Confederate’s Railroad Redoubt protected the Southern Railroad of Mississippi
VICKSBURG BATTLEFIELD TOUR STOP 13: RAILROAD REDOUBT
The Railroad Redoubt is the first stop on the southern loop of the tour road through Vicksburg National Military Park. There are three stops on this loop, with the first two being Confederate forts. The Railroad Redoubt guarded the Southern Railroad of Mississippi, which passed through Vicksburg (the tracks are still in use today). This was the only fort at Vicksburg that Union troops took control of during the May 22, 1863, assault on the Confederate lines. Before the attacks, Union artillery bombarded all Confederate forts for about four hours. The Railroad Redoubt suffered structural damage, allowing the Union soldiers to pour in through a hole in its wall. However, their occupation didn’t last long, as soldiers from Texas quickly counterattacked and drove the Union troops out of the fort the same day, then sealed the breach in the wall.
Confederate artillery at the Railroad Redoubt, Vicksburg National Military Park
If you want a chance to see how hard it would be to take control of one of the Confederate forts (without any holes in it), here’s your chance. Park you car and then walk around to the right. Now try to run up the hill. You’ll have to scale one hill, then another. Now imagine doing that with a rifle in your hand and maybe a pack on your back while Confederates shot at you and tossed hand grenades down the hill. There is no chance for one person to succeed, for it is a suicide mission. The only chance to take the fort would be to send more soldiers up the wall than the Confederates could shoot. Somebody has to make a decision to kill a lot of people in order to take over these forts. After two attempts, the Union generals got that through their thick heads and opted to lay siege to the city.
Steep walls of the Railroad Redoubt, Vicksburg National Military Park
In addition to the fort, you will also find the Texas Memorial. Constructed of Texas red granite, the memorial was completed in 1963.
Texas State Memorial at Vicksburg National Military Park
On the way to Tour Stop 13, Fort Garrott, you will pass the Alabama State Memorial and the Kentucky Confederate Memorial.
Alabama State Memorial at Vicksburg National Military Park
Kentucky Confederate Memorial at Vicksburg National Military Park
Next Stop | Previous Stop | Main Battlefield Tour Page
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on January 19, 2022
