Vicksburg National Military Park in Warren County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

"This is Murder!"

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017

1. "This is Murder!" Marker

Inscription. They were all volunteers-and unmarried—those 150 Union men called the "Forlorn Hope." Powerful cannon had pounded the Confederates for four straight hours. Laden with planks and hastily built ladders, they struggled up the road in front of you. Their job: bridge the seven-foot-deep ditch that fronted the Confederate fort looming 200 yards ahead. As they moved down the open road deadly fire from the fort cut the boys in blue to pieces.

Only a handful made it to the ditch alive, where they remained pinned down. The Union attack bogged down. A second advance was ordered. Again, the Federals were ripped apart as they advanced along the road. The numbing casualties of May 22 convinced General Grant to lay siege to Vicksburg. Almost half of the Forlorn Hope volunteers were casualties during the May 22 assault. The survivors were awarded the Medal of Honor.

"This is murder; bring those troops back!
General William T. Sherman

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it

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is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 22.

Location. 32° 22.25′ N, 90° 50.501′ W. Marker is in Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi, in Warren County. It is on Old Graveyard Road 0.1 miles south of Union Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Old Graveyard Road, Vicksburg MS 39183, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: U.S. Battery E, (a few steps from this marker); Dash of Courage

View towards ditches mentioned on marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017

2. View towards ditches mentioned on marker.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio Thirtieth Infantry; (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Ewing's Approach. (within shouting distance of this marker); Buckland's Brigade; Assaults, May 19 and May 22, 1863. (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio Thirty Seventh Infantry; (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio Ninety Fifth Regiment (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Iowa 2nd Battery (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vicksburg National Military Park.

Also see . . . The Forlorn Hope (blog article). (Submitted on November 1, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 645 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 1, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.