20th Michigan FlagAnson Croman20th Michigan Flag

Company F, 20th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

American Civil War


June 10 to July 16, 1863 Vicksburg Campaign Sites Today

The 20th Michigan as Liberators

As a direct result of the Vicksburg Campaign thousands of slaves from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas fled to Union occupied Vicksburg and their freedom.

At state and county sites in Tennessee and Mississippi the historical fact that slaves were liberated during the Vicksburg and other campaigns is omitted.

By the summer of 1863, the Civil War had become not just a war to reunite the nation but a war to liberate enslaved people.

That historical fact was prominently included at National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and the Vicksburg National Military Park.

The Vicksburg National Military Park reports that after the liberation of Vicksburg, up to 30,000 enslaved African-Americans fled to Vicksburg for their freedom.

From those freed slaves the Union recruited and organized 5,000 African-American men into army units to occupy and police Vicksburg.

Because of that units such as the 20th Michigan as may be viewed as liberators as are our WWII troops who liberated slave laborers from the Nazis and Japanese in WWII.


Michigan Memorial at the Vicksburg
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Cheryl
Anson Croman's 2nd great-granddaughter Cheryl A. Robinson at the Michigan Memorial at the Vicksburg

Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski. Anson Croman's 2nd great-grandson-in-law


En Route to Vicksburg, Mississippi: June 10 - 16, 1863

Memphis, Tennessee 2016 and June 10 - 12 1863
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Confederate Park
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 (RIGHT).

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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Arkansas
The Arkansas shore of the Mississippi River across from Memphis.

Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016



June 14, 1863: Warrenton, Mississippi.
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Warrenton
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.
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warrenton
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.
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Snyder's Bluff
On June 16, the 20th Michigan sailed back up (north) the Mississippi River to the Yazoo River to Snyder's Bluff where they disembarked.

March 30, 2016 Photo by Cheryl A. Robinson.



Army of Maneuver June 17- July 4, 1863

Army of Maneuver Area of Operations
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Map
BLUE LINE WITHIN ORANGE CIRCLE

Anson Croman and the 20th Michigan constructed earthworks and served on garrison duty from June 17 until the July 4, 1863 protecting the Siege Army surrounding VIcksburg.

Map from Vicksburg Campaign Driving Tour Guide (Fair Use)
9th Corps Headquarter Marker
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First Position: Parson Fox's Plantation
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Parson Fox's Plantation
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
9th Corps HQ Marker
Marker inside the Vicksburg National Military Park commemorating the 9th Corps Headquarters near Milldale near Parson Fox's Plantation,

The 20th Michigan was in the 9th Corps.

Photo by Cheryl A Robinson, March 30, 2016



Second and Final Position
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End
                    of the fortified line
Area near the end of the where the 20th Michigan served in the Army of Manuver from June 29 until the July 4

To protect the troops besieging Vicksburg, the Army of Manuver constructed a fortified line.


Also near where the 20th Michigan started its march to Jackson after the July 4 surrender of Vicksburg.

Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, 2016
Earthworks
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Earthworks
Almost none of the earthworks that the Army of Maneuver constructed have survived.

This is trench in the Vicksburg National Military Park that would be similar to the types of fortifications Anson Croman and the 20th Michigan would have constructed northeast of Vicksburg.

Photo by Cheryl A. Robinson 2016


July 4  - 16, 1863 Campaign After the Surrender of Vicksburg

Birdsong Ferry on the Big Black River
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Birdsong Ferry
After the surrender of Vicksburg 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.
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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, nephew 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 Clinton, Mississippi
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Clinton
On July 9, 1863, the 20th reached the vicinity of Clinton, seven Miles West of Jackson

Site 125, Vicksburg Campaign Driving Tour Guide, page 118.

Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski, March 31, 2016



July 10, 1863: Jackson, Mississippi
.Marker
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

Location: South side of University Drive,  east of Peachtree Road on the same side of the street as the Dental School, across the street from the Pharmacy School.

Image from Mississippi Historical Markers

Battery
9th Corps Battery Site

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.
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Battery
Battery in the Vicksburg National Military Park

Simiiar to a 9th Corps that would have been used in Jackson  in 1863.

The guns would have been pointed south towards the Confederate defense line.

The approximate position of that gun line is now Fortification Street.

Photo by Cheryl A.Robinson 2016



SOURCES:

DEDICATION:
This page is dedicated to Maisie Brown.mb.

While we were in Jackson, Mississippi, we read her March 23, 2016 , op-ed, The 'Cloth on the Stick' Represents Hatred Toward Me in the Jackson Free Press.

Maisie Brown.wrote that the Confederate battle flag on the Mississippi state flag illustrates "white supremacy and represent a group of people who wanted my people to stay enslaved."

As we discovered as we traveled in Mississippi, that  "Cloth on the Stick" perspective also denies and the complete and accurate history that my mother-in-law's, wife's and son's ancestor and his Union unit were not just restorers of our nation but also liberators of tens of thousands of African-Americans and provided the basis for their civil rights.

In support of Maisie Brown, I have made that omitted and denied history a prominent part of this family history web page.

 <<1862 Fredericksburg Sites Today || En Route to the 1864 Overland Campaign Sites Today >>
INDEX: 20th Michigan Sites Today
INDEX: Anson Croman and the American Civil War
INDEX: Cizewski, Lovetere, Musbach, & Robinson Families History

All material not in the public domain c 2016 - 2018

 Leonard H. Cizewski

Last Major Revision:July 13, 2018
Last Minor Revision:
Last Reviewed:
Posted: April 15, 2016

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