Another Picture Published!

When I opened this mornings paper, The Vicksburg Post, I went straight to the Classifieds where photos are sent in and published by readers.  I had sent this particular picture in a few weeks ago, and there it was!  The caption they inserted was...Marian Love Phillips looked over the barrel of a Civil War cannon at Louisiana Circle to see a bird's eye view of the two Mississippi River bridges at Vicksburg.  There is also a plaque near the cannon which reads...

 "The Widow Blakely" 

Because it was the lone Blakely rifled cannon in all the Vicksburg defenses, the Confederate Soldiers called this 7.44-inch gun, "The Widow Blakley."  During the seige it was mounted about 1 mile north of its present position.  On May 22, 1863, the "Widow" was manned by a detachment of Company H, 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery, Lt. A. L. Slack, commanding the detail. 

In that day's action against Union gunboats, one of the "Widow Blakely's" own shells exploded in its muzzle.  Later, the Confederates cut away the damaged end and used the gun as a mortor. 

After the war, "The Widow Blakely" spent 96 years on display at the U. S. Military Academy's Trophy Point.  U. S. Department of the Interior - National Park Services. 

It sure is a nice feeling to know that your picture is deserving enough to be published!