An endless number of frighteningly long rows of gravestones stretch across a green meadow. One looks like another, each commemorates a person who lost his life 160 years ago in the American Civil War. It is idyllic here on the Mississippi, where the Vicksburg National Military Park offers fascinating insights into American history ant the legendary Ironclad USS Cairo.
Among other things, there is a historical oddity here: the USS Cairo, one of the seven City-Class Ironclads that were used in the war, is the last of its kind. A technical marvel built from wood and iron, a vehicle like something out of a Jules Verne story. This ship, half submarine, half armored cruiser, commemorates one of the decisive battles of the American Civil War. Today it is a museum ship that visitors can marvel at.
The context of the Battle of Vicksburg
Hardly anyone today knows anything about the Battle of Vicksburg, which took place from May 19 to July 4, 1863. But it was a turning point in the Civil War. Vicksburg, strategically located on the Mississippi River, was one of the last great Confederate bastions that secured control of the Mississippi, which served as a lifeline for trade and supplies to the Confederate states.
President Abraham Lincoln emphasized the importance of the capture of Vicksburg for the Union's victory, calling it "the key to control of the Mississippi." The battle lasted months. It cost the lives of thousands of brave soldiers. And ended tragically.
A complex strategy
On the riverside of Vicksburg, the only evidence of that time today is the cannons high up on the rocks. But the number and size of the guns makes it clear how important what was at stake was to both sides. Major General Ulysses S. Grant led Union forces in the Second Vicksburg Campaign, which began with a complex strategy of maneuver.
After previous attempts to take the city from the north and west failed, Grant decided to launch an outflanking attack. Union forces crossed the Mississippi south of Vicksburg and then moved toward Jackson to cut off Confederate supply lines.
Grant won decisive victories at the Battle of Champion Hill and the Big Black River Bridge. Then the siege of Vicksburg began.
The city's surrender on July 4, 1863, marked not only Independence Day, but also the decisive moment when the Union gained control of the entire Mississippi River, weakening the Confederacy economically and strategically.
The Role of Ironclads
But what was this strange, wide, flat, and now half-rotten ship doing? Well, the seven ironclads, including the USS Cairo, were designed to ensure Union control of the river. The strange warships with their distinctive armored hulls had been built for just this purpose: a new generation of warships, designed specifically for river warfare.
The ironclads offered strong defense against artillery fire and were capable of shelling enemy fortifications while remaining relatively protected themselves.
The USS Cairo, named after the city of Cairo, Illinois, was commissioned in January 1862. She was known for her 13 cannons, which were crucial in supporting land troops and controlling river traffic.
During a December 1862 mission on the Yazoo River to knock out Confederate batteries and clear the river of mines, the "Cairo" was reportedly sunk by an electrically detonated mine - a historic first. The loss of the ship was a setback, but the remaining ironclads continued to successfully challenge the Confederate troops on the river.
Today's visit
Amazingly, the USS Cairo was lost and forgotten for almost 100 years. It was not until 1956 that the ship was rediscovered and between 1964 and 1977 it was raised from the river and restored.
Today, the USS Cairo Museum in Vicksburg National Military Park presents not only the ship itself, but also a variety of artifacts recovered during the salvage. Visitors can enter the ironclad, admire its construction and armament, and learn the history of the crew that served here.
The exhibition provides detailed information about the construction of the ironclads, their role in the war, and the circumstances of the Cairo's sinking. Their construction was a miracle in itself. Designer James Eads had agreed to build the seven ships in just 100 days.
Otherwise he would have had to pay 200 dollars per day for late payment – a horrendous sum at the time. But Eads managed it: To speed up production, a partner shipyard built three of the boats, including the "Cairo". Eads' own shipyard built the other four boats. And lo and behold, all seven boats were delivered 100 days later.
Six sister ships
The USS Cairo and her six sister ships were all named after cities along the Ohio and Mississippi. Unlike the wooden sailing ships used at the start of the Civil War, these new ironclad steamships had steam engines, armor plating, 13 guns, and a top speed of 9 miles per hour. The Cairo itself was built in Mound City, Illinois, in 1861 and was part of the so-called "City class" of ironclads.
The USS Cairo is a stunning example of 19th-century engineering, when ironclad warships were a revolutionary development in naval warfare. The Battle of Vicksburg was where the Union wrangled for the turning point in the Civil War. A strategically important city on the Mississippi, Vicksburg was the last major obstacle to the Union gaining control of the entire river and splitting the Confederacy in two.
Hitting a mine
Armored with thick iron plates and carrying heavy guns, the ironclads were virtually invulnerable to Confederate artillery. This allowed the ships to bombard enemy positions along the river and transport troops and supplies. When the Cairo sank on December 12, 1862, it was the result of another new development: underwater mines. The Cairo hit the mine and sank in just twelve minutes. Fortunately, there were no casualties among the crew. The spot on the bow where the mine severely damaged the ship can still be clearly seen today.
Visiting the USS Cairo is not only a trip back in time, but also an opportunity to understand the significance of the Battle of Vicksburg and the role of the ironclads in that decisive campaign. The exhibit in the adjacent museum provides detailed information about the history of the ship, the technology of the ironclads and the strategic importance of controlling the Mississippi.
