Anson Croman's
great-great-granddaughter Cheryl A. Robinson at the
Michigan Memorial at the Vicksburg Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016 |
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June
10, 1863, Memphis, Tennessee: On June 10, 1863, Anson Croman and the 20th Michigan arrived at Memphis, Tennessee from Cairo, Illinois. On June 11, they disembarked on the Arkansas shore to rest and bath. On June 12, the 20th resumed its journey south to Vicksburg. This photo of the Arkansas shore of the Mississippi where the 20th Michigan landed was taken from the former Confederate Park now called Memphis Park from behind the statue of Jefferson Davis. I chose this location to highlight how Confederate memorials remain prominent and the liberation of Memphis by the Union Navy and Army followed by the liberation of the enslaved African-American in and around Memphis is not recognized in an equal way. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016 |
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The Arkansas shore of the
Mississippi River across from Memphis. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016 |
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June 14, 1863: Warrenton,
Mississippi. On June 14, 1863, the 20th landed at Young's Point, Louisiana and marched south to a point opposite Warrenton, Mississippi south of Vicksburg. On June 15, the 20th was ordered to march back to Young's Point. On June 16 they embarked on steamboats. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016. |
South of
Vicksburg at the site of a Confederate battery north of
Warrenton looking towards the Louisiana side of the
Mississippi. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, March 30, 2016 |
June 16,
1863:Snyder's Bluff. On June 16, the 20th Michigan sailed up the Mississippi River to the Yazoo River to Snyder's Bluff where they disembarked. March 30, 2016 Photo by Cheryl A. Robinson. |
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Blue line within orange
circle (click on image for larger
image): Army of Maneuver's defensive line where Anson Croman and the 20th Michigan constructed earthworks and served on garrison duty from June 29 until the July 4, 1863 protecting the Siege Army surrounding VIcksburg. Fair use of map from Vicksburg Campaign Driving Tour Guide |
Marker
inside the Vicksburg National Military Park reporting 9th
Corps Headquarters near Milldale outside of the Park near
the site in the photo on the left. The 20th Michigan was in the 9th Corps. Photo by Cheryl A Robinson, March 30, 2016 |
Parson Fox's
Plantation: The 20th Michigan was assigned to General Sherman's Army of Maneuver. The Army of Maneuver was operating to the northeast of the Vicksburg to protect the Siege Army from Confederate forces attempting to break the siege of Vicksburg. After disembarking at Snyder's Bluff, the 20th Michigan deployed to the southeast.where they constructed and manned fortified lines from June 17 until June 28, 1863. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016 |
Between June 29 until the
July 4, 1863, the 20th Michigan continued to operate with
the Army of Maneuver northeast of Vicksburg protecting the
Siege Army. After the surrender of Vicksburg, General Sherman and the Army of Maneuver were order to retake Jackson, Mississippi. The area in the above photo is near the end of the fortified line constructed and defended by Army of Maneuver including the 20th Michigan and near where the 20th Michigan started its march to Jackson after the July 4 surrender of Vicksburg. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016 |
Almost
none of the earthworks that the Army of Maneuver
constructed have survived. This is trench in the Vicksburg National Military Park would be similar to the types of fortifications Anson Croman and the 20th Michigan would have constructed northeast of Vicksburg to defend the Siege Army surrounding Vicksburg. Photo by Cheryl A. Robinson 2016 |
Birdsong Ferry on the
Big Black River. On July 4, 1863, the 20th began to march towards Jackson, Mississippi. On July 5, reconnaissance reported that the Confederates were holding Birdsong Ferry. On July 6, other units constructed a bridge across the Big Black River while the 20th provided the protection of pickets. The 20th crossed the Big Black River on July 7. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016 |
July 7, 1863, Bolton,
Mississippi. On the evening of July 7, 1863, the 20th bivouacked at Bolton, Mississippi. On July 8, the 20th resumed marching. The 20th reports the nearby plantation of Joe Davis, brother of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was burned but do not report who set the fire. Site 128 Vicksburg Campaign Driving Tour Guide, page 121. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016 |
July 9, 1863, Seven
Miles West of Jackson, Mississippi. On July 9, 1863, the 20th reached the vicinity of Clinton, Mississippi. Site 125, Vicksburg Campaign Driving Tour Guide, page 118. Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, March 31, 2016 |
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This is on
the south side of University Drive east of Peachtree Road
on the same side of the street as the Dental School and across the street from the Pharmacy School. Fair use of image from Mississippi Historical Markers |
July 10, 1863: Jackson,
Mississippi On July 10, the 20th arrived in Jackson, Mississippi and deployed north of state capitol on the grounds of what is now the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This is the site of a 9th Corps battery. Some of the Union earthworks are visible in the background. After an unsuccessful assault on Confederate defenses on the south side of the city, the Union began to surround Jackson for another siege. The Confederates decided not to let another army be trapped. By July 16, the Confederates evacuated Jackson, Mississippi and the Union reoccupied the city. Fair use of image from Google Street View. |
This battery in the
Vicksburg National Military Park is what the 9th Corps battery in Jackson would have looked like in 863. The guns would have been pointed south towards the Confederate defense line. The approximate route of that line is now Fortification Street. Photo by Cheryl A.Robinson 2016. |
INDEX: 20th Michigan Sites Today INDEX: Anson Croman and the American Civil War |
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INDEX: Cizewski,
Lovetere, Musbach, & Robinson Families History All material not in the public domain ![]() Last Major Revision: April 21, 2016 Last Minor Revision: June 7, 2018 Last Reviewed: Posted: April 15, 2016 |
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