MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2013 By

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2013

By: Senator(s) Hopson, Butler (38th) To: Rules

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 614

1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY 2 OF THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG, TO RECOGNIZE THE OBSERVANCE OF THIS 3 CRITICAL APRIL 1862-JULY 4, 1863, MILITARY CAMPAIGN, AND TO 4 DESIGNATE JULY 2013, AS "SIEGE OF VICKSBURG MONTH IN MISSISSIPPI." 5 WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi witnessed critically 6 important American Civil War military engagements on its soil, 7 including the Siege of Vicksburg, the Battle of Champion Hill and

8 the Battle of Corinth, and hosts historic sites related to these 9 strategic engagements which are nationally recognized centers of 10 expertise in the study of the American Civil War; and 11 WHEREAS, "Vicksburg is the nailhead that holds the South's 12 two halves together...Vicksburg is the key." Two statements, two 13 Presidents, both aware of the importance of the City on the 14 Mississippi River. President Jefferson Davis knew it was vital to

15 hold the City for the Confederacy to survive. President Abraham 16 Lincoln wanted the key to gain control of the river and divide the 17 South; and 18 WHEREAS, Congress established the Vicksburg National Military 19 Park in 1899 to commemorate the campaign, siege and defense of S. C. R. No. 614 *SS26/R15.4* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 13/SS26/R15.4 PAGE 1 (crl\tb) 20 Vicksburg, and to preserve the history of the battles and 21 operations conducted on the ground where the armies fought. In 22 1990, Congress expanded the park's interpretive mandate to include 23 the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg from April 1862 to July 4, 24 1863, and the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during 25 the Civil War and Reconstruction; and

26 WHEREAS, from 2011 through 2015, the nation will be observing 27 the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, and Vicksburg National 28 Military Park will initiate its commemoration of the Campaign and 29 Siege of Vicksburg, culminating in several signature events 30 planned for April through July of 2013; and 31 WHEREAS, Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the most 32 heavily monumented parks in the world with over 1,330 monuments,

33 markers, tablets and plaques. The beauty and artistry of its 34 monumentation prompted one Civil War veteran to call Vicksburg 35 National Military Park, "the art park of the world." Most, if not 36 all, states have monuments in the Military Parks honoring the 37 service of the men in their state who participated in the Campaign

38 and Siege of Vicksburg. In addition, the African-American 39 monument is located on the south side of Grant Avenue

40 commemorating the contributions of African-American soldiers and 41 sailors in both the Confederate and Union Armies and Navies; and 42 WHEREAS, the records show that the State of Mississippi 43 contributed 49 regular Infantry Regiments, 25 regular Cavalry and 44 Artillery Regiments; 78,000 men in service of which 60,000 were

S. C. R. No. 614 *SS26/R15.4* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS26/R15.4 PAGE 2 (crl\tb) 45 lost in action or by disease; the Commander-in-Chief of the 46 Confederate Armies (President Jefferson F. Davis); and 33 Generals 47 of the Confederate Army whose remains lie in Mississippi soil; and 48 WHEREAS, Vicksburg National Cemetery embraces 116 acres, and 49 holds the remains of 17,000 Civil War Union soldiers, a number 50 unmatched by any other national cemetery. Covering ground once

51 manned by the extreme right of Major General William T. Sherman's 52 XV Army Corps during the Siege of Vicksburg, it was established by 53 an act of Congress in 1866, and serves as the final resting place 54 for United States soldiers who gallantly served this country in 55 times of national and international conflict. Confederate dead 56 from the Vicksburg Campaign originally buried behind Confederate 57 lines, have now been re-interred in the Vicksburg City Cemetery

58 (Cedar Hill Cemetery), in an area called "Soldiers' Rest," where 59 approximately 5,000 Confederates have been re-interred, of which 60 1,600 are identified; and 61 WHEREAS, during the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the 62 States, we will remember the courage and sacrifices of these

63 soldiers and recognize the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg that 64 occurred in 1862-1863. The Vicksburg Sesquicentennial has the

65 potential to not only honor Mississippi's rich Civil War heritage, 66 but draw many heritage tourists that are taking advantage of the 67 Mississippi Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War: 68 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 69 MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That

S. C. R. No. 614 *SS26/R15.4* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS26/R15.4 PAGE 3 (crl\tb) 70 we do hereby commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Siege of 71 Vicksburg which resulted in the surrender of the City on July 4, 72 1863, recognize the organization and participation of thousands of 73 volunteers at the observance of this critical campaign, and 74 designate July 2013, as "Siege of Vicksburg Month in Mississippi." 75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State of Mississippi is

76 pleased to host this commemorative event and extends our welcome 77 to all those who are attending these activities. 78 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted 79 to the Governor, the Mississippi Department of Archives and 80 History, the Mississippi Commission on the Sesquicentennial of the 81 American Civil War, the Mississippi Battlefield Commission and the 82 Mayor and City Council of Vicksburg to encourage the education and

83 participation of the citizens of the State of Mississippi in this 84 important event, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.

S. C. R. No. 614 *SS26/R15.4* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS26/R15.4 ST: Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the PAGE 4 (crl\tb) Siege of Vicksburg and recognize its observance.