WE used to plow past the lofty hill-city, Vicksburg, down-stream; but we cannot do that now.

A cut-off has made a country town of it, like Osceola, St.Genevieve, and several others.

There is currentless water -- also a big island--in front of Vicksburg now.

You come down the river the other side of the island, then turn and come up to the town; that is, in high water: in low water you can't come up, but must land some distance below it.
Signs and scars still remain, as reminders of Vicksburg's tremendous war experiences; earthworks, trees crippled by the cannon balls, cave-refuges in the clay precipices, etc.

The caves did good service during the six weeks' bombardment of the city--May 8 to July 4, 1863.
They were used by the non-combatants--mainly by the women and children; not to live in constantly, but to fly to for safety on occasion.