Greenwood, Mississippi

Shirley and I arrived early enough to make a Wal-Mart run and got to cross the Yazoo River twice!

After we unhitched, the whole caravan had dinner at a local "dive" downtown called Stevens BBQ a place that has been there for several generations. It was good, but at first look probably not a place we would have chosen.

After dinner we had a guest speaker, Henry, dressed in a Confederate uniform. Henry has studied the battle of Fort Pemberton all his adult life.

The next day we visited the Cottonlandia Museum which was interesting in that it dealt with the local industry as well as the Civil War. Henry was there showing off his cannon that has such a history. I wish I had the room to tell it all.

Next we visited Ft. Pemberton or at least what is left of it. The main highway has been built right through it's middle leaving only the northwest corner. Because this was one of the major wins for the south you would think they would have given it more consideration.

Anyway the fort protected both the Yazoo and Tallahatchie rivers. You may remember the Tallahatchie from Billie Joe threw something off the bridge.

Lunch was at a place called the Chrystal Grill. The food was good and the service was the best we have had in a long time. They could just not do enough for us. I recommend the pie.

Henry and his cannon.

One of the two markers at the fort.

Believe it or not this is the Yazoo river where the fort held off Union Ironclads.

Yep, there was a fort here. The gun boats could not penetrate its walls.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Savannah, TN to Greenwood, MS

March 16th was moving day. We had been in Savannah for several days touring the various battle fields now it was time to move on. We had no sewers at the campground so rather than wait while 25 people dumped, Shirley and I had scouted the area and found a visitors center with a dump site and were in and out in no time.

We finally had warm weather! The temperature was in the 70's and finally we were HOT. The night before at the drivers meeting we were literally freezing. Like the Union army when they threw away their blankets etc. the day before the battle at Ft. Donnelson.

Enroute we paralleled the Natchez Trace which has been on my own personal bucket list.

Stopping for a break.

Pioneers?

Wanted to walk some of this but was very muddy, and full of Diamond Back Rattlers, Cotton Mouth, Copperhead and Coral Snakes.

When we arrived at Greenwood they literally were putting electrical power for us.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Baldwyn Mississippi

Today we drove to the site of the Battle of Brice's Crossroads. This battle occurred on June 10, 1864 which is out of chronological order for us but we can't expect the combatants to have fought for our convenience. This was a major loss for the Union who lost 2,610 men out of 8,500 to the Confederates who lost 492 men out of 3,200. It was a battle to keep Confederate Gen. Nathan Forrest out of Memphis. I guess it worked.

This is considered a weed the locals call it Creeping Charlie, we like it.

A memorial to both sides of the war. In MS they are quite proud of their  efforts in the war.

Who brought the ice cream?

Part of the Union's problem was they were just not ready for all the mud and rain in June.

After the tour of the battlefield we had lunch at Agnew's a converted store now run by the locals. We had fried chicken, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes and a biscuit. Then Shirley and I drove to Tupelo to  see the birthplace of Elvis.

A home fit for a King.

Elvis at age 13.

The Kings throne. 

Personally I was never a fan of Elvis but since we were so close, what the heck? Managed to avoid Grace Land in Memphis so far.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Savannah Tennessee

Monday, March 14th, we drove to Savannah, TN to visit their museum, see the town and tour "The Cherry Mansion." The museum was great and started with prehistoric times to the present. Then we walked the streets looking at the houses currently there. Most of these were built after the Civil War. Then we toured the Mansion. If only it could talk. There is a lot of history that has taken place in this old house that was built in the 1830's. It was built by slaves with 18 inch thick walls from bricks made on site. The original owner could watch his slaves work the cotton fields across the river from his upstairs balcony.

It was the headquarters for Gen. Grant during his time here in 1862. Also, Gen. W.H.L. Wallace died here from a head wound while in his wife's arms who had paid him a surprise visit. Gen. C.F. Smith died here too after a leg injury that caused gangrene. 

The tour was given by the mansions present owner whose father bought the house and grounds in the 1930's. She was a terrific guide and had many stories to tell. She was raised here and now lives in the house with her husband. She also assured us the 18 inch thick walls do not work to insulate from heat and cold.

The Williams house on Williams Street.

Another Williams house, the family was a bunch of bankers.

The Cherry Mansion, the front of the house used to face the river. Now this is the back of the house.

The old front wall of the mansion led down to the boat dock.

General Barry, USA

The back is now the front.

The first photo-op of our leaders.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

About eating

In previous years, I have talked a lot about eating. Well, we have been eating at home mostly. In Dover we had two restaurant meals, both in the same place, Mama Mia's. We had lasagna our first night and pizza for lunch the next day. Nothing exotic about any of this.

In Corinth, we had a choice of eating "southern" food or choosing a sandwich at a drug store. Now you all know I am a pharmacist and could just not pass this one up. Also both Shirley and I are fans of Vicks Ice Cream and Burrs in Sacramento, so maybe being a little homesick it was easy to opt for the drug counter.

Today was a day off so I washed mud off the truck and Shirley prepared dinner for two of our friends. We met Fred and Searcy on our very first caravan in '07. We had a nice visit, a great dinner and ate at home.

Borroum's was opened in 1865.

I felt right at home here. Check it out it's on the web too.

On the way out we saw this great car. Wonder if this would pull my trailer?

Washing the truck must have made it rain, that's what it's doing right now.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Corinth, MS

We are just a few miles from Mississippi so today, March 12th, we took a drive there. Corinth was important during the Civil War due to it's railroads. Luckily we were disconnected from our trailers because some of the underpasses we drove under were too low to clear the trailers.

The museum is very modern. The battles and the history are very interesting and again even if you only have a slight interest in the war I recommend you Google it.

Outside the museum.

Gotta have rifles.

Armies travel on their stomachs. Wonder how fresh this stuff is ?

Statues represent the Contraband Camp. The actual site is unknown.

We also visited the "Contraband Camp." This is where freed slaves settled. They were self sufficient, made money selling crops they had raised. Even though they had been on farms they had no idea how to manage for themselves. Some learned to read and they all learned to care for themselves. Unfortunately, after the successes the program had it was abandoned.

More after lunch.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

The Home Place

After lunch on the 9th we drove through some of the countryside and visited The Home Place. This is a farm, much like they had in the 1850's. They grow and do things as they did back then. If you have been to any farm you have seen the animals, etc. but in a lot of ways this was pretty rustic.

View from the back porch.

Home Sweet Home.

Wonder if anyone ever got a "whoopin" here?

Anyway, there were no misquotes yet, tho' it was pretty muddy. I think I could live here. Just add a few amenities. They had just harvested some tobacco and we got a "batch" hopefully we get home with it intact.


See Ya! Barry and Shirley