16, 1862. On December 12, 1862, in the Yazoo River north of Vicksburg, Cairo struck two underwater torpedoes (today called mines) sinking in less than 12 minutes with no loss of life. Preserved by mud and silt, Cairo sat on the bottom of the Yazoo River for 102 years. It was raised in 1964, and later restored.  All the artifacts off of the boat are on exhibit inside the Cario Museum.  An obelisk monument is seen in the background.   

  

 A wreath was laid at the cemetery.

  

At an angel monument engraved on the side - William G. Trindle, Died, October 11, 1878 - Aged, 8 years and 14 days.  Margaret B. Trindle, Died, November 6, 1878 - Aged, 4 years, 10 months and 16 days.  On the front it reads:  John Trindle, Born Cairewellas, Ireland and Died in Chattanooga, TN - Charlotte Riggs Trindle, born Bessbrook, Ireland and Died in Chattanooga, TN.

Bob spotted this squirrel at one of the graves as we were leaving the cemetery.