(Note: The author often writes works of fiction)

This narrow dark muddy river near Vicksburg has history.

It's 1863 and Grant and his troops ran the Mississippi River past Vicksburg and came ashore at Grand Gulf. He sent his gun boats south and fired twice at the town of Natchez — they quickly surrendered, there were no troops supporting the beautiful town.

Natchez, the richest town in the South with its fine town homes averaging 15,000 square feet — some as large as 30,000 — they were built to entertain and show for their wealth. Their working plantations were across the river in Louisiana.

Grant set up his operations at Rosalie, a beautiful brick mansion and gardens overlooking the Mississippi River. He confiscated all supplies and cotton stored in town for shipment north.

There’s more to this in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.