Inspection of the Mississippi

[US Scout]

I will be departing GAF Headquarters after Christmas Day to conduct an inspection of the Mississippi River between Memphis and New Orleans.  I will return a few days after the New Year commences.

I am assured by Maj Gen US Grant, who I will be dining with on the 27th inst., that I will be able to communicate via the telegraph, so therefore am not appointing an acting commander in my absence. 

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[cpt dan blodgett]

Hopefully you will have time to tour the Vicksburg BF.  Also the Natchez Trace is a pretty drive.

[US Scout]

Hopefully you will have time to tour the Vicksburg BF.  Also the Natchez Trace is a pretty drive.

I will be indeed touring the battlefield and touring the Natchez vicinity (not sure if I'll be on the Natchez Trace or not).  This will be my second cruise down the Mississippi (first time on the Delta Queen in 2005).

I'll be wearing a Naval uniform (early CW period) to visit the park and for dinner with Grant.  The Park Rangers loved it, saying they see lots of Army but rarely any Navy.  

I'm on the steamboat American Queen with a group of history enthusiasts and, as before, we'll all be in Victorian-era attire the entire time. Due to space limitations, I'm only taking the one uniform, but will wear it several times, to include dinner with Grant.  On my past two riverboat cruises I've taken mostly uniforms but CinC House has indicated that she would prefer less than more this trip.

US Scout
Brig Gen, GAF

[cpt dan blodgett]

I had not thought of dining in uniform in the vicinity of some of our hallowed battlefields

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

I will be indeed touring the battlefield and touring the Natchez vicinity (not sure if I'll be on the Natchez Trace or not).  This will be my second cruise down the Mississippi (first time on the Delta Queen in 2005).

I'll be wearing a Naval uniform (early CW period) to visit the park and for dinner with Grant.  The Park Rangers loved it, saying they see lots of Army but rarely any Navy.  

I'm on the steamboat American Queen with a group of history enthusiasts and, as before, we'll all be in Victorian-era attire the entire time. Due to space limitations, I'm only taking the one uniform, but will wear it several times, to include dinner with Grant.  On my past two riverboat cruises I've taken mostly uniforms but CinC House has indicated that she would prefer less than more this trip.

US Scout
Brig Gen, GAF

My wife and I just took that same tour last month on the American Queen, Memphis to New Orleans.  We flew into Kansas City and took the bus to Branson for 4 nights, then bus to Memphis, visited Graceland, then boarded the American Queen. 

The Captain said that the river was at its lowest level in recorded history. The channel depth at Memphis on Dec 1st, 2012 was 9 ft with the boat draft being 8 ft. He also said that he ran aground twice coming up river but, used his side thrusters to wiggle off the sand bars.  We scraped bottom a couple of times on our way to NO, you could feel the boat shudder for about 2 or 3 seconds.

The river must have remained at the same level or a little higher as they thought that our trip would be the last one until the level rose in the spring of 2013. The Captain also added that last year was the 2nd highest river level in recorded history with 1927 being the highest.  We had a retired USAF Colonel as our battlefield guide at Vicksburg. Visited plantations, picked cotton, ate alligator, saw where Martin Luther King was shot, saw where Huey Long was shot and the weather was good the whole time.

Just a note, the American Queen is rated as above 1st class, it is rated as deluxe class.  I like it when they pull out of port, they played Dixie on the steam calliope (not sure if that is spelled right)  It is the largest riverboat on the river. Spent 2 nights in NO, had the city tour and of course our hotel bordered Bourbon Street. It was an excellent trip and very highly recommended.

I got the distinct impression that the south might still be a little bitter about the Civil War. On any of the shore tours it was never refered to as the Civil War but always as the "War of Northern Aggression".  They never refered to the Union Army, it was always "The Yankees". Saw private homes flying the Bonny Blue Flag and some were flying the Confederate flag, not the battle flag, although they were about also, but one of the versions of the Confederate national flag. And, right beside it would be the current U.S. flag.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Gen'l
Did you carry your sword on all your uniformed forays?

[US Scout]

I have the honor to report that I have returned from my inspection tour of the Mississippi.  

We arrived in Memphis in time to dine with General US Grant, who was engaged in trying to seize Vicksburg.  The men of our group were all in uniform (US and CS) as befitting the occasion.  I was attired in naval uniform, with the rank of commander, though the general kept referring to me as commodore.  Consequently, he frequently complemented the Navy on their contributions to his campaign.

Our group numbered 7 couples, and the men wore uniforms part of the time, and civilian at others, but for the most part we always wore period clothing.  This gained us a lot of attention from both crew and passengers, all of whom complimented us on "getting into the spirit" of the cruise.

The American Queen was as nice as when I traveled on her in 2009.  Some work still needs to be done on her, following her stint in mothballs, to bring her back to fully luxury status, but on the whole she was in good condition.  My only complaint was that the quality of service was hit or miss.  Some of the staff were outstanding, while others were just barely competent.  On the whole, however, it was a very pleasant experience and I'd gladly do it again.

Our trip down river was mostly uneventful, though we were forced to dock for two days in Natchez due to a water contamination problem in Vicksburg.  Some of us were booked for a tour of the battlefield so we were bused to and from there which made for a long day, but worth it.  Unfortunately, we could only spend 3 hours there so I'm still planning to stop for an extended visit when I come out for the Grand Muster next year.

One unexpected highlight was meeting the resident Confederate soldier at Oak Alley.  He was greatly surprised to see a number of uniformed visitors (only 1 in gray though), and apologized for appearing in field uniform.  He said he often wears his artillery colonel's uniform but clearly wasn't expecting company that day.  I enjoyed discussing the War in Louisiana with him.

I can highly recommend the American Queen for those who want to experience a historical type of cruise.  It occurred to me that we might be able to organize a GAF cruise, perhaps on one of their Civil War themed cruises.  These are not inexpensive cruises, but they are fun, relaxing, and for those with an interest in history, worth it.

US Scout
BG, GAF

[US Scout]

My wife and I just took that same tour last month on the American Queen, Memphis to New Orleans.  ....

I got the distinct impression that the south might still be a little bitter about the Civil War. On any of the shore tours it was never refered to as the Civil War but always as the "War of Northern Aggression".  They never refered to the Union Army, it was always "The Yankees". Saw private homes flying the Bonny Blue Flag and some were flying the Confederate flag, not the battle flag, although they were about also, but one of the versions of the Confederate national flag. And, right beside it would be the current U.S. flag.

Very true.  I saw the Confederate flag and Bonnie Blue flag quite frequently, but only saw the battle flag a few times, which I see quite a bit back in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. 

In our small group we only had two who dressed Confederate and those us in blue got quite a few "looks" ashore.  However, I noted that on my first cruise down the Mississippi when I wore both Confederate and Union uniforms, I got quite a few "looks" from the blacks when I wore gray, so it all balanced out.  Ironically, as I was in USN  uniform, many thought I was (or doing an impression of) a steamboat captain. 

US Scout
BG, GAF

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

I have the honor to report that I have returned from my inspection tour of the Mississippi.  

We arrived in Memphis in time to dine with General US Grant, who was engaged in trying to seize Vicksburg.  The men of our group were all in uniform (US and CS) as befitting the occasion.  I was attired in naval uniform, with the rank of commander, though the general kept referring to me as commodore.  Consequently, he frequently complemented the Navy on their contributions to his campaign.

Our group numbered 7 couples, and the men wore uniforms part of the time, and civilian at others, but for the most part we always wore period clothing.  This gained us a lot of attention from both crew and passengers, all of whom complimented us on "getting into the spirit" of the cruise.

Due to the low water level we couldn't dock at St Francesville and had to dock 17 miles away and on the opposite side of the river and be bussed into town.

The American Queen was as nice as when I traveled on her in 2009.  Some work still needs to be done on her, following her stint in mothballs, to bring her back to fully luxury status, but on the whole she was in good condition.  My only complaint was that the quality of service was hit or miss.  Some of the staff were outstanding, while others were just barely competent.  On the whole, however, it was a very pleasant experience and I'd gladly do it again.

Our trip down river was mostly uneventful, though we were forced to dock for two days in Natchez due to a water contamination problem in Vicksburg.  Some of us were booked for a tour of the battlefield so we were bused to and from there which made for a long day, but worth it.  Unfortunately, we could only spend 3 hours there so I'm still planning to stop for an extended visit when I come out for the Grand Muster next year.

One unexpected highlight was meeting the resident Confederate soldier at Oak Alley.  He was greatly surprised to see a number of uniformed visitors (only 1 in gray though), and apologized for appearing in field uniform.  He said he often wears his artillery colonel's uniform but clearly wasn't expecting company that day.  I enjoyed discussing the War in Louisiana with him.

I can highly recommend the American Queen for those who want to experience a historical type of cruise.  It occurred to me that we might be able to organize a GAF cruise, perhaps on one of their Civil War themed cruises.  These are not inexpensive cruises, but they are fun, relaxing, and for those with an interest in history, worth it.

US Scout
BG, GAF

[1961MJS]

...In our small group we only had two who dressed Confederate and those us in blue got quite a few "looks" ashore.  However, I noted that on my first cruise down the Mississippi when I wore both Confederate and Union uniforms, I got quite a few "looks" from the blacks when I wore gray, so it all balanced out.  Ironically, as I was in USN  uniform, many thought I was (or doing an impression of) a steamboat captain. 

US Scout
BG, GAF

Hi

Way back in the 1980's the 9th Texas Rebel Infantry was drilling in a Wichita apartment complex courtyard.  The groom's portion of the wedding party showed up wearing those GAWD awful powder blue tuxedos with the ruffled shirts, and they were all black guys.  They asked us where x apartment complex was, we told them and they thanked us an left.

Our fearless leader watched them all take off in a hurry and they said "Ya know, somebody should have probably been *upset* about that, but nobody was."  He shrugged and we went on.  The groomsmen didn't say a thing and neither did we.

Mike
Norman OK

[US Scout]

Gen'l
Did you carry your sword on all your uniformed forays?

Sadly, no.  Cruise ships and even steamboats are governed by the same TSA rules that prohibit firearms, knives, etc, from being brought on board.  I would have loved to bring either a naval sword or cutlass with me.

US Scout
Brig Gen, GAF

[US Scout]

Hi

Way back in the 1980's the 9th Texas Rebel Infantry was drilling in a Wichita apartment complex courtyard.  The groom's portion of the wedding party showed up wearing those GAWD awful powder blue tuxedos with the ruffled shirts, and they were all black guys.  They asked us where x apartment complex was, we told them and they thanked us an left.

Our fearless leader watched them all take off in a hurry and they said "Ya know, somebody should have probably been *upset* about that, but nobody was."  He shrugged and we went on.  The groomsmen didn't say a thing and neither did we.

Mike
Norman OK

Some years ago I attended the annual Lee-Jackson Ball held at Fortress Monroe, Virginia.  This is a Confederate ball so all you saw was a sea of gray, but on that particular night there was a (black) wedding in the ballroom next door to ours so there was a degree of tension in the hallway. 

I was dressed as early war Virginia Militia, thus in a BLUE uniform, and I got some very nasty looks from my fellow Confederates, some of whom invited me, as a Yankee, to leave.  I told them to look at my buttons and then gave them a summary of the Virginia Militia uniform, at which they sheepishly apologized and left me alone.  However, when I went into the hallway where some of the wedding party was gathered they came up to thank me for being the only Yankee at the ball.  It was an interesting night....

US Scout
Brig Gen, GAF