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Vicksburg National Military Park
Tour Stop 15 - Hovey's Approach
Union Trench at Hovey's Approach
NPS Photo
Union Trench at Hovey's Approach
The Union forces opposite Fort Garrott were commanded by Brigadier General Alvin Hovey. It was Hovey's infantrymen who dug two approach trenches which merge just before Fort Garrott. Here you can obtain an excellent view of how siege operations were conducted. The approach trench is zig-zag, a design to minimize Northern casualties by reducing the effectiveness of Southern enfilading fire.
 
Zigzag Trenches of Hovey's Approach
NPS Photo
Zigzag Trenches of Hovey's Approach in Front of Fort Garrott
 
USS Cairo ca. 1862  

Did You Know?
The USS Cairo was only in service for 11 months before making history as the first U.S. marine vessel to be sunk by an electronically denotated mine.

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Last Updated: December 19, 2007 at 17:32 EST