grant's canal

Before attacking the well fortified Vicksburg, Grant tried a work around. He attempted to build a ditch on the other side of Vicksburg using African American and soldier labor. The attempt was a dismal failure. Union troops tried digging ditches in mosquito infested bogs during the middle of summer, while wearing their nice woolen clothes. They did not fare well. Eventually, the dam broke that held back the water on the canal and flooded the entire area, an area that was very wealthy and by all accounts beautiful. The canal and a few historical markers remain. As far as i know they are some of the few markers that let the public know of the contributions of not only the newly freed laboring slaves, but also the African American Union Troops who fought in the area in a few different engagements.This is one of those sites that is completely overshadowed by the Vicksburg battlefield, but it is one of those little areas that offers a glimpse of history not previously shared. Definitely worth a quick visit.