Travis L. Ayres

Southern Research Trip

- A Photo Journal -

During July of 2010 I spent three weeks on an auto tour through Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.  The primary reason for this trip was to do on-site research for my upcoming book on the life and times of James H. Berry. Berry was Governor of Arkansas and a respected United States Senator for 21 years...but long before his politcal career, he served as a 20 year old 2nd Lieutenant in the Confederate 16th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

  Berry and the 16th Ark saw brutal combat in the Civil War battles at Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth and Port Hudson.  My research took me to all these battlefields...to Walk Where They Fought:                

First stop:  Corinth, Mississippi where in Oct. 1862 General Earl Van Dorn's Confederate Army attacked some of the most daunting Union fortifications of the entire American

Civil War.

Top photo:  The striking relief at the entrance to the Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth.  Built on the site of some of the battle's hottest fighting, this beautiful center is unique among all of the National Park Service sites.  It does a good job of encouraging visitors to seek a deeper understanding of the War and its participants.  Also contains one of the most complete research libraries I have encountered.  Bonus: The rangers at the center were friendly and helpful.

Lower Photo:  In downtown Corinth stands this majestic statue that pays tribute Col. William P. Rogers who died at the head of his 2nd Texas troops while attacking Battery Robinett (fort).  This monument looks brand new thanks to a renovation paid for by local chapters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

I'm standing on the site of Battery Powell, today just a pleasant residential street in Corinth...on Oct 4th, 1862 boys in Gray and Blue died on this ground and even more fell with wounds that would cost them their lives or their limbs.  Lt. James H. Berry and younger brother Private Willie Berry were here as the 16th Arkansas attacked Battery Powell. James fell in the fight, became a POW and lost his right leg.  Willie survived unhurt, helped his brother from the battlefield and was also captured.

Next stop: Iuka, Mississippi...just 20 minutes southeast of Corinth. Two weeks prior to the Battle of Corinth, General Sterling Price held this little resort town but his small Confederate army found itself sandwiched between two larger Union armies.  Price sent General Henry Little's division (16th Arkansas was a regiment of this unit) crashing into Union General William Rosecrans' army.  The Southerners were victorious in a bloody deep forsest fight.  The cost was dear for both sides.  Among the dead as darkness fell...General Henry Little.

The 263 Unknown Confederate Soldiers are buried in a small cemetery named Shady Grove.

After each battle, Blue or Gray...the young soldiers' wifes, mothers, fathers and children waited for word on the fate of their precious loved one.  Too often, all they could learn was that he wasn't coming home from the war.

Leaving Iuka and the Tennessee River region behind, I headed southwest to historic Vicksburg on the bluffs of the Mississippi River.  I arrived there on July 5th...just one day after the 147th anniversary of the Confederate surrender of their most vital fortress on America's great waterway.

The Vicksburg National Battlefield Park is one of the most beautiful sites in the care of the NPS.  It's battlelines and important battle points were marked by the Civil War veterans (both Northern and Southern) who had fought and suffered there, through the long summer of 1863.

The largest of all the Vicksburg Battlefield State monuments is that of Illinois.  Lincoln's home state sent 131 regiments to fight in the Civil War...many of those Illinois regiments took part in the Seige of Vicksburg.

"The Brothers War"  -  The beautiful Missouri Monument pays tribute to the state's sons who went to war.  The left relief honors Missouri boys who wore Blue...the right relief honors her boys who wore Gray.

NPS Ranger, Alyssa D. Warrick knows her Civil War history and will gladly answer your questions about the battles at Vicksburg. The NPS Rangers are providing a great service to our country.

My friend, Jeff Stierman joined the tour in Vicksburg.  Here he photographs the Nationial Cemetery inside Vicksburg National Battlefield.

The tragic numbers:

More than 19,000 Americans fell or were MIA in the battles in and around Vicksburg (March 29-July 4, 1863)

Union:  7,554 (wounded)  1,581 (killed)

Confed: 3,878 (wounded)  1,413 (killed)

                         *  *  *

Leaving Vicksburge behind, on July 7th, Jeff Stierman and I headed south on Highway U.S. 61 (yes, the same one Dylan sang about / different section)  Grant's army captured Port Hudson, MS in May 1863 but did not burn it.  Many of it's 19th Century homes along Church St, still survive today.

Above: Jeff stands in front of Englesing Home (1811) which was the birthplace of

Constance Cary, a young woman who helped make the first Confederate battleflag.

A unique style of Jewish Temple on Church St. in Port Gibson, Mississippi.

This monument stands in front of Port Gibson's pre-war courthouse.  Erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, it pays tribute to the soldiers of Claiborne County who fought for the South in The War Between The States. Claiborne Co. provided 5 infantry companies, 3 cavalry companies and an artillery battery to the Confederacy.

General Earl Van Dorn is an important personality in my upcoming book "Unblemished Honor - The Life and Times of James H. Berry."  Lt. Berry served under Van Dorn's command at both Pea Ridge and Corinth...two battles where the Confederate general's blunders were very costly.  Van Dorn was born near Port Gibson, MS and is buried there.

                         *  *  * 

(Return for more from the Photo Journal,  in the coming days)