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WASHINGTON -- With the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War approaching, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., reintroduced a bill Thursday that would protect more land adjacent to the Vicksburg National Military Park.
The fall of Vicksburg in 1863 was the most significant strategic Union victory but the historic preservation of the area has long been a matter of concern. A national commission studying Civil War battlefields in 1993 put Vicksburg near the top of its list for being in need of protection to prevent the loss of its historical integrity.
"The battle for Vicksburg and its position on the Mississippi was a critical chapter of the Civil War," Cochran said in introducing the bill. "As such, this measure was written to protect additional areas that represent an important time for the history of our nation and our state."
Ulysses S. Grant said "the fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell." Robert E. Lee was retreating from Gettysburg on the same July day.
The Champion Hill, Port Gibson and Raymond Battlefield Addition Act would authorize the National Park Service to acquire roughly 10,000 acres in Claiborne and Hinds counties. It would include the Shaifer House at Port Gibson and the Coker House at Champion Hill, which would be made part of the military park.
Patrick J. Lally, director of congressional affairs for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said he was "delighted" about the bill, which he said uses cutting-edge modeling. The economic impact of the preservation effort also should not be overlooked, he said, noting that 16 percent of employment in Warren County-Vicksburg -- 4,000 jobs -- is tied to tourism that brought in $209 million in 2009.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has agreed to co-sponsor the bill.
-- Bartholomew Sullivan: (202) 408-2726
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This all the talk about government "shutting down" now is the time to participate in our democratic republic and write into your senators. Anyone from Mississippi want to present the contact information for the benefit of everyone else? Keep in mind while you dont live in Mississippi you can still write your reps and tell them to thumb this up!
The fall of Vicksburg in 1863 was the most significant strategic Union victory but the historic preservation of the area has long been a matter of concern. A national commission studying Civil War battlefields in 1993 put Vicksburg near the top of its list for being in need of protection to prevent the loss of its historical integrity.
"The battle for Vicksburg and its position on the Mississippi was a critical chapter of the Civil War," Cochran said in introducing the bill. "As such, this measure was written to protect additional areas that represent an important time for the history of our nation and our state."
Ulysses S. Grant said "the fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell." Robert E. Lee was retreating from Gettysburg on the same July day.
The Champion Hill, Port Gibson and Raymond Battlefield Addition Act would authorize the National Park Service to acquire roughly 10,000 acres in Claiborne and Hinds counties. It would include the Shaifer House at Port Gibson and the Coker House at Champion Hill, which would be made part of the military park.
Patrick J. Lally, director of congressional affairs for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said he was "delighted" about the bill, which he said uses cutting-edge modeling. The economic impact of the preservation effort also should not be overlooked, he said, noting that 16 percent of employment in Warren County-Vicksburg -- 4,000 jobs -- is tied to tourism that brought in $209 million in 2009.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has agreed to co-sponsor the bill.
-- Bartholomew Sullivan: (202) 408-2726
This all the talk about government "shutting down" now is the time to participate in our democratic republic and write into your senators. Anyone from Mississippi want to present the contact information for the benefit of everyone else? Keep in mind while you dont live in Mississippi you can still write your reps and tell them to thumb this up!
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