Senate Concurrent Resolution 614

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG, TO RECOGNIZE THE OBSERVANCE OF THIS CRITICAL APRIL 1862-JULY 4, 1863, MILITARY CAMPAIGN, AND TO DESIGNATE JULY 2013, AS "SIEGE OF VICKSBURG MONTH IN MISSISSIPPI."

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi witnessed critically important American Civil War military engagements on its soil, including the Siege of Vicksburg, the Battle of Champion Hill and the Battle of Corinth, and hosts historic sites related to these strategic engagements which are nationally recognized centers of expertise in the study of the American Civil War; and

WHEREAS, "Vicksburg is the nailhead that holds the South's two halves together...Vicksburg is the key." Two statements, two Presidents, both aware of the importance of the City on the Mississippi River. President Jefferson Davis knew it was vital to hold the City for the Confederacy to survive. President Abraham Lincoln wanted the key to gain control of the river and divide the South; and

WHEREAS, Congress established the Vicksburg National Military Park in 1899 to commemorate the campaign, siege and defense of Vicksburg, and to preserve the history of the battles and operations conducted on the ground where the armies fought. In 1990, Congress expanded the park's interpretive mandate to include the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg from April 1862 to July 4, 1863, and the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during the Civil War and Reconstruction; and

WHEREAS, from 2011 through 2015, the nation will be observing the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, and Vicksburg National Military Park will initiate its commemoration of the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg, culminating in several signature events planned for April through July of 2013; and

WHEREAS, Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the most heavily monumented parks in the world with over 1,330 monuments, markers, tablets and plaques. The beauty and artistry of its monumentation prompted one Civil War veteran to call Vicksburg National Military Park, "the art park of the world." Most, if not all, states have monuments in the Military Parks honoring the service of the men in their state who participated in the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg. In addition, the African-American monument is located on the south side of Grant Avenue commemorating the contributions of African-American soldiers and sailors in both the Confederate and Union Armies and Navies; and

WHEREAS, the records show that the State of Mississippi contributed 49 regular Infantry Regiments, 25 regular Cavalry and Artillery Regiments; 78,000 men in service of which 60,000 were lost in action or by disease; the Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Armies (President Jefferson F. Davis); and 33 Generals of the Confederate Army whose remains lie in Mississippi soil; and

WHEREAS, Vicksburg National Cemetery embraces 116 acres, and holds the remains of 17,000 Civil War Union soldiers, a number unmatched by any other national cemetery. Covering ground once manned by the extreme right of Major General William T. Sherman's XV Army Corps during the Siege of Vicksburg, it was established by an act of Congress in 1866, and serves as the final resting place for United States soldiers who gallantly served this country in times of national and international conflict. Confederate dead from the Vicksburg Campaign originally buried behind Confederate lines, have now been re-interred in the Vicksburg City Cemetery (Cedar Hill Cemetery), in an area called "Soldiers' Rest," where approximately 5,000 Confederates have been re-interred, of which 1,600 are identified; and

WHEREAS, during the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, we will remember the courage and sacrifices of these soldiers and recognize the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg that occurred in 1862-1863. The Vicksburg Sesquicentennial has the potential to not only honor Mississippi's rich Civil War heritage, but draw many heritage tourists that are taking advantage of the Mississippi Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Siege of Vicksburg which resulted in the surrender of the City on July 4, 1863, recognize the organization and participation of thousands of volunteers at the observance of this critical campaign, and designate July 2013, as "Siege of Vicksburg Month in Mississippi."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State of Mississippi is pleased to host this commemorative event and extends our welcome to all those who are attending these activities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Commission on the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, the Mississippi Battlefield Commission and the Mayor and City Council of Vicksburg to encourage the education and participation of the citizens of the State of Mississippi in this important event, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.