REPORT

DEDICATION OF MILLIKEN'S BEND EXHIBIT
Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg, Mississippi

A Most Historic Permanent Exhibition of U. S. Colored Troops’ Heroic Civil War Battle of Milliken’s Bend Dedicated at Vicksburg National Military Park For All Visitors From Now On.

Four days after the 144^th anniversary of the U. S. Congress enactment of legislation reorganizing various troops of African descent into a branch of the U. S. Army called Bureau of United States Colored Troops (USCT) May 22, 1863.

Four days before the 139^th “Decoration Day” or “30^th of May” as it is historically called here in Southwest Mississippi-Central Louisiana when African descendants annually parade to the National Cemetery to pay tribute to deceased United States troops. (Decoration Day, now Memorial Day established in 1868 by the Grand Army of the Republic U. S. Civil War veterans as the day to honor deceased Civil War soldiers).

The Event May 26, 2007 Vicksburg National Military Park

Ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly installed permanent exhibit depicting the story and images of the 11^th, 9^th Louisiana and 1^st Mississippi Colored Regiment Infantries’ freedom fighting actions at Milliken’s Bend Louisiana as part of the United States Army’s campaign to capture Vicksburg during the Civil War June 7, 1863.

The Setting

Vicksburg National Military Park’s Visitors Center, Vicksburg Mississippi. A green ribbon stretched across the entrance of the exhibition hall. Thirty or so persons gathered for event with a constant flow of visitors swelling the attendance. Less than a dozen African descendant persons deliberately attended. General Crear of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers so many may have seen in New Orleans during the flooding aftermath of hurricane Katrina was one of those persons.

Program Flow and Participants

Park Superintendent

Monika Mayr, Superintendent of Vicksburg National Military Park welcomed everyone and announced the occasion. She informed the audience of the planning over the past two years that included community members. She specifically pointed to Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley and Sergeant Major Norman Fisher. Monika indicated the new Milliken’s Bend exhibit is one of the many ways the Park is presenting and interpreting the history of African Americans involvement in Vicksburg Civil War campaign.

Park Ranger

The Superintendent for providing general background history of the United States Colored troops during the Civil War introduced Matt Atkinson, Park Ranger. He informed the audience of an estimated 180,000 (his source) plus USCT who served in the Union Army. He also spoke of the Confederate Army’s hatred expressed toward U. S. Colored Troops. Generally, the Ranger’s comments were along the lines of marginal history as reflected in general history books about the Civil War.

Sergeant Major Norman Fisher

Sergeant Major Norman Fisher of the First Mississippi Colored Regiment Infantry re-enactors of Jackson Mississippi made a most powerful and wonderful presentation about the freedom fighting actions of USCT at Milliken’s Bend. Allocated only five minutes to speak, he boldly spoke for the length of time needed to dramatize the USCT fight at Milliken’s Bend all the while captivating the audience.

Norman began with an introduction of his person as both an USCT re-enactor and a Civil War historian-researcher. He credited the Park Superintendent on her progressive accomplishment honoring the USCT of the Battle of Milliken’s Bend.

As part of the Vicksburg campaign, this is the first time in history that the USCT at Milliken’s Bend have been so honored. “To have left them out of history for so long was unfair, shameful and an injustice to Black soldiers who gave blood and life for the United States of America” he emphatically stated.

He spoke of the battle being one of the fieriest battles of the Civil War!

Norman went on to say the USCT at Milliken’s Bend were freshly recruited former enslaved persons. Many had no guns at all. Others had just received some inferior weapons a few days before.

The Confederate Army attacking Milliken’s Bend were trained and seasoned elite troops from Texas. They were so confident they would easily defeat a bunch of “slaves” they sang songs, joked and whistled as they came marching on.

Confederate propaganda depicted “Blacks” as scared and drew cartoons showing them running away from the field of battle between white soldiers.

For added emphasis, he read an official letter written by Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy. This letter specifically set forth the ruthless treatment of re-enslaving all “Blacks” civilians or soldiers caught helping the United States’ military.

White Union Army troops in general did not want to fight along side “Black” troops. Northern whites doubted the fighting ability of USCT.

Shadowed beneath the cloud of national doubt, facing Confederate re-enslavement and pressed against the Mississippi River by an overwhelmingly number of elite Confederate soldiers confident of victory stood a much smaller number, less experienced and less equipped USCT ready to fight to the death for freedom against slavery.

Norman said the confident Confederates and doubters of the Negroes’ will and fighting ability unknowingly faced two inherent natured former Negro “slaves.” Fifty percent (50%) had a nature of being “tired of slavery.” The other fifty percent (50%) were what you call “John Henrys.” John Henrys natured “slaves” were the ones “who always wanted to kill their white masters.”

Both natured Negro soldiers fought at Milliken’s Bend in a shoot out, hand-to-hand, pitchfork, bayonet-to-bayonet fierce and bloody battle of death and victory.

With much gusto, one U. S. Colored soldier brought in a captured Confederate who was his “slave Master.” This Confederate soldier to no avail protested being held prisoner by his former enslaved person.

Norman concluded this powerful presentation by informing the audience that he is a direct descendant of a USCT freedom fighter who fought in the Battle of Milliken’s Bend. This genealogical factor spiked his interests in learning the history of the USCT.

He said the Battle of Milliken’s Bend was one of the most important battles of the Civil War. Had the Confederates captured General Grant’s Army’s supplies at Milliken’s Bend and Young Point, they would have had a clear path to get those supplies and food over to their troops at Vicksburg. Thereby not having to surrender the “key” to the control of the Mississippi River to the United States.

Finally, Sergeant Major Norman Fisher pointed out that forty percent (40%) of the Civil War soldiers buried in Vicksburg National Cemetery are U. S. Colored Troop and sailors.

“People don’t like it because I speak the truth.”

Cut the Ribbon

Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley and Park Superintendent Monika Mayr cut the ribbon with a Civil War sword. The audience rushed into the exhibit hall to view the USCT Battle of Milliken’s Bend exhibit containing two full uniformed USCT manikins standing tall in combative action.

Milliken’s Bend Tour

At ten o’clock A. M. a dozen of so persons traveled in Park Service vans and private vehicles across the Mississippi River to the Louisiana side to visit the general area of Milliken’s Bend. The area of the battle is under the water of the River.

A civilian historian under Park Service contract interpreted the battle.

Side Bars

Ser Seshs Ab Heter-Boxley suggested to General Crear that the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers develop a Mississippi River USCT Heritage trail from Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico.

Afua Sarah Dave, Friend of the Forks of the Roads member, reported General Crear stated that something must be done about the interpretive signs at the Milliken’s Bend site erected by the State of Louisiana. A Vicksburg National Military Park Ranger stated that they are going to try to improve the signs.

Vicksburg Post Newspaper Article

As you can tell from the above report, the Vicksburg Post newspaper printed quotes of Norman Fisher out of the context that he described the two natures of enslaved persons who fought at Milliken’s Bend. This was a major put down of Norman and an example of how racist media persons work not to report the whole truth story.

Lack of African Descendant Attendees

On the way to Vicksburg from Natchez African Americans in the hundreds were seen out early in the morning preparing for barbecuing and outings of self gratification while the history of why they are not physically enslaved today unfolded at Vicksburg National Military Park.

“Impossible to understand the present Prepare our future, without knowledge of our past. It is impossible to understand the present or Prepare for the future unless we have some knowledge of the past. The thing that has kept most of us Afro-Americans almost crippled in this society has been our complete lack of knowledge concerning the past. The number one thing that makes us differ from other people is…..our lack of knowledge concerning the Past”……….Omowale Malcolm X…January 24, 1965

Malcolm X was right “Tomorrow People how you go last, you don’t know your past!”

We are the sum of two or more millions years of African people’s culture and civilization

Who is guilty of not teaching us our history in the home? Who is guilty of hiding our history from us? Who is guilty of keeping our history out of the education books? Who is guilty of keeping our history out of the Churches, schools and government, the three American institutions of shaping human behavior?

Special Announcement from Sergeant Major Norman Fisher 1^st US MS Colored Infantry Regiment

“For over one hundred years, millions of visitors both Black and White have visited the Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi. But, Black visitors were never told about the rich Black history of the Black soldiers who fought in the Vicksburg Campaign. For the first time in Vicksburg history, there is an exhibit dedicated to these brave Black soldiers. But, this exhibit would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of Mr. Bennie J. McRae, Jr. He worked hard from day one to assist our organization, the lst US MS Colored Infantry Regiment get started with important historic information. To put it simple, this exhibit would not exist without the knowledge and extensive research of Mr. McRae. Now millions of young Black kids and adults will visit the park and see the bravery of their Black ancestor soldiers and ask questions of their role in the civil war. All THANKS to Mr. McRae. We all love you in Mississippi and keep the good work moving.”

Everyday God sends I do what I do because of the need to rescue, resurrect, reconstruct and reconnect the history, culture, heritage, legacies and humanity of African descendant Foreparents and Ancestors. Where their, history culture, heritage, legacies and humanity has been deleted, denied, omitted, white-washed or white out of history……..our history culture, heritage, legacies and humanity has been deleted, denied, omitted, white-washed or white out of history also.

We have no excuse today. We have the research and books published by Blacks for Blacks. ….Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley

Report prepared by Ser Seshs Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley, Coordinator Friends of Forks of the Roads Society Inc Fort McPherson Sons and Daughters of USCT-Sailors Chapter Natchez Mississippi

May 29, 2007