Virginia Memorial

The Virginia State Memorial

NPS Photo

The Virginia State Memorial is located outside Vicksburg National Military Park on former park property in the City of Vicksburg. It is situated on the southeast corner of the North Frontage Road and Iowa Avenue. The bronze plaque, mounted on a granite pedestal, represents the Botetourt Artillery, the only Virginia unit to participate in the defense of Vicksburg. The memorial was the first Confederate tablet to be placed in the park and dedicated on November 23, 1907. The entire monument cost of $520 was raised by donations.

 

Inscription on Memorial (Alternative Text)

Virginia 
Botetourt Artillery 
Stevenson’s Division Army of Vicksburg 
Capt. John W. Johnston 
Lieut. Francis G. Obenchain 

The battery was closely engaged in the battle of Port Gibson, May 1: Its causalities were severe but not fully reported. Lieuts. Phillip Peters, William P. Douthat and William H. Norgrove killed. Engaged in the battle of Champion’s Hill, May 16. At the angle on the Confederate Line. Its causalities were severe but not reported. The First Captain of the Battery. Major. Joesph W. Anderson. Division Chief of Artillery. Killed. The Battery, without guns, fell back with the Army to Vicksburg, where it received two 6-pounder guns. Most of its enlisted men, under Lieut. Francis G. Obenchain, were armed with Enfield rifles and served in the trenches on the river front line from South Fort on the left to the first work on the right of that Johnston served as inspector General of Light Artillery. Stevenson’s Division, from June 2 to the end of the defense. July 4, 1863.