NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Vicksburg National Military Park Mississippi October 2014 Foundation Document To Snyder’s and BUS Haynes’ bluffs CHICKASAW BAYOU 61 BATTLEFIELD 61 Sh erm an A v e n u e Grant’s Headquarters U.S.S. Cairo Area Museum Information Vicksburg National Pennsylvania Cemetery New Hampshire Navy Massachusetts 7 VICKSBURG NATIONAL Sherman Rhode Island 8 Battery Circle New York Gran e Selfridge MILITARY PARK t nu Ave Y ion Ave Kansas AZ Un nue OO Thayer’s Approach 6 African American Monument e R u Stockade IV n Conf ad ER e ederate A Ro DIVE Av Tennessee v RS e Redan rd IO g n a N in u ey t v Stockade Redan c e G ra e 9 5 C n Attack A n Fort Hill o e 10 ) N C u en West Virginia A v A T L Arkansas Missouri Cedar Hill e Cemetery m v r N i a r F (Confederate y D k Wisconsin I section) S t ll e i oad e H Ransom’s R r son O t Jack St r 4 ) Gun Path ern o od F (m P n o Third t Louisiana ng Luther K i rtin ing B Ma Jr l Shirley h v Redan 2 d 61 as 3 House M W i s s Louisiana Pe Illinois i m o b e n r Great Redoubt 11 t 6 o n 1 Battery De Golyer 6 t Surrender e A re v M t ain S Interview e t Site as Michigan E e R Jackson o u a n Mississippi e d e 3 v u A n Old Court House e 6 Pemberton Circle v Museum e t A 8 To Big Black River Bridge, Gro a (open to public) ve St r Champion Hill, Raymond, 1 reet St e and Jackson battlefields d Minnesota C ra e wford f Pemberton’s Headquarters n n Second Texas (open on a limited basis) o o Cla i y C Stre Lunette n et Exit 5 12 U 20 Visitor y r er Center 27 h d a C o R Anshe Chesed Memorial dw Bal in Cemetery (private) Arch 80 Ferry Texas 13 n i Exit 4 Railroad VICKSBURG Redoubt O Alabama Iowa T Kentucky Confederate Monument Hi sto O ric Fort Garrott Kentucky So uth S ern 14 R 15 ai Georgia Hovey’s lro BUS ad e Approach o 61 H f a M LOUISIANA l is D l s s i Indiana s MISSISSIPPI s ( i p p F In i e dia na r W Grant’s Canal r y is A c v e o Exit n t 3 e s 27 R i e North Carolina n o r t a S d DELTA R A Florida E e v e R u n n V e u I v e E A R n Maryland o e t V g t in a 80 I sh r a e W d R e f n To Tallulah South o To Natchez Exit 186 C Carolina Trace Parkway Connecticut th Grant’s Louisiana Sou 20 Circle Canal (Mississippi N ntage R (use Exit 186 ro d Exit I Overlook) F 1C to US-80) P P Virginia I S South Fort S I North S Tour road 1 Tour stop For Safety’s Sake S Navy I ve Exit 1B A I Circle M a Present NPS land Detached park unit Whether driving, hiking, jogging, or bicycling, be alert P ow I to potential hazards while visiting the battlefield. P I Exit 1A 20 Former NPS land Monument Avoid running on steep slopes, and watch for fire ants, S Relic Hunting Prohibited poison ivy, and poisonous snakes. S I Present course of Picnic area S Mississippi River Severe thunderstorms can develop quickly at any S BUS 0 0.5 1 Kilometer I 61 time of year; be prepared to seek shelter. Report all To Grand Gulf and 1863 course of Wheelchair-accessible accidents to park rangers, who are here to help you. M Port Gibson battlefields, 0 0.5 1 Mile Mississippi River 61 Natchez National Historical Park, and Port Hudson Battlefield To Utica Vicksburg National Military Park Contents Mission of the National Park Service 1 Introduction 2 Part 1: Core Components 3 Brief Description of the Park 3 Park Purpose 5 Park Significance 6 Fundamental Resources and Values 7 Battlefield Landscape 7 Vicksburg National Cemetery 8 Commemorative Landscape 8 USS Cairo and Associated Artifacts 9 Pemberton’s Headquarters 9 Grant’s Canal 9 Solemnity of Site 10 Connections with the Community of Vicksburg 10 Other Important Resources and Values 11 Appropriate Recreational Opportunities 11 Prairie Nymph 11 Mint Spring Falls / Bayou 11 Interpretive Themes 12 The Military Experience: Strategy, Tactics, Technology and Humanity 12 Siege and Fall of Vicksburg 13 The Occupation of Vicksburg 13 Reconstruction Period 13 Commemoration 13 Stewardship: ‘Transforming the Environment’ 13 Part 2: Dynamic Components 14 Assessment of Planning and Data Needs 14 Analysis of Fundamental Resources and Values 14 Analysis of Other Important Resources and Values 32 Identification of Key Issues and Associated Planning and Data Needs 38 Planning and Data Needs 39 Part 3: Contributors 45 Vicksburg National Military Park 45 Partners 45 Southeast Regional Office 45 Other NPS Staff 45 Appendixes 46 Appendix A: Enabling Legislation and Legislative Acts for Vicksburg National Military Park 46 Appendix B: Public Commenting Report 53 Foundation Document Vicksburg National Military Park Mission of the National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. The NPS core values are a frame work in which the National Park Service accomplishes its mission. They express the manner in which, both individually and collectively, the National Park Service pursues its mission. The NPS core values are: · Shared stewardship: We share a commitment to resource stewardship with the global preservation community. · Excellence: We strive continually to learn and improve so that we may achieve the highest ideals of public service. · Integrity: We deal honestly and fairly with the public and one another. · Tradition: We are proud of it; we learn from it; we are not bound by it. · Respect: We embrace each other’s differences so that we may enrich the well-being of everyone. The National Park Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior. While numerous national park system units were created prior to 1916, it was not until August 25, 1916, that President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act formally establishing the National Park Service. The national park system continues to grow and comprises 401 park units covering more than 84 million acres in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These units include, but are not limited to, national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. The variety and diversity of park units throughout the nation require a strong commitment to resource stewardship and management to ensure both the protection and enjoyment of these resources for future generations. The arrowhead was authorized as the official National Park Service emblem by the Secretary of the Interior on July 20, 1951. The sequoia tree and bison represent vegetation and wildlife, the mountains and water represent scenic and recreational values, and the arrowhead represents historical and archeological values. 1 Foundation Document Introduction Every unit of the national park system will have a foundational document to provide basic guidance for planning and management decisions—a foundation for planning and management. The core components of a foundation document include a brief description of the park as well as the park’s purpose, significance, fundamental resources and values, other important resources and values, and interpretive themes. The foundation document also includes special mandates and administrative commitments, an assessment of planning and data needs that identifies planning issues, planning products to be developed, and the associated studies and data required for park planning. Along with the core components, the assessment provides a focus for park planning activities and establishes a baseline from which planning documents are developed. A primary benefit of developing a foundation document is the opportunity to integrate and coordinate all kinds and levels of planning from a single, shared understanding of what is most important about the park. The process of developing a foundation document begins with gathering and integrating information about the park. Next, this information is refined and focused to determine what the most important attributes of the park are. The process of preparing a foundation document aids park managers, staff, and the public in identifying and clearly stating in one document the essential information that is necessary for park management to consider when determining future planning efforts, outlining key planning issues, and protecting resources and values that are integral to park purpose and identity. Preparing this foundation document was a collaborative effort among NPS staff from Vicksburg National Military Park, the NPS Southeast Regional Office, the NPS Denver Service Center, and other NPS programs, as well as using public feedback. A complete list of preparers and contributors is included in part 3 of this document. This foundation document was developed using public input.