That is very cool that you grew up in Vicksburg. That is one place I would like to visit someday. I will probably be 80 when I do get the chance to go at the rate I am going.
The furthest south I have ever been is to some of battlefields in northern Virginia. I liked Virginia, they served crab cakes at their McDonalds and their were many waffle houses.
![LOL LOL](http://www.bachelors-grove.com/bgf/Smileys/fantasticsmileys/smiley36.gif)
Yes, thats true during the seize (sp?) at Vicksburg many of the citizens dug caves into the sides of hills to ride it out. They had a heck of a time. No medicine, no food, etc.
You really should of kept a relic or two, but you gotta be careful about relic hunting, its sounds like this place was on private property, so it might not have been a problem, but I am pretty sure it is illegal on battlefields that are on National Park property now. I am sure you know that though.