Vicksburg Campaign

THREE THOUSAND SOLDIERS, blue and gray, paraded through the streets of Raymond, reenacting the scene that followed the Battle of Raymond on May 12, 1862. “GO HOME YANKEE! We don’t want you here!” yelled angry Confederate women dressed in hoop skirts and other attire dating back to the 1860s. The Yankee soldiers ignored the insults and grabbed for the food that had been prepared for the Confederates. Across the street, another line of women heralded the Yankee troops as they marched by waving their handkerchiefs and cheering, “Hooray for the Union.” A COLORFUL PART OF RAYMOND’S HISTORY involves an episode that happened soon after the battle. The women of Raymond, confidant the Confederates would win, had set up picnic tables and prepared a feast for the hungry troops. What they hadn’t entertained was the idea that the Confederates might lose and the unwanted Yankees would take the food. Linda Shott, a reenactor from Arkansas commented, “I was impressed with the parade of soldiers through the streets of Raymond and how many local women and children turned out to hand out food to the soldiers. The Union officer and woman put on a good show about the food as the Union troops paraded by.” THE OLDE TOWN BRASS ENSEMBLE from Huntsville, Alabama, was a highlight of the weekend. The ensemble, all professional musicians from Huntsville, Alabama, delighted the crowds prior to each battle as well as in the military parade. In keeping with ‘living history’, their attire was authentic as were their instruments. The most popular tunes performed were Dixie and Eating Goober Peas. Marilyn Dorl shares her great- grandmother Burton’s diary relating life during the Civil War

THE COURTHOUSE GROUNDS even appeared authentic as tents were set in place for the weekend of activities. In one large tent was Larry and Marilyn Dorl and family from Grove, Oklahoma. “I love it here,” stated Marilyn as she brewed morning coffee over an open fire. “My husband’s great-grandparents were in the War in the area so we feel very lucky to be here. We have a copy of Great-grandmother Burton’s diary that she started in August of 1865. The excerpts were written in Midway, Mississippi. In the diary she talks about riding the hand cart into Bolton and Clinton and riding the train into Vicksburg.”

“SURGEON GENERAL” read the sign on another large tent located on the courthouse front lawn. This tent housed the Surgeon General, Leonard Woodrum of Panama City, and his brigade. Major Jim Eller from Bristol, Tennessee, was one of the men comprising the 2nd Brigade Medical Department.

Col. Buddy “Bulldog” Eller and Major Jim Eller of Bristol Tennessee (photo by Miller Dent)

Of special interest to spectators milling around the tent was the unit’s display of antique medicine bottles and authentic Civil War surgical instruments. Just the sight of the saw used for amputations was enough to make one cringe.

THE OLD MEDICAL BOTTLES WERE FASCINATING. “We used to have a vast display of medicines and old bottles that would have been used by the soldiers during the war,” commented Woodrum. “But, during a reenactment in South Carolina, a big storm came up. The storm was so severe, the winds took our tent and everything went up in the air including the bottles and displays. Most everything was broken as a result of the storm. What you see in the case is about all that we have left.”

THE FRONTIER MEDICAL BRIGADE tent was set up behind the Episcopal Church. “This is a medical unit that represents the frontier brigade,” stated Herschel Stroud, Brigade Surgeon from Topeka, Kansas. “This organization, based out of Salina, Kansas, encompasses troops from Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. What you see is the typical field medical unit that would have been set up near the site of a battle during the Civil War. The brigade worked like an emergency treatment station. Initial care, including amputations, would have been dispensed at sites like this. There were about 30,000 amputations performed in the field during the Civil War.”

DURING THE WEEKEND, all of the reenactors gave the spectators a wonderful glimpse into Civil War times. While viewing the camps, soldiers were seen cleaning their guns, playing cards or readying themselves for battle. They lived off salt pork and hardtack. The women were busy darning socks, fixing uniforms or preparing food. At the sound of a bugle or drum, the troops would assemble and prepare for battle.

“THE TOWN OF RAYMOND and the people of Raymond are the most hospitable people that we’ve ever met in the 10 years that we’ve been doing reenactments,” stated Major Jim Eller from Tennessee as he broke camp and prepared to leave town. Everybody has gone overboard to make us feel welcome and to take care of us. Our impression of everything was great. The reenactment was something that brought tears to most of our eyes as we watched what happened. I think this is one of the finer reenactments that we’ve been to. So, we are real happy with the people of Raymond, the Town of Raymond and the reenactors themselves.”

Photographs by Miller Dent, James and Rebecca Drake